Weed Management Specialist

As Weed Management Specialist, your key duties include:

• Leading and managing research projects and commercial contract services with a particular focus on weed biology, crop/weed interactions and weed management, providing data interpretation and technical advice.


• Preparing and submitting proposals to develop new areas of research that bring value to NIAB's mission, with particular attention to farmer-focussed research and contract business studying weed management (direct and cultural control options), crop/weed interactions and farmland ecology.


• Developing and delivering knowledge exchange including presentation of technical information in engaging and accessible ways at meetings, demonstrations & events.


The role offers an opportunity to develop a programme of applied research and knowledge exchange in crop-weed interactions, weed ecology and management underpinning sustainable cropping systems.

The work will be mainly office based, using a range of IT systems, with some field work and frequent travel by car for indoor meetings or outdoor events, or visits to farms / trials sites across Great Britain. Some tasks can be physically demanding with a range of daily physical activity required - walking, standing, bending and manual handling of items up to 20 kg.

Flexibility in working hours will be required sometimes e.g., for early morning starts, late finishes and evening meetings. We are happy to discuss flexible hours more widely (e.g., to fit around caring roles).

We are recruiting a Weed Management Specialist to work as part of our Farming Systems and Agronomy Research team. The role will deliver research on the biology and management of key UK weed species within (primarily) combinable crops and arable rotations and share specialist technical and scientific knowledge, internally and externally to NIAB, on the agronomy of combinable crops and arable rotations, as part of a group comprising Research Agronomists and Crop Specialists. This role will focus on development and delivery of specialist information on weed biology, crop/weed interactions and weed management in the context of sustainable cropping systems. We are looking for a team worker with experience in a research / technical role in weeds /crop science, together with experience of field trialling and experimentation, and who is able to develop and deliver technical information in engaging and accessible ways at meetings, demonstrations & events.,
• Degree in a crop-focused applied biological or agricultural subject or equivalent qualifications/experience


• Experience in a research/technical role in agricultural systems/inputs R&D, particularly weed biology/ecology, crop/weed interactions and weed management (this can include a relevant PhD)


• Good verbal and written communication skills


• Good IT skills - email, word processing, spreadsheets, statistics, document sharing


• Good organisational and planning skills, able to prioritise and organise time and work tasks


• Flexibility - able to work independently and as part of diverse teams


Ideally you will also have:

• Postgraduate qualification related to crops or agronomy


• BASIS Crop Protection (Arable)


• Experience in project and financial management


• A driving licence - as frequent travel by car to farms / trials sites across Great Britain is a key part of the role. NIAB have a pool of vehicles for use.
  
  NIAB is a dynamic, research led and market driven plant bioscience organisation, with an emphasis on innovative applications for end-users in the agricultural, horticultural and food sectors. With over 100 years' experience of research and knowledge exchange, NIAB is a leading research centre for crop science and agronomy and also provides a range of technical services and training for agricultural industry. The Farming Systems and Agronomy Research team generates, collates and provides specialist technical and scientific knowledge, internally to NIAB and externally to a range of clients, on the agronomy of combinable crops and for arable rotations involving other crops such as potatoes, sugar beet, maize, short-term leys and field vegetables, together with the wider environmental and social impacts of farming systems.
  
  Benefits include 25 days' holiday plus public holidays and 3 days off during the Christmas period, some opportunity for flexible working, generous sick pay, attractive pension scheme, income protection, life assurance, employee discount scheme, free on-site parking.