Horticultural Technician - K1195

Job Title: Horticultural Technician for the International Cocoa Quarantine Centre

Location: Arborfield, RG2

Hourly Rate: £17.26ph to £21.60ph - depending on experience - via an Umbrella Company (Inside IR35)

Employment Type: Contract - initially approx. 18 months (likely on-going)

Start Date: ASAP

Hours: Standard 36 Hours Per Week - Weekend duty (one weekend in four; typically 2 hours per day)

Reference: K1195

Purpose

The International Cocoa Quarantine Centre at the University of Reading is a unique facility that has a vital role in the cocoa sector of providing a hub for the safe movement of cocoa planting materials to researchers, crop breeders and growers. The postholder will work as part of a small team responsible for the day-to-day running of the ICQC,R greenhouse facility located at Arborfield.

Team Structure

The ICQC,R is part of a larger programme of cocoa research and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the ICQC,R.

Main duties and responsibilities

• General maintenance of plants and greenhouse facilities
• Inspecting plants for pests and diseases; pest control through application of biological control
• Monitoring, maintaining and calibrating the automatic irrigation system; making up nutrient stock solutions
• Inspecting plants under quarantine for viral and other disease symptoms
• Plant propagation
• Co organise exports of plant material
• Attend a Quarantine Advisory Committee twice per year
• Weekend duty (one weekend in four; typically 2 hours per day)

Additional Information

• Health & Safety risks - heat stress, working at height
• Horticulture weekly for adverts
• Previous glasshouse / polytunnel work - garden centre, strawberry production, tomato production - good plant husbandry skills; on job training provided
• No specific qualifications, horticultural college would be good but job experience is most important

Supervision received

The postholder will receive appropriate training upon starting the post.

Employment Conditions

This role is inside IR35.

Eligibility

Our client is unable to provide sponsorship for Tier 2 General Visas; therefore, only candidates eligible to work in the UK are invited to apply.

Equal Opportunities

No terminology within this advert is intended to unlawfully discriminate on the grounds of age, sex, race or disability and we welcome all applications.