Seed, Innovation & Sustainability Manager

Job content

In addition this role will lead as a central point of Agriculture innovation from horizon scanning new technologies to collaborating with research partners, and leading on sustainability initiatives such as the carbon agenda and evaluating regenerative agriculture production techniques.
Key Accountabilities include:
Seed

• Analyse variety performance data and recommend appropriate actions to optimise national yield.
• Work in partnership with NFU Sugar (Seed Working Group) to maintain our position of securing the lowest cost seed in Europe.
• Responsible for seed negotiation round with the seed breeders and Seed Working Group, including pricing.
• Hold position on the Recommended List project board to represent British Sugar interests.
• Drive yield devolvement from seed technology (pelleting and pesticides).
• Responsible for seed distribution and seed complaint process.
• Responsible for ensuring all specifications and contractor terms and conditions are maintained within specification throughout the year.
• Deliver budget expectations, in line with forecast and PIP.

Innovation & Sustainability

• Lead on identifying prospective workstreams and projects across innovation and sustainability.
• Focus on soils – evaluating regenerative agriculture techniques as part of a sugar beet rotation.
• Evaluate GHG emissions from sugar beet production, identify potential projects to mitigate carbon footprint.
• Horizon scanning for new threats and opportunities across the agriculture sector, from new technologies to potentially limiting regulatory and policy change.
• Develop network and build relationships with universities, research institutes, machinery manufacturers, and more widely across the agriculture and technology sector.
• Evaluate application of novel plant protection controls, robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, including connecting with BBRO and future knowledge exchange.

What are we looking for?

• Strong communication skills
• Agriculture experience or interest
• Higher education
• Ability to work with multiple internal and external stakeholders and suppliers
• Commercial experience, with application of discretion for sensitive information
• Strives for continuous improvement
• Project management experience

The British beet sugar industry has been operating for over 100 years and is one of the most efficient and productive sugar industries in the world. Sugar beet grown in fields across the East of England is made into sugar that is consumed not just across the UK, but across the world. We work with over 3,000 UK farmers, supporting 9,500 jobs across the industry and serve customers across the UK, Ireland and increasingly growing commercially in the EU and world sugar markets.

For further information about this vacancy or a copy of the job description, please contact peopleservices@britishsugar.com

Job Type: Permanent

Salary: £55,000.00-£65,000.00 per year