Junior Agronomist

Vitacress Herbs

**Department**

Agronomy

**Job title**

Junior Agronomist

**Reporting to**

Agronomist & Senior Agronomist

**Based at**

Runcton

**Direct reports**

Crop Protection Operatives

**Job purpose**

To manage the crop protection team to implement our IPM strategy, ensuring the highest health & safety standards, meeting production planning requirements and maximising labour efficiency to maintain healthy, pest and disease free plants. To help manage a variety of research and development work that the agronomy department undertakes, with a particular focus on peat free project. To build on agronomical knowledge and undertake crop walking duties, with the aim of becoming competent in making intervention recommendations based on findings.

**Key responsibilities and accountabilities**

Employees have a duty to take care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by employees’ actions at work. Employees must co-operate with employers and co-workers to help everyone meet their legal requirements.
- To ensure that all practices and procedures carried out on the nursery comply with all legislation and follow company procedures.
- To assist with the creation and training of Standard Operating Procedures for the Agronomy department in order to facilitate and evidence the above.
- To assist the Agronomist with the design and planning of pest & disease control strategies and spray programmes, based on findings from departmental, external or your own crop walking.
- Responsibility for the implementation and completion of a daily/weekly work plan and staff allocation where efficiency and attention to detail are priorities.
- Assist with the coaching and training of crop protection operatives, ensuring they are competent and safe to carry out allocated tasks using correct techniques and procedures.
- Ensure plug quality intake reports are completed in a timely manner, to the required standard and communicated to relevant personnel promptly and accurately.
- Ensure Galaxy 42 spray records are completed post sprays, details and calculations checked and approved, exported to IFS before the end of the day and be able to problem solve issues on the system.
- Ensure all records are completed on time, are accurate, clearly legible and meet audit standard requirements.
- Continual monitoring and review of all operational tasks to ensure safety, accuracy and consistency.
- To monitor and report immediately any signs of pest, disease and disorders on the crop.
- Ensure that machinery/equipment and PPE is checked, maintained and fit for purpose, operated safely and accurately and ensure any faults are reported appropriately and managed safely (Don’t walk by’s, accident reporting, engineering fault reports).
- Assist the Agronomists to undertake annual staff assessments ensuring that training and development needs are assessed and recorded.
- Have an excellent knowledge of how the spraying robot, bench sprayers and Dramm foggers work and how to adjust if required.
- Have excellent knowledge of key pests and diseases including how to identify, pest life cycles, thresholds for control and control treatments.
- Daily liaison with Agronomists on objectives, progress, company information etc.
- To promote the uptake and implementation of lean manufacturing techniques.
- Responsible for weekly stock taking ensuring the stock count is accurate, carried out on time and notify Agronomist of any products below stock threshold, requiring purchase.
- Assist the Agronomist in managing effective use of human resources, monitoring and recording absence, sickness and annual leave.
- Participate actively in technical reviews/meetings, events, crop protection specific trials and continuous improvement projects, both internal and external.
- Be responsible for continuing professional development and ongoing membership of NROSO and BASIS.
- Work with Agronomy department and other peat-free stakeholders to determine, manage and execute trials.
- Assist with data collection and presentation from R&D activities in order to understand actionable outcomes eg crop heights, shelf life and moisture sensor data.
- Help explore the beneficial use of bio-pesticides and bio-stimulants in our growing system with the ultimate IPM goal of growing greener.

**Working conditions**
- Appropriate PPE required.
- Long periods of standing and/or walking.
- Variable temperatures.

**Values and behaviour**

**One Team One Goal**

Strive towards the common goal

Share knowledge

Support each other

Be inclusive of others collaborate/partner

**Pioneering**

Challenge the norm

Be a leader not a follower

Be a calculated risk taker

Inspire others by going outside of your comfort zone

Be at the cutting edge of everything

**Be trusted**

Be empowered in your role

Take responsibility and accountability

Be open and transparent

Have integrity in all you decide and do

Trust our people to deliver

**We care**

Think for the long