The BBRO, www.bbro.co.uk, is a dynamic organisation with a friendly team, who are enthusiastic about agriculture and making a difference for sugar beet growers. We conduct research to help the UK sugar beet industry increase profitability and sustainably improve yields. We are very supportive of each other and are proud of our values: ‘Trusted, Innovative, Approachable and Industry-leading’. The role is based at the Centrum, Norwich Research Park with occasional travel to offsite trial locations across East Anglia.
What does the role entail?
This role is for you if you are keen and self-motivated with a positive, resilient, “can-do” attitude. You need to be able to effectively prioritise and carry out tasks, give attention to detail, meet deadlines and follow systems whilst running and monitoring first class field trials. You will have the ability to communicate well with your colleagues and parties external to the organisation.
Working across our research and KE teams you will be responsible for research projects and KE activities predominantly underpinned by crop protection but also linked to agronomy and crop management, enabling growers to maximise the productivity of their sugar beet crop.
HOW WILL I BE REWARDED? Competitive industry salary circa £30,000 (dependant on experience) and excellent training and personal development opportunities. The role is permanent and 35 hours per week. BBRO offers 27 days annual holiday plus bank holidays and an extensive benefits package and employee assistance programme including pension contribution, private healthcare cover and healthcare cash plan.
You will be responsible for work in the following areas:
- Conducting and assessing controlled environment and field trials related to crop protection, including the use of laboratory diagnostics, with a focus on the virus yellows complex
- Developing a broad understanding of common foliar diseases and crop pests of sugar beet and horizon scan for emerging threats
- Evaluating and assessing innovation for possible application into the sugar beet crop from other crops or countries to develop new solutions for the UK
- assisting with the selection and culture of pests and diseases to maintain viable BBRO collections and with the maintenance of plants in glasshouse facilities
- Delivering presentations/publications/press releases etc. relevant to crop protection in sugar beet
- Promoting BBRO science internationally with attendance and participation at relevant conferences and meetings, production of peer reviewed publications in encouraged.
Key skills will include:
- A Science or agricultural PhD or significant knowledge on crop protection of sugar beet
- Experience of working in a field, laboratory, and glasshouse environment, with a good understanding of statistical design and analysis
- Ability to translate scientific research into practical messages and production of key messages and concise action points relevant to the needs of the audience
- Good communicator with good networking skills and ability to build strong research partnerships and collaborations
- Self-motivated with an ability to work effectively alone as well as within a team.
What should I do now?
If you feel you have the relevant skills and experience, we would love to hear from you! Send us a copy of your latest CV (in complete confidence), and a little bit about yourself directly to – michelle.mcknespiey@bbro.co.uk. A full job description is also available upon request.
Closing date is 30 September 2023
