Growing Manager

Place UK Ltd; Tunstead; Remote; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Place UK Ltd is seeking a Farm Operations Lead to promote health and safety, uphold food safety standards, and drive fruit crop growth in collaboration with the Farm Management and Berry Gardens.

You will supervise crop inspection for pests and diseases, plan control measures, manage husbandry tasks and labour planning, lead on project trials and strategic development, and coach teams toward continuous improvement and strong on-site engagement.

Qualifications

• Promote and support a safe working environment.
• Adhere to health and safety requirements at all times.
• Active involvement in growing fruit crops with Farm Manager.
• Crop inspection for pests and diseases; plan and implement control measures.
• Oversee farm husbandry tasks and labour planning.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategies with Head of Fresh.
• Lead on new projects for the Farm, including trials and labour-saving ideas.
• Drive continuous improvement and performance management of the team.
• Engage with employees on-site and other managers to build relations.

Job description

Key Responsibilities.

Health and Safety:

• Promote and support a safe working environment.
• Escalate any safety issues immediately to Line Manager.
• Adhere to all health and safety requirements, at all times.

Food Safety:

• Adhere to and ensure all staff always adhere to Business Food Safety Standards.
• Escalate any potential Food Safety issues immediately.

Growing:

• Active involvement in growing all fruit crops in collaboration with the Farm Manager
• Involvement and responsibility in any propagation of plants carried out in Place UK

Crop Inspection:

• Crop inspection for pests and diseases. Crop walks with Berry Gardens and consultant agronomists.
• Planning and direction of applications for necessary predators and beneficial insects.
• Taking and sending samples of growing media, plants, leaves, flowers, water, pests and anything else required for the health of the crops by Farm Management
• To be responsible for placing and regularly checking and monitoring traps for pests and diseases within the fruit crops agreed with Head of fresh

Management:

• Overseeing the husbandry work within the Farm, including setting tasks and piecework rates for husbandry teams with the agreement of the Head of fresh
• Working on forwarding plans with the Farm Management to see future growth and labour required
• Managing the environmental control in any permanent structures where production is grown with the help of the Farm Management

Projects:

• To be involved and have input on new projects for the Farm, e.g. heated/protected cropping and season extension
• To be involved in, and in many cases leading, on growing related trial work, i.e. variety trials, new growing methods, new husbandry methods and labour-saving ideas
• To be involved in, and in many cases, leading on growing related trial work on alternative crops
• To interact with Berry Gardens and plant raisers regarding plant timings for planting, new plant quality and volumes

Strategy:

• Develop and implement strategies with the agreement of the Head of Fresh. Then, continually review and adjust the strategies in line with internal and external changes
• Have a proactive approach to new business and product development, including trial work, visiting research stations, networking with other growers and industry stakeholders and keeping updated with press information

Continuous Improvement:

• Identify possible business developments and keep informed of any new developments and modern production techniques

Site Communications & Engagement:

• Engage & build good working relationships with employees on-site, including other departmental managers

People Management :

• Development of your team and Performance Management for your direct reports
• Succession Planning
• Act as coach / mentor to other colleagues
• Drive Initiatives through continuous improvement.
• Manage Employee Relations cases such as Absence management, in line with policy.