At Edward Vinson, our mission is to provide world-class fruit and lifelong opportunity. For over 150 years, we have been growing fruit in the South East of England and have established ourselves as one of the UK's leading berry breeding businesses. Our breeding programmes have successfully developed premium berry varieties for more than 40 years, with varieties now grown and supplied to major retailers around the world. As part of our ambition to become the leading berry breeder recognised for quality and innovation, we are expanding our scientific capability and are looking for an experienced and passionate Science Manager to join our Breeding Department.
This is an exciting opportunity to lead the scientific coordination and delivery of research that supports our berry breeding programmes, helping to develop the next generation of commercially successful varieties across strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries.
Reporting to the Breeding Director and managing a Science Assistant, you will play a key role in driving scientific innovation, managing research projects, and ensuring our breeding programmes continue to deliver industry-leading results.
What You'll Be Doing
Scientific Leadership
- Support the development and implementation of breeding strategies for berry improvement.
- Identify opportunities to integrate new technologies, methodologies, and scientific innovations into breeding programmes.
- Maintain awareness of industry developments, emerging technologies, and competitor activities.
- Provide expert advice on performing technical scientific tasks in-house or in collaborations across the Group’s activities.
- Ensure scientific rigour, data integrity, and compliance with company protocols.
- Lead the planning, execution, and evaluation of scientific research projects.
Project Management
- Manage multiple research projects simultaneously, ensuring milestones and deliverables are achieved.
- Develop and maintain project plans, budgets, timelines, and resource requirements. ·
- Monitor and share project risks and implement mitigation strategies. ·
- Coordinate cross-functional teams across breeding, operations, laboratories, propagation, and commercial departments.
- Prepare progress reports and present findings to senior leadership and stakeholders. ·
- Drive continuous improvement in project delivery and programme efficiency. ·
- Designing projects and protocols for implementation of tools and resources that enhance breeding output (e.g. genomic selection, marker-assisted breeding).
Commercial & Strategic Contribution
- Translate scientific outcomes into commercially viable breeding objectives.
- Work closely with commercial teams to understand market trends, customer requirements, and retailer expectations.
- Support variety evaluation and commercialisation decisions.
- Contribute to business cases and investment proposals for breeding and research initiatives.
- Assist with intellectual property management, variety protection, and licensing opportunities.
- Build relationships with growers, customers, research organisations, and industry partners.
Leadership & People Management
- Role model the company values and behaviours.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and continuous learning.
- Maintain effective working relationships and communication with all members of the team. Communicate complex information in appropriate formats for all staff.
- Manage direct reports, ensuring that organisational and departmental objectives are reflected in individual and team performance objectives.
- Lead, develop and motivate direct reports and support and guide those direct reports to deliver their roles and responsibilities to a high standard, providing appropriate and timely support, as require.
- Provide scientific guidance and mentoring to technical and research staff.
- Foster a positive, engaged, and high-performance culture.
- Support recruitment, training, and performance development of team members.
- Promote health, safety, and wellbeing across all research and field activities.
Data & Reporting
- Oversee data collection, management, and analysis.
- Ensure accurate reporting of scientific progress, trial results, and project outcomes.
- Develop clear recommendations based on scientific evidence and commercial considerations.
- Present technical information effectively to both scientific and non-scientific audiences.
- Managing the technical communication and data flow between the business and external providers.
- Ensuring data is analysed and translated into breeding recommendations.
About You
Essential
- PhD in Plant Biology, Genetics, Plant Breeding or a related discipline.
- Significant experience in plant breeding, horticultural research, crop development or agricultural science.
- Strong understanding of genetics and breeding principles.
- Proven project management experience, including planning, budgeting and delivery of complex programmes.
- Excellent analytical, communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong organisational and leadership capabilities.
- Ability to make evidence-based decisions in a fast-paced environment.
- Full UK Driving Licence.
Desirable
- Experience working with soft fruit crops, particularly strawberries.
- Knowledge of molecular breeding tools and their application in crop improvement.
- Experience with genomics, marker-assisted breeding, phenotyping technologies and precision breeding.
- Formal Project Management qualification (PRINCE2 or equivalent).
- Experience managing intellectual property and Plant Breeders' Rights.
- Experience working with international breeding programmes.
- Leadership or management qualifications.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary range dependent on experience and open to professional discussion + annual bonus scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme for you and your family, supporting health and well-being, including a 24/7 UK-based online GP, mental health helpline and get fit programme.
- Company Life Insurance
- Company pension scheme.
- 31 days annual leave, including bank holidays.
- Free on-site parking, including electric vehicle charging facilities.
- Involvement in cutting-edge berry breeding and research programmes.
- Opportunities to attend industry conferences, workshops, and technical events.
- Exposure to leading UK and international retailers through meetings, trials, and collaborative projects.
- Ongoing training, professional development, and career progression opportunities.
- A supportive and collaborative working environment where your ideas and contributions are valued.
- The opportunity to make a real impact within a growing, innovative, and internationally recognised berry breeding business.
Ready to Apply?
If you are passionate about science, innovation and the future of berry breeding, we would love to hear from you.
