At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the growing strategy and optimise crop performance in a high-tech glasshouse.
- Company: Join Tangmere Airfield Nurseries, a top UK fresh produce grower.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonuses, car allowance, and relocation support.
- Other info: Exciting growth opportunities in a dynamic and innovative environment.
- Why this job: Shape the future of horticulture with significant autonomy and influence.
- Qualifications: Experience in protected cropping, team leadership, and crop forecasting.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
- Head Grower
- Tangmere Airfield Nurseries
- West Sussex
Ready to take on one of the most respected growing roles in UK horticulture?
Looking for a position where your technical expertise, commercial awareness and leadership can genuinely shape the future of a business?
This is a rare opportunity. Tangmere Airfield Nurseries are expanding leadership team with a brand-new Head Grower position.
What's on offer?
- Competitive salary
- Bonus structure
- Car allowance
- Relocation support available
- Opportunity to join one of the UK's most respected fresh produce growers
- Clear pathway into the senior leadership team
- Significant autonomy and influence
- Lead and work alongside a highly experienced and established growing team
What's the job?
This is a technical growing role with significant commercial influence.
You'll take ownership of crop performance across Tangmere's highly automated 30-acre glasshouse operation, ensuring growing decisions support yield, quality, forecasting accuracy and customer expectations.
Working closely with the wider management team, you'll help ensure the growing operation continues to deliver the standards Tangmere has become known for, while supporting the business through its next phase of growth and development.
Day to day, you'll be
- Leading the growing strategy across a 30-acre glasshouse operation
- Optimising yield, quality, crop health and consistency
- Owning crop forecasting and working closely with the commercial team
- Managing direct growing costs, including labour, biologicals, substrates and crop inputs
- Working closely with suppliers, propagators and technical partners
- Leading and developing an experienced growing team, including Phase Managers and technical specialists
- Collaborating with sales and operations teams to improve forecasting and customer service
- Supporting trials, innovation and continuous improvement projects
This role isn't just about growing great crops. It's about ensuring growing decisions positively impact sales, customer requirements and the wider business.
What do I need?
- Strong protected cropping or glasshouse growing experience
- Proven ability to deliver high crop performance, quality and yield
- Experience leading teams within a commercial growing environment
- Crop forecasting experience and strong commercial awareness
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
- A collaborative approach and the ability to build trust and influence over time
Ideally, your background will be in edible crops, but we're also open to hearing from candidates with experience in commercial ornamentals or other high-tech growing environments.
Just as importantly, you'll have strong commercial awareness, as well as being a collaborative leader.
This is a business built on strong relationships, and you'll be someone who can work alongside experienced colleagues, influence constructively, and bring people with you on the journey.
Why Tangmere?
Tangmere Airfield Nurseries produce around 70 million peppers each year from a single highly automated site and are widely regarded as one of the UK's leading protected cropping businesses.
The business continues to invest heavily in technology, forecasting capability and future expansion, with planning permission already secured for additional glasshouse development.
You'll be joining at an exciting time as the business evolves its leadership structure and prepares for future growth.
What's next?
For an informal and confidential chat, please call Sarah on , email , or send me a message on Linked In.
Don't worry if your CV isn't fully up to date - just send what you have, and we'll take it from there.
More People are the exclusive recruitment partner for this project. Any CVs sent directly to Tangmere Airfield Nurseries will be referred back to More People.
Head Grower in Chichester employer: MorePeople
Join a leading UK food manufacturing business in Quarrington, where you will thrive in a dynamic work environment that values innovation and teamwork. With a structured shift pattern and a strong focus on employee development, this role offers excellent opportunities for continuous improvement and career growth, making it an ideal place for skilled Electrical Engineers looking to make a meaningful impact in the FMCG sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Grower in Chichester
✨Get Hands-On at Local Events
Hit up local horticulture fairs, plant shows, and farmer’s markets. These gatherings are a goldmine for networking and usually attract employers looking for passionate candidates. Chat with the vendors and fellow enthusiasts; you never know who might know about a full-time opening at a place like MorePeople.
✨Join Gardening Clubs and Online Communities
Become part of local gardening clubs or online forums where like-minded folks share tips and job leads. These communities can often clue you in on upcoming vacancies. Remember, people in these groups often work in the industry and can help us get our foot in the door at places like MorePeople.
✨Show Off Your Green Thumb
Consider creating a public portfolio showcasing your gardening projects, designs, or any unique plants you've cultivated. A well-documented journey through your horticulture experiences can make you stand out when chasing full-time roles. It’s basically your way of shouting, 'Look at what I can do!' to potential employers.
✨Apply Early and Often!
The horticulture field can be competitive, especially for full-time roles. Keep an eye on seasonal hiring trends and don’t hesitate to apply as soon as positions open up. Check out our website regularly for openings at MorePeople; staying ahead of the game can give us the edge we need.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Grower in Chichester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Green Thumb:In horticulture, it's all about showcasing your hands-on experience. Make sure your CV highlights any relevant gardening, landscaping, or plant care roles you've held. Also, don’t forget to mention any specific skills like plant identification or pest management that make you a great fit for the position at MorePeople.
Include Certifications and Training:If you've got any horticulture-related certifications, such as in organic gardening or landscape design, be sure to include them. This will set you apart from other applicants and show that you’re committed to expanding your knowledge in the field, which is crucial for a full-time role like Head Grower.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter should reflect not just your passion for plants but also how your experience aligns with what MorePeople is looking for. Share specific examples of projects you've worked on or challenges you've overcome in previous horticultural roles to demonstrate your suitability for the full-time position.
Be Ready to Talk Numbers:When applying for a full-time role in horticulture, it's helpful to quantify your achievements. Did you increase crop yields or reduce waste in a previous job? Highlight these metrics in your CV to give hiring managers at MorePeople a clear picture of your capabilities!
How to prepare for a job interview at MorePeople
✨Get to Know Your Plants
Brush up on your plant knowledge! Be prepared to discuss specific species, their growth requirements, and potential pests. Remember, the role involves practical horticultural skills – so don’t be shy about sharing your hands-on experience with various plants and gardening techniques.
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
If you've worked on garden designs, landscaping projects, or community gardens, bring along a portfolio showcasing your work. Visuals speak a thousand words, and this will help us see your creativity and practical skills in action. Plus, don’t forget to have a few stories about challenges you faced and how you overcame them!
✨Be Ready for a Plant Quiz
Prepare for some technical questions related to horticulture! We may ask you about soil types, plant propagation methods, or pest management strategies. This helps us assess your depth of knowledge and problem-solving skills – so don’t skip the revision!
✨Passion for Sustainability
Horticulture often revolves around sustainability practices, so be ready to discuss any experience you have with eco-friendly gardening methods or sustainable designs. This role at MorePeople might have a focus on environmental impact, so showing your commitment could set you apart from other candidates.
