Crop Health Specialist

As a Crop Health Specialist, you will have an understanding of the impact and management of biotic (pests, weeds or diseases) and/or abiotic stresses on crops, as well as how this is influenced by the environment. You will champion Innovation in this area working with a wide range of members, clients, partners and stakeholders with a particular focus on One Health.

You will use your knowledge of the sector and this area to effectively horizon scan, track emerging trends and ensure that our partners are aware of the latest developments and how they can engage with them.

You will ensure that your expert knowledge and networks are maintained, using these to promote the work of the catapult and leverage opportunities.

You will provide technical expertise to support the delivery of strategic priorities in both the short and long term. This will include liaising with Partners, Members and External Stakeholders to enhance networks, build consortia and write bids, drawing upon your technical expertise and working collaboratively with the Innovation and wider teams to secure income for the UK Agri-Tech Centre (ATC).

Working with the Head of One Health you will support the development of our strategy helping to highlight growth areas and potential new areas of innovation and activity. You will be intrinsic to the development and publication of thought leadership reports in your field of expertise, and you will promote these through presentations at events, conferences, webinars and workshops.,

• Provide strategic and technical leadership in your specialist area


• Initiate, develop and lead successful applications and bid proposals to maximise the use of capabilities and secure future income


• Work with network, stakeholders, partners and clients to identify new opportunities for the catapult


• Work with the Head of One Health to support the development of the strategy, identifying the key areas and trends to engage with


• Proactively research and engage with the sector to understand current opportunities and challenges


• Provide accurate technical assessment of applications, bids and projects and present those findings to technical and non-technical audiences


• Raise awareness of the ATC and its capabilities


• Provide relevant documentation and reports internally


• Produce briefing documents and presentations as required for colleagues, Board and wider audiences


• Pursue new opportunities with existing and potential clients, meeting organisational contribution goals


• Proactively engagewith the Business Development team to drive both commercial and grant funding income into ATC


• Deliver commercial and CR&D projects on time and to budget


• Contribute technical expertise to projects


• Lead the objective assessment of emerging data against aspirations


• Support delivery of the events programme for members partners and stakeholders


• Enhance engagement with members, clients, and partners


• Contribute towards Thought Leadership reports working across teams and functions to ensure that the reports are impactful, relevant, and useful to the sector


• Liaise with members, partners and stakeholders to increase innovation activity with particular reference to utilising catapult assets and facilities


• Be an ambassador for the ATC within the scientific community creating relationships and building potential opportunities
  
  Postgraduate qualifications in a relevant discipline and significant, current experience in this discipline


• Strong existing network of contacts


• Experience working on Agri-System issues, with depth and strength in your chosen field


• Experience working with both academic and industry partners


• Experience in managing and delivering projects


• Experience in delivering workshops and seminars


• An understanding of the R&D process, the Agri-Tech sector and agri-business practices


• Ability to engage and enthuse colleagues at all levels of the business, using a collaborative approach and excellent consultative skills


• A solid knowledge of statistics, research techniques, and experimental procedures, proven analytical skills


• Capability and credibility in complex, business critical projects and ability to cope with ambiguity and manage senior key stakeholders


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including facilitation and presentation, able to translate technical information for non-technical audiences


• Ability to analyse and solve problems with an appreciation of longer-term implications


• Ability to work accurately to tight deadlines and on own initiative