Senior Cereal Product Quality Scientist

Senior Cereal Product Quality Scientist - fixed-term contract (12 months)

We are recruiting a Senior Cereal Product Quality Scientist on a 12-month fixed-term contract. The role is hybrid, with 2-3 days from our HQ in Coventry and the remainder working remotely, Monday to Friday.

Key purpose – To provide technical and strategic leadership on genetic improvement, food and feed quality and safety in UK cereals and oilseeds. The scientist supports the Farming Systems Director and Head of Farming Systems and Research and acts as the strategic lead for designated cross‑sector/division technical topics.

• Be a UK authority and provide technical and strategic leadership on genetic improvement, food and feed quality and safety in UK cereals and oilseeds
• Liaise with all relevant stakeholders to understand challenges facing UK cereals and oilseeds
• Maintain a close relationship with food and feed trade associations and industry stakeholders
• Represent AHDB in engaging with a wide range of external stakeholders including government, funding bodies, national and international research organisations
• Promote AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds‑funded research and disseminate key messages and findings of research projects
• Ensure delivery of value for money from AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds‑funded research and maintain a clear understanding of aims, milestones and deliverables, and providing scientific and state‑of‑the‑art information to the Cereals & Oilseeds Sector Council and colleagues within AHDB to enable sound judgements to be made
• Ensure prudent financial management of project portfolio in liaison with contractors, project and finance administrators and AHDB’s finance department
• Lead and communicate an industry programme of mycotoxin management
• Lead the projects on quality testing of export wheat

• Substantial industry or post‑graduate research experience in a field of study relevant to food and feed safety in UK cereals and oilseeds, ideally with knowledge of the agriculture industry
• An understanding of the development and management of research projects and programmes
• Awareness of relevant legislation and policy
• Ability to translate research outputs into practice with excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong project management skills with a high attention to detail
• Excellent planning and organising skills
• An analytical mindset with a problem‑solving approach

• 35 hours per week, to include hybrid working
• 33 days of annual leave plus one privilege day (inclusive of bank holidays)
• Life assurance cover (4x salary)
• A market‑leading defined contribution pension scheme with Legal & General
• Enhanced pay of 20 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave, subject to length of service
• Comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Excellent training and development opportunities and an agreed development plan
• Recognition awards throughout the year
• Access to the Government’s tax‑free childcare scheme
• Reward Gateway membership – this gives you a huge number of online discounts and savings

Apply now or call if you require any further information.

Please note that we reserve the right to close the vacancy early should we receive a significant number of suitable applications.

At AHDB, we are committed to developing, maintaining and supporting a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion, to include flexible working opportunities. This applies to both our workforce and the practices we follow.