Seed Production Manager - 12Month Ftc

McCain Foods Limited; Montrose; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare

Annual bonus

Pension salary sacrifice

25 days annual leave

Life insurance

Enhanced parental pay

Medicash health plan

Employee assistance program

Cycle to work

Volunteering day

Hybrid working

Job summary

McCain Foods (G.B.) Ltd in Montrose is seeking a Seed Production Manager to lead an end-to-end seed potato programme. You will oversee production from mini-tubers to commercial seed, optimising crop performance and coordinating with growers and partners.

You will guide agronomy practices, ensure regulatory compliance, and drive continuous improvement across the seed network, contributing to sustainable supply and growth.

Qualifications

• Experience in seed potato production and crop management.
• Strong knowledge of seed potato legislation and certification requirements.
• Ability to analyze data and drive improvements in yield and quality.
• Proven relationship-building skills with growers, suppliers and partners.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver the retained seed programme from seed to commercial production.
• Oversee end-to-end production of contracted seed crops, ensuring compliance.
• Drive crop performance by selecting growers and matching varieties to conditions.
• Lead performance reviews with growers and support continuous improvement in yield and cost.
• Develop and maintain a network of seed suppliers to meet business needs.
• Collaborate with agronomy partners to share best practices and support new initiatives.
• Work with Seed and Agronomy teams to progress trials to commercial production.
• Oversee seed certification processes, including inspections and stock management.
• Lead crop assessments to optimize harvest timing and seed quality.
• Identify opportunities to improve seed supply chain processes.

Skills

Seed agronomy

Crop performance

Data analysis

Grower relations

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Job description

Position Title: Seed Production Manager - 12month FTC

Position Type: Temporary - Full-Time

Requisition ID: 45388

Seed Production Manager – 12month FTC

Montrose

In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and passionate about creating exceptional work experiences - together. With a customer-first mindset, we make doing business with McCain easy.

About the role.

The Seed Production Manager plays a key role in delivering a reliable and high-performing seed potato supply chain, overseeing production from mini-tubers through to commercial seed. Working closely with growers, you'll drive crop performance, improve yields, and ensure a sustainable supply of high-quality seed potatoes to support the business's long-term growth. You'll also provide expert agronomy guidance and lead continuous improvement initiatives across the seed production network, helping our growers achieve their full potential.

What you’ll be doing.

• Lead the planning and delivery of our annual retained seed programme, ensuring the right seed stocks are selected, allocated, graded and stored to meet business requirements.
• Manage the end-to-end production of contracted seed crops, from mini-tubers and high-grade seed through to commercial production, ensuring compliance with seed potato regulations.
• Drive crop performance and yield by selecting the right growers and matching varieties to the most suitable growing conditions.
• Build strong partnerships with growers, leading regular performance reviews and supporting continuous improvement in yield, quality, efficiency and cost.
• Develop and maintain a high-performing and engaged network of seed suppliers that can meet both current and future business needs.
• Work closely with external agronomy and advisory partners to share best practice, strengthen grower performance and support the successful implementation of new initiatives.
• Collaborate with Seed and Agronomy teams to introduce new varieties, develop growing guidelines and support their successful progression from trial stages to commercial production.
• Oversee seed certification processes, including crop inspections, measurements, harvest quality reporting and stock management.
• Lead crop assessment activities throughout the growing season, using key insights and data to optimise harvest timing, maximise yields and maintain seed quality standards.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes across the seed supply chain, helping to deliver a more efficient, resilient and sustainable seed production programme.

What you’ll need to be successful.

• Experience working within seed potato production, with a strong understanding of crop management and the factors that influence seed quality and yield.
• Sound technical knowledge of seed potato agronomy and a passion for driving crop performance through best practice and continuous improvement.
• A good understanding of seed potato legislation and certification requirements, with the ability to ensure compliance across the production cycle.
• Strong relationship-building skills, with the confidence to work closely with growers, suppliers and industry partners to achieve shared goals.
• The ability to analyse data, identify opportunities and make informed decisions that improve performance across the supply chain.
• Well‑organised and able to manage multiple priorities, balancing long‑term planning with day‑to‑day operational requirements.
• Previous people leadership or team management experience would be advantageous, but is not essential.
• Comfortable using Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel and Word, with the ability to work confidently with production and performance data.

Benefits.

Although we do encourage you to taste the goods, you'll be pleased to know we don't pay you in chips. Alongside your salary, you'll enjoy a range of benefits including:

• Private healthcare [single]
• Annual bonus scheme based on both company and individual performance with the ability to salary sacrifice into your pension
• An excellent salary sacrifice pension scheme where we'll contribute double what you do, up to a maximum of 12% of your salary
• 25 days' annual leave from day one plus bank holidays (increasing with service), giving you plenty of time to recharge with the opportunity to buy and sell up to 5 days holiday per year
• Life insurance cover providing peace of mind for you and your family
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay, because the moments that matter outside of work matter to us too
• Medicash health cash plan, helping you claim money back on everyday healthcare costs, with access to a virtual GP and wellbeing support
• TELUS Health employee and family assistance programme offering full wellbeing support - including a 24/7 confidential counselling line, legal and financial guidance, and a range of employee discounts.
• Salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme
• A paid 'Chips In' Volunteering Day, giving you the opportunity to support projects that make a positive impact in our communities
• Flexible/hybrid working arrangements where the role allows

And because you're joining a global business, your career opportunities don't stop at the factory gate. Whether you're looking to deepen your expertise, step into leadership, or even explore opportunities internationally, we'll support your growth. With ambitious plans for the future, there's plenty of scope to develop your career with us.

About McCain.

Click Here to learn more about McCain and how we provide you with opportunities to make an impact that matters.

Leadership principles.

At McCain, our leadership principles guide how we engage with customers, collaborate as a team, and achieve success. We focus on understanding customer needs, driving innovation, empowering people, and taking ownership to clear obstacles and deliver results.

AI & Digital Capabilities.

At McCain, AI and digital capabilities are part of how we work and innovate. We value curiosity toward emerging technologies and the thoughtful, responsible use of AI-enabled tools to improve outcomes as part of our future-ready culture.

The McCain experience.

We are McCain. This statement is a testament to our collective strength and our individual value. Your contributions play a vital role in our success. Our winning culture is rooted in authenticity and trust, empowering us to bring out the best in one another. Here, you’ll find opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Join us and experience why we’re better together.

Our purpose is grounded in building meaningful relationships. We’re big believers in the power of working together in person—it helps us stay connected, collaborate more effectively, and grow as a team. At the same time, we recognize the importance of flexibility. Most office-based roles follow a hybrid model, with the option to work remotely two days a week. There may be exceptions depending on the role and location, so we encourage you to speak with your recruiter for more details.

#LI-OW1

McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company, we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to find appropriate solutions.

Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with McCain’s Global Privacy Policy and Global Employee Privacy Policy, as applicable. McCain leverages AI in the hiring process, though all final decisions are made by humans. You can understand our approach to AI and how your personal information is being handled here.

Job Family: Agriculture

Location(s): GB - United Kingdom : Scotland : Montrose

Company: McCain Foods (G.B.) Ltd