Glasshouse Operative

NIAB; East Malling; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

NIAB East Malling in Kent is seeking a Glasshouse Operative to join the Kent Glasshouse Team. You will care for a wide range of horticultural and agricultural crops in protected environments, monitor pests and diseases, irrigate, and support external trials.

This full-time, permanent role requires working outdoors in all weather, handling up to 20 kg, and complying with strict protocols. A driving licence or transport access and experience in horticulture are preferred.

Qualifications

• Recognised qualification or work experience in horticulture
• Good organisational skills
• Knowledge of a range of horticulture plant species
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to work to specific protocols
• Flexibility
• A strong interest in plants and a proactive approach to learning
• Ability to work unsupervised
• Willingness to work in polytunnels and glasshouses with occasional high temperatures
• Experience of tractor driving
• Driving licence or access to independent means of transport
• PA1/PA6 pesticide training and forklift driving are desirable

Responsibilities

• Carrying out all aspects of plant care, including watering, plant husbandry, spraying etc.
• Delivering specific project goals from detailed protocols for internal and external customers

Skills

Attention to detail

Ability to work unsupervised

Flexibility

Strong interest in plants

Ability to follow protocols

Driving licence or transport

Experience with tractor driving

Education

Qualified in horticulture or relevant work experience

Tools

PA1 and PA6 pesticide training

Forklift driving

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Contract: Permanent

Salary: £27,000 per annum, with paid overtime

Hours: Full-time (37 hours per week) Monday to Friday

ABOUT THE JOB

Are you interested in plants and horticulture?

Do you have a good eye for detail and a flexible approach to work?

Would you enjoy a varied working with a wide range of horticultural and agricultural crop species in our protection growing facilities?

We wish to appoint a Glasshouse Operative to join our Kent Glasshouse Team working with a wide range of horticulture and agriculture crop species in our protected environment growing facilities. The team is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the glasshouse facility, including pests and disease monitoring and irrigation, as well as the team's service delivery function with the Science departments to external trials.

As a Glasshouse Operative, your key duties include:

• Delivering specific project goals from detailed protocols for internal and external customers
• Carrying out all aspects of plant care, including watering, plant husbandry, spraying etc.

You will be working outside in all weather conditions and in our glasshouses and polytunnels, which can reach high temperatures during the summer months. You will be in constant contact with plants and insects (including bees) through the year, therefore sufferers from hay fever or other allergies could experience problems.

The role is 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 and other produce. There is exposure to plant materials, including pollen.

Location

The role is based at Niab East Malling, New Road, East Malling, Kent, ME19 6BJ, 3 miles from junction 4 of the M20, and head south on the A228, then A20 to 'West Malling and Maidstone'. Free on-site parking.

ABOUT YOU

Ideally you have:

• Recognised qualification or work experience in horticulture
• Good organisational skills
• Knowledge of a range of horticulture plant species
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to work to specific protocols
• Flexibility
• A strong interest in plants and a proactive approach to learning
• Ability to work unsupervised
• Willingness to work in polytunnels and glasshouses with occasional high temperatures.
• Experience of tractor driving
• Driving licence or access to independent means of transport

Ideally you will also have:

• Microsoft Office, e.g, . Word and Excel
• Pesticide application training (PA1 and PA6)
• Forklift driving

ABOUT US

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 almost 90 years’ experience of technology evaluation and transfer, NIAB is spear-heading the advancement of plant genetic resources through research, technical services and training.

Benefits include 25 days holiday plus public holidays and 3 days off during the Christmas period, generous sick pay, attractive pension scheme, income protection, life assurance, employee discount scheme and a comprehensive training program.

NIAB actively promotes equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. As a Disability Confident Employer, we have a positive approach to employing people living with a disability.

This is a UK‑based role. You will be required to demonstrate your right to work in the UK as part of the recruitment process.

Where the role meets the relevant criteria, we are able to consider Skilled Worker visa sponsorship in line with Home Office requirements. Any offer of sponsorship will be subject to the role meeting the skill and salary thresholds and to the individual meeting the Home Office eligibility criteria.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities and do not discriminate on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected under the Equality Act 2010.

Niab reserves the right to withdraw or close this vacancy at any time.