Location & Employment Type
Sutterton, Europe + UK
Research
CDI
You are a qualified, certified and experienced Farm Manager with a solid track record of managing professional farm operations, preferably with vegetable production and in the seed industry? You enjoy managing teams of skilled workers and are confident in your ability to support commercial and research teams within an international environment?
Keen to learn more about the Farm Manager position we have available in the UK?
About the role
As a member of the Research team, you will be responsible for formalizing and managing farm operations across two sites that are in very close proximity to each other.
What will you do?
Farm & Operational Management
* Plan and oversee action plans and daily operations across both locations
* Manage land preparation, crop production, trials, inputs, irrigation, and integrated pest management in coordination with Research and Product Development teams
* Develop short‑, medium‑ and long‑term crop rotation strategies to optimise costs, soil health, and biodiversity
* Maintain farm grounds, landscapes, and trial sites
* Ensure full compliance with Health & Safety requirements
People & Resource Leadership
* Lead and manage on‑site teams across both locations, including task allocation, performance management, and motivation
* Plan workforce needs on a daily, crop‑cycle and multi‑year horizon
* Identify training needs and coordinate development actions with HR
Assets, Budget & Investment Management
* Oversee maintenance of facilities, machinery, and equipment; coordinate external service providers
* Manage farm consumables centrally for research and product development activities
* Prepare and monitor site budgets (OPEX and CAPEX), control costs, approve operational expenses, and support investment planning
Where will you work?
You will be based at the UK office (Sutterton, Lincolnshire) and will report functionally to the EMEA Research Operations Manager and within the local reporting structure, to the Managing Director of the subsidiary.
You will manage farm operations on both our Sutterton and Wigtoft sites, requiring you to move between both sites. You may also be required to travel to other sites within EMEA.
The position combines both field presence and office work. You will work in an international and multi‑cultural environment, collaborating with pathology, biotechnology, marketing, sales, seed production and QA teams.
Do you fit this profile?
* You have more than 10 years’ experience managing farm operations or similar environments (e.g. trial stations), preferably working with vegetable production or within the seed industry.
* You have strong technical knowledge of agricultural practices, including tractor operation, soil management, fertiliser application, and irrigation systems.
* You can simultaneously manage multiple crops, growing techniques, production cycles for different end‑use purposes.
* You have proven people management and leadership skills, with a hands‑on approach to supporting your team.
* You have experience in establishing operational budgets, managing procurement and other expenses within budget and policy guidelines.
* You have relevant certifications, including BASIS, FACTS, and PA qualifications (PA1, PA2, and PA6).
* You have a valid Category B driving licence and tractor driving licence (additional vehicle licences are an advantage).
* You have excellent organisational, planning, and prioritisation skills, with the flexibility to manage fluctuating workloads and peak activity periods.
* You are able to work outside normal business hours, when operationally required.
* You are motivated, have a disciplined mindset with strong communication skills and a high level of English fluency.
* You have proficiency in MS Office and comfortable working with Excel.
Discover
Working at Sakata
You will be part of Sakata Vegetables EMEA team, part of the Sakata Group.
What makes Sakata different is that while being a key international player in the seed business, the company has retained a family spirit. This means 3 things:
* it’s a people‑oriented company where it is easy to communicate at all levels
* you will work closely with your colleagues and customers and will never be far from the fields
* as a result of its Japanese origins, you'll be working for a stable company with an emphasis on long‑term culture.
What are the next steps?
* Apply via our website and send us your application in English (Resume and Cover letter) until 26/01/2026
* First contact with Mélanie (HR Business Partner)
* Interviews with HR and Senior Management, followed by Final interviews with Top Management.
Apply
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