Reporting to the Senior Operations Manager and working closely with the Head of PSS, the Seed Manager is responsible for all of our seed production operations which includes managing state of art Seed processing unit, organising and processing cone/seed collections, seed supply to internal & external customers, seed treatments including researching into better stratification methods, seed testing, procuring seed from international seed houses, seed orchard management, planning & establishing new seed orchards and seed stands. Providing high-level oversight, you will line-manage Seed technicians, Seed Resource & Seed Orchard manager. You will also be actively involved in the ambitious multi-million-pound projects to transform our seed production systems.

The Seed manager is responsible for short and long-term seed production planning, ensuring that customer order requirements are consistently met. The post holder will develop excellent relationships and efficient lines of communication with the Container nursery & Open Nursery manager, private forest nurseries, Conifer breeding co-op (CBC), Future Trees Trust (FTT), FLS, wider Forestry England District and National team members. As a proven inspirational leader, you will maintain a world-class seed production system whilst supporting and developing our in-house team.

As Seed manager the successful candidate will be at the front line of making sure our forests are resilient as our climate changes.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our Plant and Seed Supply unit, at a time when we are investing over £10 million to help us obtain high quality seed that would grow into the millions of high-quality planting stock we need each year.

We are looking for an ambitious, energetic manager with impressive experience in leading teams, and improving processes, in an operational environment. The position is based at our Delamere Nursery hub in Cheshire.

The post holder will be expected to be primarily based on site, with support provided for a blended working approach. Travel to sites across England will be required. The post-holder will spend considerable amount of time at our old seed unit at Alice Holt shadowing our current Seed manager and learning about processes and systems during the first 6 months.

• Responsibility for ensuring both existing and new seed orchards are managed and the seed extractory delivers on processing cones/seed in a time bound manner.
• Process seed in a timely manner each season, using a range of specialised equipment whilst maintaining a safe working environment in the Seed Extractory and ensuring costs of seed processing is in line with budgeted amounts.
• Maintain records of work undertaken, ensuring full & complete traceability of seed during processing (to ensure compliance with Forest Reproductive Materials Regulations).
• Liaise with the Senior Operations Manager and Delamere Nursery Managers to agree required seed lots for future nursery use.
• Liaise with external customers on seed enquiries and process their seed orders in a timely manner.
• Seed testing & treatment- developing a seed lab & robust procedure to test seed for purity, viability, germination. Treating seed for breaking dormancy.
• Seed storage & inventory - ensure the seed is stored at the correct temperatures and sampling & checks are done regularly to ensure excellent seed health. Ensuring annual seed stock is done and figures submitted to the PSS Finance Team.
• Work with the Senior Operations Manager, Seed Resources & Orchard Managers to develop seed resources to deliver the Species for the Future Strategy.
• Seed Production planning based on requirement forecasts and long-term objectives.
• Developing and Managing performance in our production teams.
• Maintaining a first-class working culture, prioritising Health & Safety, Equality and Diversity.
• Communicating and networking with the wider organisation and external bodies.
• Promoting the work of PSS by hosting visitors and engaging with stakeholders.
• Any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Degree in a relevant subject (e.g., Forestry, Horticulture, Agriculture) or ability to demonstrate equivalent level of work experience in a relevant industry.
• Experience of seed production planning and delivery within a fast-paced operational environment.
• Sound knowledge of cone/seed collection, processing, storage, testing & treatments.
• Knowledge of plus tree identification, making a copy of plus tree by grafting, developing breeding populations, seed orchard designs, planting & management.
• Attention to details & can-do attitude.
• Excellent IT skills, including Microsoft Office 365 applications.
• Experience of working closely with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven leadership skills with a track record of team building and staff development.

Please clearly demonstrate how the above applies to you throughout your application. Failure to do so will mean that your application is automatically sifted out.

Qualifications

• Degree in a relevant subject (e.g., Forestry, Horticulture, Agriculture) or ability to demonstrate equivalent level of work experience in a relevant industry.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Awareness of the UK Forestry & nurseries sector.
• Knowledge of modern commercial seed processing systems.
• Experience in flowering induction, control pollination, developing of hybrids.
• Experience in bio-security assurance and plant health management in nursery production.
• Project management experience.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Developing Self and Others
• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Understanding of the seed processing cycle, from collection through to storage and distribution.
• Knowledge of FRM regulations and how this should be managed.
• Establishment and management of seed orchards and other seed resources.
• Seed testing and treatments, including elements such as purity, viability, germination and breaking dormancy.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Job contact :

• Name : Imam Sayyed
• Email : [email protected]

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]