Assistant Operations Manager

Job title: Assistant Operations Manager

Job type: Permanent

Hours: Full time

Location: Based at Hadnall, Shrewsbury. Regular travel around the UK and Ireland

Reports to: Operations Manager, under the direction of the senior management team

Summary            

The Assistant Operations Manager will support the senior management team and Operations Manager in the sourcing, picking and processing of tree seed crops within the UK and Ireland. This is a new role created by expansion.

Key responsibilities:

• Assist the Operations Manager and wider  team under the direction of the senior management team


• Plan and action the collection of reproductive material, which includes:

Identifying sites for collection

Liaising with landowners to arrange permission to collect material, recording information ready for royalty payments

Organising for the collections to take place

Arranging resources for collection teams – including accommodation, kit and vehicles

Supervising and taking part in collections

• Supervise and personally undertake seed processing and warehouse operations


• Supervise work in our orchards (may include collections of reproductive material, orchard maintenance, tree planting)


• Manage and direct collection and processing teams when required, including providing holiday/sickness cover for the Operations Manager

Other Responsibilities:

• Embracing training and support from existing staff to ensure you gain all the skills and knowledge required to develop expertise and excel in the role


• Ensuring compliance with all health and safety requirements


• Conducting relevant risk assessments


• Operating and understanding maintenance for basic machinery


• Undertaking internal and external training courses, which may include the use of various machinery, fork lift truck driving, mobile elevated work platform use etc.


• Training new employees


• Liaising with other team members to obtain and communicate information effectively


• Occasional additional hours outside of your normal working day, including evenings and weekends as necessary


• Travel away from the main site including overnight stays. At certain times you may be working in a different location from week to week

PERSON SPECIFICATION

About you:

You have a willingness and ability to travel within Europe, including overnight trips away

You communicate proactively with your colleagues in the workplace to be a team player, enabling you to direct a team effectively

You are organised and able to work on your own initiative, managing your own time effectively to run small projects

You are able to maintain focus and awareness of multiple ongoing processes at the same time

You have excellent numeracy and literacy skills and are confident using computer systems including email, Microsoft Office and database/stock management systems (training on our custom system will be given)

You enjoy working with people from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures

You can react appropriately to hazards in the workplace to ensure your personal safety and that of other people

You are practically-minded, able to develop the skills to understand basic machinery operation and maintenance

You have good general communication and negotiation skills, with a professional manner and the ability to build relationships with both internal and external stakeholders

You have a flexible and positive attitude, in alignment with our work culture

You have a passion for the outdoors and the environment

You are capable of developing the decision-making skills needed for novel situations

Experience and qualifications required:

• Degree level qualification or relevant work experience


• You have some experience either directing, supervising or working proactively within a team


• You hold a full driving licence and are comfortable driving larger vehicles such as pickups, vans and flatbed trucks


• You have some experience of tree species identification, or an interest and are willing to learn

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

What we offer

• 25 days holiday + bank holidays


• Training and development


• Continued Professional Development (CPD) encouraged including involvement in industry visit days


• Company pool vehicle provided for all business travel


• Accommodation and meal allowance provided for overnight stays


• Travel around the UK and Ireland with opportunities to travel in Europe


• Opportunity for progression for the right person

Where you’ll be based

Our office is at the main company site on the edge of Hadnall, near Shrewsbury. The site is a purpose-built industrial unit where our seed collection teams bring the seed to be processed, stored and dispatched. This location is the hub of our work; it is very much an agricultural-type environment throughout.  We are surrounded by beautiful countryside and close to the historic town of Shrewsbury, whilst being located centrally within the UK with good transport links for our staff and business needs.