Duration:

Permanent .  A panel may be formed from which future similar vacancies may be filled; such a panel will remain active for a maximum period of 12 months.

The Opportunity

The Irish vegetable industry produces local, fresh, top quality produce for the retail and food service sectors. Their positive impact on personal health, in terms of consumption, and the positive climate affect in choosing fresh produce is widely appreciated. This permanent specialised advisory position is an ideal opportunity for early career graduates or more experienced agronomists to become part of a horticultural development team in Teagasc supporting professional producers.  The position offers a number of benefits, which will help you develop the skills and knowledge necessary to support producers including:

• Access to horticultural plant pathology and entomology experts in Teagasc and externally.

• Access to experienced colleagues operating in similar roles in horticulture but also colleagues in other related areas, e.g. soil science

• Access to funded postgraduate training opportunities and courses.

• We provide access to a range of vegetable consultants in the UK and Europe and we support an outward view of development, including international travel for in service training purposes and continuous learning, where warranted.

• Opportunity to influence the research agenda in favour of new idea generation and implementation.  We are less afraid of making mistakes than missing opportunities.

• An overall degree of weekly autonomy within the agreed programme of activities.

• Flexibility in terms of the opportunity to apply for working from home based on Teagasc policy

• Flexibility in terms of Teagasc Office location. 

Basic Function

To develop and provide specialised technical and agronomic information related to organic and conventional vegetable production by:

• Designing and delivering a defined package of technical services to grower clients, including latest innovations in IPM, organic and conventional production principles and opportunities for technology adoption in line with market requirements and best practice.

• Develop and implement grower plans and production protocols for conventional and organic production in conjunction with growers, guided by the best available information.

• Support the development of the vegetable sector through direct engagement with grower clients and vegetable industry stakeholders and service suppliers.

• Provide detailed strategies for pest and disease control, weed control, crop rotation and scheduling, and nutrition management for conventional and organic production systems.

The appointee will provide, as part of the Horticulture Development team, specialised technical support, training and leadership in vegetable production covering conventional and organic production of stem, allium and root crops mainly. While working in the Horticulture Development Department, there will be significant alignment with the business plan goals of the Teagasc Organics Specialist team in Rural Economy Department.    

Background

The Irish agriculture and land-use sector faces significant challenges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030 and reach climate neutrality by 2050 as set out in the 2021 Climate Action Plan.  The Plan sets out actions to increase the area farmed organically in Ireland from 74,000 hectares to 350,000 hectares by 2030.  In addition, reduction of chemical nitrogen use and enabling farm diversification are key ambitions of the CAP.  In response to this Teagasc has developed a new Climate Action Strategy.  This new post will be central to supporting Teagasc in the delivery of this strategy.

These strong Climate Action and Biodiversity targets, the EU Farm to Fork and EU Biodiversity strategies, coupled with the significant impacts of Brexit and Covid-19, means that the operating environment for the horticulture industry in Ireland has changed significantly in recent years. Teagasc Horticulture Development Department have an additional requirement for a Specialised Vegetable Advisor to provide technical support and advice to vegetable producers, both conventional and organic and to assist clients in the planning and development of their businesses. The vegetable sector is valued at €84m farm gate value (2021) 

In summary, an additional Specialised Vegetable Advisor is required to lead the development of organic and conventional vegetable crop production within Teagasc Horticulture Development Department, with direct input from Teagasc Organic Specialists.

​​​​To develop and provide specialised technical and agronomic information related to organic and conventional vegetable production by:

• Designing and deliver a defined package of technical services to grower clients, including latest innovations in IPM, organic and conventional production principles and opportunities for technology adoption in line with market requirements and best practice.

• Develop and implement grower plans and production protocols for conventional and organic production in conjunction with growers, guided by the best available information.

• Support the development of the vegetable sector through direct engagement with grower clients and Teagasc organic advisors who are engaged directly in developing the organic sector

• Develop and provide detailed strategies for pest and disease control, weed control, crop rotation and scheduling, and nutrition management for conventional and organic production systems.

• Develop and provide specialised technical and agronomic information related to organic vegetable production to Teagasc organic advisors who are engaged directly in developing the organic sector.

• Using up to date technical and market information develop and implement grower plans and industry wide optimisation plans and production protocols in conjunction with growers, guided by the best available information.

• To use a range of effective advisory methodologies as part of a team, which includes Teagasc horticulture development department and the Teagasc organic unit, to achieve technology transfer and sustainable client development including assisting new entrants into the conventional and organic vegetable sectors.

• Develop a suite of knowledge transfer materials including factsheets, technical notes, crop production protocols, and a variety of digital media outputs as required to support the development of both organic and conventional vegetable crop production.

• Develop, establish and maintain effective communications with industry stakeholders and act as a point of contact for producer-related issues.

• Track producer performance across the sector and engage with producers in troubleshooting production issues where appropriate including developing opportunities for peer-to-peer learning, farm walks, discussion groups and developing appropriate KT materials.

• Develop and maintain key networks of information across European vegetable, food networks and organic networks including leveraging links internationally. Significant links to vegetable research providing organisations nationally and internationally will be encouraged.

• Financially appraise growers’ performance against agreed benchmarks.

• To assist clients in the planning and development of their businesses.

• Organise technical one-to one visits, on-site walks, workshops, seminars and conferences for producers.

• Take responsibility for own on-going personal and professional development in the vegetable sector.

• To maintain a high profile for the Teagasc Horticulture Development Department through activities, local and regional events, publications and public relations.

• To assist Teagasc in meeting the commitments of the Quality Customer Service Charter and Action Plan.

• To actively participate in the annual business planning and Performance Management Development System (PMDS) processes.

• Fully co-operate with the provisions made for ensuring the health, safety and welfare of oneself, fellow staff and non-Teagasc staff and co-operate with management in enabling Teagasc to comply with legal obligations. This includes full compliance with the responsibilities outlined in the Safety Statement.

• To carry out such other duties and assignments delegated by the Head of Department from time to time.

* This job specification is intended as a guide to the general range of duties and is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive.  It will be reviewed from time to time with the post holder.

 Note:  The ‘essential’ qualifications, knowledge, skills and behavioural competencies outlined above are ‘must-have’ which will be used in the selection process.

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