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Programme Manager - Top Fruit
Job Posted: 4 hours ago
Salary: £ 37,000 - 75,000 / Annum
Job Type: Permanent
Location: West Malling, Kent
Expire in: a month
Job Description
Key Responsibilities
* Manage the apple and pear breeding pipeline from initial crossings through to advanced selections.
* Coordinate trials across multiple orchards, tracking performance metrics (yield, taste, storage, disease resistance, visual appeal).
* Liaise with breeders, geneticists, and trial partners to evaluate and progress promising varieties.
* Maintain detailed records of trial results and produce regular progress reports.
* Oversee day-to-day management of trial orchards and commercial test plantings.
* Ensure trial sites are properly resourced, monitored, and compliant with agronomic and sustainability standards.
* Work with growers and orchard managers on planting schedules, tree health, pest and disease control, and orchard grading systems.
* Manage installation and utilisation of orchard grader technology to capture QC and yield data.
* Act as the main point of contact for UK and international retailers regarding varietal development programmes.
* Prepare and deliver high-quality presentations showcasing trial results, consumer insights, and commercial potential.
* Coordinate retailer visits to orchards and trial sites.
* Gather and integrate retailer feedback into breeding and development strategy.
* Develop and manage multi-year programme timelines and budgets.
* Track milestones and ensure on-time delivery of breeding, orchard, and commercial objectives.
* Collaborate with internal teams across (import, QC, commercial, marketing).
* Report progress to senior management and stakeholders, providing clear updates on risk, opportunity, and next steps.
* Liaise with producer organisations (e.g., AGPO) on funding, reporting, and repayment schemes.
Skills & Experience
Strong programme/project management skills (multi-year planning, budgeting, stakeholder engagement).
Background in horticulture, agriculture, plant breeding, or fresh produce supply chains preferred.
Commercial awareness of UK and European retail produce markets.
Excellent presentation and communication skills, with the ability to engage retailers and growers alike.
Data-driven, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing trial data, QC dashboards,
and financial reporting.
Strong relationship-management skills across growers, breeders, retailers, and internal teams.
Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint), with experience in ERP/prophet systems an advantage.
Entrepreneurial, proactive, and adaptable.
Able to balance scientific rigour with commercial pragmatism.
Passion for horticulture, sustainability, and bringing new products to market.
Comfortable working in orchards, boardrooms, and everything in between.(INDPERM)Before You Apply
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