Technical Manager

Origin Soil Nutrition is a market leader in science-led, innovative enhanced efficiency fertilisers (EEF), designed to help farmers optimise profitable crop and livestock production and reduce the risk of nutrient losses to the environment.

The Technical Manager will play a key role in supporting the ongoing product development and commercial growth of EEF, which forms a core component of OSN’s strategic vision to be at the forefront of innovative and sustainable fertiliser practice.

Working closely with the wider commercial team, the Technical Manager’s knowledge and market foresight will support the successful implementation of the company’s EEF strategy.

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

Originally posted on Himalayas