Are you an experienced Head of Crop with a background in Soft Fruits ? Would you like to work for an independently owned, market leader, using innovative growing techniques to continuously produce soft fruit of exceptional quality.
Role Remit
Responsible for the growing team, growing top quality high yielding strawberry and blueberry crops that meet the requirements of retail supermarket customers. To ensure crop husbandry, production targets & timings are adhered to in all areas. Managing, developing and monitoring the growing teams performance in order to optimise the cycle of plant delivery.
Responsibilities
*Quality of plants – Ensure that all purchased plants meet S&A quality specification. Report any problems to the Head of Soft Fruit Growing immediately.
*Crop planning and forecasting – Be able to create crop plans in various growing situations, glasshouses, heated tunnels, and traditional tunnels. Be able to long term forecast for the commercial department. Be able to problem solve crop issues and have solutions to rectify
*Crop Maintenance & Husbandry – Together with the operations team plan and deliver crop costs against the annual husbandry tasks and labour requirements. Implement irrigation, fertigation and plant protection products as required throughout the season and maintain records to enable future analysis and improvements. Ensure that spraying is in compliance with current legislation and agreed guidelines. 
*Crop protection – Extensive knowledge of Biologicals and pests. Able to create yearly biological programs. Recommend spray programs that work together with biologicals. Environmental assessments of crop surroundings
*Recording and reporting – Report monthly against budget on all inputs. Maintain all records as required. Able to lead and participate in any audits.
*People Management - Lead the Herefordshire growing teams and support, inform and direct the teams by highlighting business priorities and customer requirements.
*Continuous Improvements - Maintain a culture of continuous improvements across the operation. Evaluate all processes continuously and identify opportunities for improvements with the team through an engaging style of management.  Strive to continuously increase value to the customers, the company and employees by enhancing OTIF (On Time In Full) performance.
Salary
*Up to £65,000 depending in experience.
Hours
*Variable depending on operational demands.
Closing date 31.12.2024
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Hawk 3 Talent Solutions are committed to the selection, recruitment, and development of the best people, basing judgements solely on suitability for the job. Whilst we endeavour to respond to all applications individually, due to high volumes, this is not always possible. Thank you for your interest in this role and we look forward to working with you in the future.