Location: Niab Park Farm, Histon, Cambridge, CB24 9NZ
Contract: Permanent
Salary: £24,454 per annum (Technical Job Group)
Hours: Full-time (37 hours per week) Monday to Friday
Closing date: 8 March 2026
ABOUT THE JOB
Are you interested in plants and agriculture?
Do you have a good eye for detail and a flexible approach to work?
Would you enjoy a varied working environment?
We wish to appoint a Trainee Technical Specialist to assist with delivery of the Seed Certification and DUS (Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability) programmes. The role is focused on the assessment and description of plant varieties and involves a wide variety of tasks in the office, field, laboratory, and glasshouse.
As a Trainee Technical Specialist, your key duties include:
Assessing plots/crops and recording data;
Working as part of a team to protect trials against birds and insect pests;
Contributing to data processing, interpretation and summarising results;
Trial planning, set-up and drilling;
Sample handling and processing;
Preparation of seeds and materials ready for drilling.
You will also be trained to become a crop inspector for cereals, pulses, herbage and oilseed crops. Previous experience in agriculture or the seed trade would be advantageous in this role but is not necessary as full training will be provided with a view to becoming a Technical Specialist within the team.
The role is physically demanding, mostly standing/walking and working outdoors in all weather conditions, and involving regular manual handling of items up to 20kg, such as bags of seeds and other produce. There is exposure to plant materials, including pollen.
Location
The role is based at Niab Park Farm, Histon, Cambridge, CB24 9NZ, 4 miles from Cambridge city centre. Free on-site parking and linked by cycle ways and regular buses to Cambridge city centre and railway station. Close to Junction 32 of A14, with easy access to M11, A10 and A11.
Benefits include 25 days' holiday plus public holidays and 3 days off during the Christmas period, flexible working hours, generous sick pay, attractive pension scheme, income protection, life assurance, free on-site parking and great colleagues.
ABOUT YOU
Essential requirements
Ideally you have:
A-levels or equivalent in biological/science subjects;
Numeracy and literacy skills;
Excellent attention to detail;
Microsoft Office experience eg.Word and Excel;
Good colour vision;
Good communication skills with the ability to work in a team;
A driving licence, enabling you to drive occasionally to sites across East Anglia and surrounding counties.Transport can be provided.
Desirable requirements
Ideally you will also have:
Degree or other professional qualification in agriculture, agronomy or biological sciences;
Experience in crop field trials;
Strong interest in plants and agriculture;
Familiarity with using data loggers/tablets or similar devices for in-field data collection;
Current APHA Crop Inspection Licences - training provided;
UPOV Distance Learning courses - training provided.
See full Job Description on our website for more details.
ABOUT US
Niab is a leading crop science organisation working to improve how food is grown, now and in the future. We carry out research, trials, and technical services that support farmers, plant breeders, and policymakers, helping to address global challenges such as food security, sustainability, and climate change.
Come and join an organisation at the forefront of the application of genetics, physiology, soil science, precision agronomy and data science to improve the yield, efficiency, and resilience of crop production across the arable, forage and horticulture sectors.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we have a positive approach to employing people living with a disability.
Informal enquiries are welcome, please contact Vanessa McMillan, Technical Manager -
Background
This vacancy on permanent staff arises with immediate effect and is the result of the resignation of the previous job holder. We are concurrently advertising externally.
TO APPLY
Please see our website for the advert, where you can also find a link to the Candidate Pack and Job Description.
Important Information
This is a UK-based role. You will be required to demonstrate your right to work in the UK as part of the recruitment process.
Where the role meets the relevant criteria, we are able to consider Skilled Worker visa sponsorship in line with Home Office requirements. Any offer of sponsorship will be subject to the role meeting the skill and salary thresholds and to the individual meeting the Home Office eligibility criteria.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities and do not discriminate on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected under the Equality Act
Niab reserves the right to withdraw or close this vacancy at any time.