Trials and Technical Lead in Cambridge

• Line Manager: Managing Director
• JOB SUMMARY

The Trials and Technical Lead is a pivotal role within Senova, responsible for supporting the successful development, evaluation and commercial positioning of new crop varieties across the company's portfolio.

Working closely with plant breeders, trial operators, external service providers and the commercial team, the role ensures that robust technical data is generated, analysed and translated into practical recommendations that support variety selection, registration and market success.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Act as the technical lead and subject matter expert across all crop species within the Senova portfolio.
• Design, coordinate and deliver an effective private screening and trial programme across all crop species.
• Liaise with third‑party trial operators and external service providers to identify, establish and manage suitable trial sites throughout the UK.
• Monitor and assess field trials, collecting high‑quality data on agronomic performance, disease resistance and genotype‑by‑environment interactions.
• Analyse trial data and prepare technical reports and summaries to support breeding decisions, variety advancement and commercial development.
• Work closely with plant breeders to evaluate new material and support the development of future varieties.
• Develop evidence‑based variety positioning strategies in collaboration with commercial colleagues to maximise market potential.
• Produce technical literature and crop husbandry guides for commercial varieties using trial data and industry best practice.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with trial operators, official crop inspectors, breeding partners, seed producers and customers.
• Host breeder, customer and stakeholder visits to trial sites and represent Senova professionally at technical events where required.
• Contribute to the achievement of company objectives by supporting wider business initiatives and collaborating with colleagues across departments.
• Promote and maintain high standards of health, safety and environmental compliance across all trial activities.
• Undertake occasional maintenance of trial sites and equipment to ensure operational effectiveness.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Recognised qualifications in Agriculture / Plant Science or relevant experience is essential.
• BASIS and FACTS qualification is desirable, but training could be offered to the right candidate.
• Full UK driving licence is essential.

EXPERIENCE

• Significant experience working in Agriculture, preferably within a technical role.
• Crop exposure across a range of species including cereals, pulses and oilseeds with a critical appreciation for agronomy.
• Experience in data generation, trial design and analysis.
• Group presentations.

SKILLS

• Excellent crop and variety knowledge including diseases and agricultural practices.
• Excellent organisational skills with a close attention to detail.
• Communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to remain calm and focused under pressure.
• Ability to handle routine tasks and procedures.
• Proficient on Microsoft Office applications e. g. Excel, Word, Power Point, Outlook.
• Time management with the capability to prioritise tasks efficiently and adapt to changing demands.
• Self‑motivated, capable of working alone and as part of a team.

ABOUT YOU

• Someone who is highly motivated, energetic and enthusiastic.
• A good team player.
• Flexible to and understands the nature of work and its requirement to work both indoors and outdoors.
• Someone who takes health and safety seriously.
• Someone who is physically capable of the role demands and able to identify reasonable adjustments where appropriate.
• Open to receiving constructive feedback.
• Interested in continuous improvement, making the process as efficient as possible.
• Someone who leads by example.
• Someone who is keen for personal development.
• RENUMERATION

Competitive salary depending on experience.

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