Snr Nursery Key Account Manager

About the Opportunity

This position will monitor, report on and guide annual Nursery Plant Production operations in Northern Europe, and is key to ensuring the overall visibility of our Nursery operations, via building strong relationships and regular visitation.
This role is responsible for providing visibility to and influencing the quality of plant material, order progress and risks and opportunities of all plant and berry types, in the required quantity, in the required time frame, in Northern Europe (15 Nurseries).
This position is responsible for compiling accurate records, 3rd party and internal production snapshot reporting, assisting in implementing the plant production plan, helping to develop budgets, assisting in tracking Nursery capital expenditure on new Driscoll’s owned locations with regards to site set up and execution. Assisting in the verification of compliance with regards to spraying and fertiliser applications at internal and 3rd party sites is required, as well as the promoting and maintaining of strong relations with 3rd party and internal partners alike.

 Responsibilities

• Assist the NE Production team in planning, implementing, growing and dispatching of plant material grown by the DEMEA nursery in Northern Europe. Assist with capital and operational budget development, equipment upgrade budgeting and purchase for Driscoll’s operated nurseries; assist in developing production systems and trials to improve these systems, working with the nursery team to assess vendors to order farm supplies and equipment.
• Conduct regular 3rd party nursery and Driscoll’s internal site visits. Maintain oversight of, and guide where needed, pesticide and fertiliser application planning, use and reporting. Monitor pest and disease levels at 3rd party sites and wok with them to formulate robust pesticide and IPM strategies, as well as, formulation fertiliser recommendations and adjustments.
• Monitoring and developing of methods to reduce cost and increase efficiencies, in line with our Nursery efficiency strategy.
• Ensuring regulatory compliance throughout the 3rd party Nursery partner group pertaining but not limited to: surface and groundwater, pesticide and fertilsers usage. Ensuring records are obtained for material supplied to Driscoll’s
• Development of an “agronomic data base” to better understand month by month progress of our nursery replication rates, tip and runner counts, as a way of benchmarking ourselves in any given year, in both Raspberries shoot emergence and Strawberry tips per plant. Then comparing to actual finished plants produced.
• Visit the other Driscoll’s nursery locations globally and gain an understanding of those operations, making 1-2 trips per year for knowledge and information sharing and assisting in some oversight/consulting (the US, Mexico, China, Australia all have large and capable nurseries now).
• Assist the Nursery team, as necessary, in the Nursery claims investigation process, helping to verify claims as required.
• Follow Company policies and practices while representing Driscoll’s in an ethical and business-like manner in all interactions with employees, government agencies, growers, etc.
• Ensure the safe keeping of propriety varieties and confidential information. 
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Snr Nursery Supply Manager.

    Candidate Profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Agricultural Business or a related discipline.
• And/or Previous work experience desired: 15 years managing and/or working with soft fruit nursery plant production or fruit production, budgets, farming analytics, regulatory compliance and/or production schedules. 
• Candidate must be disciplined, detail oriented and self-motivated.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment with multiple departments.
• Good communication skills, self-starter and ability to lead by example.
• Strong computer proficiency; particularly with Excel and Power Point.
• English fluency and literacy required, with Spanish skills being an asset.
• UK or European driver’s license and the ability to be covered under company-sponsored vehicle insurance programme.
• A valid passport and the ability to travel internationally without restrictions as needed. Frequent travel is required as part of this role.