Head of Seed Production

We’re looking for an enthusiastic and experienced individual to lead our Seed Production team. This is an exciting opportunity to take charge of planning, managing, and delivering top-quality seed production for Elsoms’ agricultural and vegetable businesses. While this role oversees all seed production activities, the main focus will be on agricultural and field crop seed production.

Salary starting from £60K plus company vehicle

What You’ll Be Doing

• Collaborating with departmental managers and commercial teams to understand and meet quality, volume, timing, cost, and certification requirements for seed production.
• Creating and maintaining a five-year seed production plan that aligns with sales forecasts and ensures production meets volume, quality, and certification standards.
• Mentoring and developing a high-performing team, fostering a culture of success aligned with Elsoms’ business strategy.
• Ensuring seed quality and purity meets or exceeds industry standards.
• Working closely with plant breeders and lab teams to maintain purity and the required genotypic/phenotypic characteristics in commercial seed productions.
• Liaising with the Operations team to ensure seamless communication about processing volumes and timescales.
• Managing the departmental budget, reporting on performance, and aligning production processes with business objectives.
• Building strong relationships with UK and international growers, contractors, and processors, negotiating contracts, and resolving issues effectively.
• Maintaining facilities and equipment to ensure efficient operations.
• Continuously identifying opportunities for improving efficiency and effectiveness in seed production.
• Contributing to departmental strategy and supporting colleagues across the business.
• Ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of the team at all times.

What We’re Looking For

Qualifications

• A degree in a relevant subject or equivalent experience in seed production.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• Expertise in seed production, particularly in cereal and oilseed crops.
• Proficiency within farming and/or agronomy.
• A proven ability to develop and deliver multi-year production plans that align with sales forecasts.
• A strong understanding of crop certification and seed processing requirements.
• Broad crop knowledge and experience in agricultural or scientific fields.
• Commercial awareness.
• Strong networks within the agricultural/horticultural industry.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills for yourself and your team.
• Skilled in negotiation, conflict resolution, and collaboration.
• A proactive approach to sharing knowledge and mentoring team members.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and other relevant IT tools.
• The ability to stay calm and focused under pressure, working independently or as part of a team.

Who You Are

• You lead by example, ensuring a safe and supportive work environment for your team.
• You understand commercial demands and know how to meet them effectively.
• You’re flexible and adaptable to meet production and business needs.
• You value collaboration and take pride in mentoring and developing others.
• You’re open to feedback, encourage innovative ideas, and create a positive team culture.

What We Offer

At Elsoms, we value our people and offer a range of benefits to support your well-being and work-life balance. These include enhanced maternity and paternity pay, a company pension scheme, income protection, and life assurance. We also prioritise employee well-being with initiatives such as yoga classes and other activities designed to help you stay healthy and motivated.

This role is key to our continued success and growth in seed production. If you’re ready to make an impact and contribute to a thriving agricultural business, we’d love to hear from you!