Technical Manager

Key Responsibilities

• Technical leadership:
• Provide technical expertise to the business across all aspects of soil, crop and livestock nutrition
• Develop and maintain in-depth technical knowledge across the OSN product portfolio
• Provide technical direction to support the company’s strategic objectives and growth plans
• Monitor market developments, emerging technologies and changes in policy and regulation that relate to soil and crop nutrition and fertiliser practice
• Product development and innovation:
• Proactively identify opportunities for new products that have agronomic relevance to farmers and commercial benefit to the company
• Working in close alignment with the procurement team and supplier strategy, evaluate new product opportunities from a technical perspective through the design, planning and management of trial work and research
• Collaborate with colleagues in other Origin Group businesses and participate in inter-company working groups, e.g. Sustainable Innovation Group (SIG) soil & nutrition and AgFutures
• Proactively liaise with academic and industry partners on relevant research projects, scientific findings, papers, etc. and develop working relationships with key people
• Commercial and customer support:
• Prepare and issue EEF and GAFSA price lists to sales managers as required
• Liaise with sales and marketing colleagues to provide technical support to EEF campaigns
• Provide technical and commercial support to our export customer in Iceland
• External affairs:
• Develop an in-depth understanding of policy and regulations that affect fertiliser practice
• Represent OSN in / with the following:
• AIC Agriculture & Environment Committee
• AIC Fertiliser Regulations Working Group
• RB209 Technical Working Groups (led by AHDB)
• Defra fertiliser team
• International Fertiliser Society Council
• Essential experience and capabilities:
• Degree in agricultural science, agronomy, soil science or related discipline
• FACTS qualified
• Relevant work experience, e.g. technical role in the fertiliser sector, soil and crop nutrition, etc.
• Previous commercial experience is also essential, ideally within the fertiliser sector
• Demonstrable understanding of soil and crop nutrition, nutrient management, fertiliser advice and recommendations
• Experience in designing and implementing nutrition trials and analysing trial data
• Full driving licence and willingness to travel regularly
• Key competencies
• Technical and agronomic expertise
• Commercial acumen and awareness
• Strategic planning skills
• Ability to proactively identify market gaps and develop innovative solutions
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Project management