Agronomy Trials Technician
Tadcaster, LS24 9NT
Ref: SV/A1273
£19,920 to £26,284 depending on skills, experience and qualifications, with paid overtime during peak seasons

ABOUT THE JOB

Are you passionate about agriculture, but not certain how to get started or which career to choose? Are you looking for a role where every day is different?

Join us and you will learn new skills and work hard as part of a small team in an innovative, nation-wide company with great career progression opportunities.

We are looking to appoint an Agronomy Trials Technician to assist with growing and assessing crops to support agricultural research. 80% of the work is based at our Headley Hall, Tadcaster centre and the rest at different sites mostly across Yorkshire where our other crops are grown. Transport can be provided from Headley Hall.

Duties include:

• Assisting in the establishment and management of field trials of crops such as cereals, pulses, sugar beet and herbage. You will be drilling, harvesting and applying pesticide and fertiliser
• Assessing crops for agronomic characteristics; inputting and analysing data
• Ensuring machinery and equipment are serviced and ready for use, booking maintenance contractors as necessary

Your work will be both field and office-based, depending on the season. Field activities are physically demanding; mostly standing /walking and working outdoors in all weather conditions and involving regular manual handling of items up to 20kg such as bags of seeds.

Those seeking a career in agriculture are encouraged to apply to a company that has a comprehensive development programme and attractive pay and benefits package.

Working hours: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Part-time (minimum 3 full days at 7.5 hours per day) may be considered.

Benefits include 25 days’ holiday plus public holidays, generous sick pay, attractive pension scheme, income protection, life assurance and great colleagues.

ABOUT YOU

Essential requirements:

• A sound, practical knowledge of agriculture, motivated and adaptable enough to work inside and out, whatever the weather
• The enthusiasm to work with a range of equipment, farm machinery and locations
• Educated to GCSE level standard or equivalent, including Maths, English and Science
• Good IT skills including using computerised information systems
• Organisational and time-management skills
• Willingness to learn new skills
• Full UK driving licence as travel to multiple sites is required, where access to public transport is not possible

Desirable requirements:

• Some experience of working in field crop trials that includes pesticide application and crop assessment
• Pesticide spray qualifications (e.g. PA1, 2 and/or 6)
• Tractor driving
• Forklift Certificate
• A desire to learn more about crop production and management along with a commitment to an agricultural career

Training will be provided if you lack any of the above desirable requirements.

ABOUT US

Come and join an organisation at the forefront of the application of genetics, physiology, soil science, precision agronomy and data science to improve the yield, efficiency, and resilience of crop production across the arable, forage and horticulture sectors.

NIAB runs the largest field crop research operation in England and Wales, with headquarters at Cambridge, 12 regional centres and over 50 staff directly involved with in-field trialling of crop varieties and inputs. Our field crop research and impartial information is widely utilised and trusted by the international agricultural community.

Headley Hall site is two miles from junction 44 of the A1(M). Driving time in minutes: Beal (25), Leeds (30), York (30), Northallerton (45). Plenty of free on-site parking.

TO APPLY

Click the ‘Apply’ button or visit our website for further details and to apply directly.

Closing date: 9 September 2022.