Weed Management Specialist

**Weed Management Specialist**

**Location**:Park Farm, Histon, Cambridge, CB24 9NZ (other locations in England may be considered)
**Closing date**: 27 September 2024 with interviews being held on 21st October 2024
**Salary**: £36,000 to £45,000 per annum, depending on experience.
**Contract**: Permanent
**Working hours**: 37 hours per week, Monday-Friday; part-time over 5 days, minimum 25 hours considered.

**Join our team and contribute to advancing weed management practices across the UK.**

We are seeking a Weed Management Specialist to join our Farming Systems and Agronomy Research team. Your role will involve conducting vital research on the biology and management of significant weed species in UK combinable crops and arable rotations. You will share your expertise both within NIAB and externally, working closely with Research Agronomists and Crop Specialists to provide technical and scientific insights into weed biology and sustainable cropping systems.

In this role, you will focus on delivering specialist knowledge on crop-weed interactions and weed management within the framework of sustainable agriculture. We are looking for a collaborative individual with a background in weed or crop science, including hands-on experience with field trials and experimentation. You will be adept at communicating technical information in an engaging and accessible manner during meetings, demonstrations, and events.

**ABOUT YOU**

**Essential requirements**
- 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 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.

**As Weed Management Specialist, your key responsibilities will include**:

- Leading and managing research projects and commercial services related to weed biology, crop-weed interactions, and weed management, while offering data interpretation and technical advice.
- Preparing and submitting research proposals aimed at expanding NIAB's mission, with a focus on farmer-centric studies in weed management, crop-weed interactions, and farmland ecology.
- Developing and delivering knowledge exchange, presenting technical information in ways that engage and inform audiences at events, demonstrations, and meetings.

This role offers the opportunity to shape and grow a research programme that addresses sustainable cropping systems through crop-weed interactions and weed ecology.

The position is predominantly office-based, utilising various IT systems, with some fieldwork and regular travel across Great Britain to attend meetings, events, and trial sites. The role involves physical activity, including walking, bending, and manual handling of items up to 20 kg. Flexibility in working hours will occasionally be required, with early starts, late finishes, and evening meetings, and we are happy to discuss wider flexible working arrangements to suit personal circumstances.

**Recruitment Notice**:
Please note that we already work with a selected group of recruitment partners. As such, we kindly request that other agencies do not contact us regarding this vacancy or send unsolicited CVs. Any CVs submitted in this manner will not be considered, and no fees will be applicable. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

**Job Types**: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: £36,000.00-£45,000.00 per year

Expected hours: 25 - 37 per week

**Benefits**:

- Casual dress
- Company events
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee discount
- Flexitime
- Free flu jabs
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
- Sick pay

Schedule:

- Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Reference ID: SV/A1378