Forage Plant Breeding Technician

We are seeking a motivated, conscientious and organised Forage Plant Breeding Technician to join our Germinal Horizon team at IBERS, Gogerddan, Aberystwyth to cover maternity leave from May to November 2024.

You will be working with and supporting our field and breeding teams in the ongoing maintenance, preparation, sowing and harvesting of field plots and other areas. You will also be undertaking laboratory and glasshouse tasks including sowing, maintaining plants, placing plants in isolation houses, hand pollination, seed production, harvesting, and threshing.

Please note that this role involves working in high dust and pollen environments (PPE kit is provided) and also with red clover which can cause an allergic reaction in some people. The majority of the work is outdoors.

The role

• Working as an active member of the forage breeding team in the harvesting and maintenance of large scale field and glasshouse trials at Germinal Horizon Aberystwyth/IBERS Gogerddan.


• Assisting in land preparation for sowing and planting, weed control (including hand-weeding), plot harvesting and sample processing.


• Assisting senior field staff and the breeding team in the accurate harvesting of plot experiments using a Haldrup forage plot harvester and gaining an understanding of field forage plot experimentation.


• Assisting with various duties associated with glasshouse work, such as sowing, planting, thinning, cutting black and repotting of experimental plants and any agronomic measurements required by senior staff.


• Assisting with crosses and seed multiplication, involving placing plants in isolation houses, seed harvesting and threshing.


• Assisting with small laboratory tasks as laid out in standard protocols and procedures to include ploidy testing, germination tests and preparing disease inoculum.
  
  Must be able to work independently (after training) and as part of a team.


• Should be physically fit and in good general health e,g. able to lift moderate/heavy weights such as a bucket of compost.


• Must be willing to work in all weather conditions.


• Must be able to work in high dust and pollen environments.


• Should have excellent organisational and time management skills and able to multi-task.


• Must be able to follow detailed instructions with accuracy and diligence.


• Should be proficient in accurate and detailed record keeping.


• Must be computer literate, particularly in word processing and managing spreadsheets.


• Ideally should hold a full, clean UK driving license.
  
  As part of the Openfolde group, Germinal Horizon is a company that is moving forward, leading the way, innovating for the future and developing the best products. We have knowledge of our customers' needs at ground level and research knowledge and foresight to know what's needed for future growth.
  
  Germinal Horizon is our absolute commitment to science for answers, to proactively seek new technologies addressing the challenges of food production in the face of climate change.


We are offering the successful candidate:

· A competitive salary of £23,000 per annum (pro-rata)

· 23 days annual leave plus 8 public holidays (pro rata)

· Pension scheme

· Flexibility in work

To apply, please forward your CV noting how your experience makes you suitable for this role to sarah.flanagan@openfolde.com by 5pm on Thursday 9th May 2024.

We regret that applications received after the closing date and time will not be accepted.

Applicants must be available to attend in-person interviews at our Germinal Horizon Aberystwyth site.

Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 9 months

Pay: Up to £23,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company events


• Company pension


• Cycle to work scheme


Schedule:

• Day shift


• Monday to Friday


Ability to commute/relocate:

• Ceredigion, SY23 3EE: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)


Application question(s):

• Are you comfortable working outdoors throughout the year and in potentially high dust and pollen environments?


Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)