Soft Fruit Agronomist

Dyson Farming is a family-owned business, with a vision to benefit future generations through a commitment to commercially viable and environmentally sustainable food production at scale. We strive to be industry leaders in efficient, carbon-neutral, high-technology agriculture, employing highly skilled, pioneering people and supported by research and development in an ever-closer partnership with our sister company, Dyson. We see the future of agriculture as an exciting opportunity to improve the nation’s food security, health, and economic growth.

Dyson Farming is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is treated fairly and with respect. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.

Role summary

The Soft Fruit Agronomist will be responsible for providing high-quality, commercially focused agronomic advice across Dyson Farming’s expanding strawberry enterprise.

Working within the existing Agronomy team, the role will take responsibility for crop protection strategy, crop input recommendations, agronomic monitoring and the procurement and management of crop inputs across approximately 23.7 hectares of protected strawberry production.

You will work closely with the Head Grower, General Manager and Operations Manager to support the delivery of high-yielding, high-quality crops while maintaining a strong focus on integrated pest management, environmental stewardship, regulatory compliance and cost control.

A key objective of the role will be to develop internal agronomic capability within the soft fruit business, progressively reducing reliance on external agronomy while maintaining access to specialist expertise where this adds value.

Requirements

Agronomy and Crop Management

• Provide agronomic support across strawberry crops grown in glasshouse, plastic greenhouse and tunnel production systems.
• Undertake regular crop walks and monitoring to identify pest, disease, nutritional and crop health issues.
• Develop and maintain technically robust crop protection programmes throughout the production cycle.
• Provide timely crop protection recommendations in line with current legislation, product approvals, resistance-management guidance and Dyson Farming policies.
• Work closely with the Head Grower to integrate agronomic recommendations with irrigation, nutrition, climate management, crop husbandry and production objectives.
• Develop and promote Integrated Pest Management (IPM), including biological and cultural controls, crop monitoring and appropriate use of conventional crop protection products.
• Evaluate new crop protection products, biological solutions, technologies and agronomic techniques to improve crop performance, quality, sustainability and production efficiency.
• Review crop performance and agronomic outcomes to continually improve future growing programmes.

Crop Protection and Input Procurement

• Take responsibility for crop protection recommendations across the soft fruit operation.
• Manage the purchasing of crop protection products and agreed agronomic inputs, working with the business buying group.
• Ensure inputs are sourced competitively and efficiently, in line with Dyson Farming procurement procedures.
• Monitor product use, stock levels and expenditure throughout the season.
• Maintain accurate records of recommendations, applications and crop protection inventories.
• Ensure all purchasing and use of crop protection products complies with relevant legislation and assurance requirements.

Budget Management

• Build the annual crop input budget with the Head Grower.
• Forecast crop protection and other agronomic input requirements.
• Monitor expenditure against budget throughout the season and identify potential overspend at an early stage.
• Manage agronomic inputs within the agreed budget, providing clear technical and commercial justification where additional expenditure is required.
• Identify opportunities to improve input efficiency and reduce costs without compromising crop performance, quality or risk management.

Communication and Collaboration

• Lead a weekly agronomy update with the Head of Agronomy, General Manager, Head Grower and Operations Manager.
• Provide clear updates on pest and disease pressure, crop protection activity, biological control performance, emerging risks, expenditure and upcoming priorities.
• Escalate significant crop health, regulatory or commercial risks promptly.
• Work collaboratively with the wider Dyson Farming Agronomy team and contribute to the development of best practice across the business.

Technical Knowledge and Industry Engagement

• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of UK crop protection legislation, product approvals, EAMUs, Maximum Residue Levels and relevant assurance requirements.
• Monitor changes to active substance approvals and legislation that may affect strawberry crop protection programmes.
• Develop effective relationships with suppliers, manufacturers, research organisations, consultants and other industry specialists.
• Attend relevant technical meetings, trials, conferences and knowledge-exchange events.
• Identify and bring relevant new technologies, products and agronomic developments into the business for evaluation.

External Agronomy Support

• Work with the Head Grower and Head of Agronomy to identify where external specialist agronomy support is required.
• Lead discussions with external agronomists and specialist consultants where appropriate.
• Evaluate external advice and incorporate recommendations into the Dyson Farming agronomic strategy where they add value.
• Share knowledge and develop internal capability across the team.

Compliance and Stewardship

• Ensure crop protection recommendations and activities comply with relevant legislation, assurance schemes and Dyson Farming standards.
• Maintain the professional and statutory qualifications required to provide crop protection recommendations.
• Promote responsible pesticide use, environmental stewardship, operator safety and resistance management.
• Support audits and assurance requirements relating to crop protection, agronomy and input records.
• Ensure recommendations take account of crop safety, harvest intervals, worker re-entry periods, residue requirements and customer specifications.

Benefits

Financial

• Discretionary performance-related bonus
• Pension scheme with 6% employer contribution
• Life assurance

Equipment & working conditions

• PPE and workwear provided
• On-site welfare facilities, including rest areas and changing rooms
• 24 days annual leave each year (plus bank holidays)

Team & culture

• Annual summer and winter all-staff events
• Opportunities for learning and development

Practical extras

• Discounts on Dyson Farming products
• Dyson product discounts
• Retail discounts
• Free on-site parking
• Cycle2work scheme

Health and wellbeing

• Enhanced family leave
• Employee assistance programme
• Free flu jab
• Mental health ambassadors across all locations
• Free eye tests and glasses discounts
• Discounted gym membership