Overview

Job Title: Innovation Associate – Agricultural Sustainability

Reports to job title: Head of Sustainability

Department Innovation

Location: Remote/Hybrid (York)

Salary: £35,000 – £40,000

 

About Us

The UK Agri-Tech Centre is a new organisation launched on 1 April 2024 and created from three of the original Agri-Tech Centres.

Utilising our UK-wide assets, world-class facilities and expertise, our organisation is a gateway for funding programmes, such as the Farming Innovation Programme and Horizon Europe and provides benefits to the whole supply chain, the UK economy and beyond.

We strengthen the connections between science, business and funders to accelerate research and
development, tackling the industry’s most critical challenges,such as climate change, labour availability, disease mitigation and environmental sustainability.

 

Job Purpose

As an Innovation Associate, you will play a key role in advancing sustainability within agricultural ecosystems.

Your work will focus on understanding and enhancing sustainability, exploring trade-offs and integrating concepts such as Biodiversity Net Gain, the Environmental Land Management Scheme, and emerging Carbon Markets. This technical expertise will inspire collaboration and support impactful sector growth.

You will engage with diverse stakeholders to identify, develop and deliver opportunities for sustainable
innovation, contributing to projects that strengthen the sustainability of agricultural systems and supply chains, supporting the net zero transition. In this way, you will support businesses to grow through the
commercialisation and adoption of new and sustainable agricultural technologies.

 

Main Duties

Engagement & Research:

  • Proactively engage with the agricultural and environmental sectors to understand sustainability
    challenges and opportunities.
  • Stay informed on key developments in sustainability, across ecosystem services, biodiversity, carbon markets and policy frameworks.

Innovation & Opportunity Development:

  • Identify and pursue new opportunities for sustainable practices and technologies.
  • Build consortia and support bid writing for grants and funding, enhancing the UK Agri-Tech Centre innovation portfolio.

Project Support & Delivery:

  • Provide technical and strategic input to projects related to ecosystem services, trade-offs and environmental outcomes.
  • Ensure the timely and budget-conscious delivery of projects.

Thought Leadership & Communication:

  • Contribute to thought leadership reports, open innovation activities and horizon scanning.
  • Present findings and innovations to diverse audiences, translating technical content for nonspecialists.

Internal & External Collaboration:

  • Work closely with the Innovation Team and wider organisation.
  • Represent the UK Agri-Tech Centre at events, workshops and conferences as required.

 

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Essential:

  • A degree in a relevant field such as Agricultural Systems, Environmental Science, Ecology or
    Sustainability.
  • Familiarity with agricultural policy frameworks, including Biodiversity Net Gain, Environmental Land Management Schemes and Carbon Markets.
  • Ability to engage and enthuse stakeholders across academia, industry and policy sectors.
  • Strong technical project management skills, with experience in delivering complex projects.
  • Excellent communication and facilitation skills, with an ability to tailor technical information to
    different audiences.

Desirable:

  • Experience with data analysis or modelling in agricultural systems, ecosystems or sustainability.
  • Knowledge of ecosystem services frameworks and the innovation landscape, including UK and
    International funding programmes.
  • Familiarity with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) or sustainability modelling techniques.
  • Understanding of regenerative agriculture principles and their application in the UK context.

General Attributes:

  • A collaborative and consultative working style, with excellent problem-solving abilities.
  • Analytical and creative thinking skills to identify opportunities for innovation.
  • Ability to work accurately under pressure, meeting deadlines with minimal supervision.

 

Additional Information

Some travel will be required, including periodic travel to our hub office in York, so being a commutable
distance from York would be an advantage.

Application Process: Please follow this Link to submit your application.

Closing date is January 20, 2025

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