Head of Trials & Validation

Job purpose
• Overall responsibilities for the development management and delivery of trials and validation activities on UKATC ‘platforms and test beds’.
• Generate trusted data, evidence and information from real world environment to support agri-tech business growth and agri-tech product adoption.

Team Purpose:
• Helping innovative businesses test and validate their technologies in real world environments.
• Generate the data and information to demonstrate reliable performance at scale and provide the evidence needed to progress business development and growth.
• Provide relevant data information to prove relative advantage and ROI of product in operational environment.

• Functional and effective UK wide platform/test bed and trials capability that supports program outputs and outcomes, CR&D and commercial portfolio
• Robust operational, trials and data collection framework for UKATC.
• Robust data collection, data analysis and data infrastructure for UKATC.
• Development and management of a high performing ‘department’/team.
• Financial forecasting and budgeting.
• Resource, capacity and capability management.

Strategic Responsibilities:
• Develop, manage and enhance test UKATC Test, Trial and Validation Capability.
• Ensure relevant business KPIs, targets & programmes are met.
• Ensure trial and validation activities meet commercial needs.
• Shape and embed an empowered, impact driven culture across team.

Operational Responsibilities:
• Oversee all validation, data and trial delivery workstreams from the UKATC.
• Ensure UKATC agri-tech platform & testbeds across the UKATC deliver commercially representative trials.
• Set standards for data quality, protocols and evidence generation.
• Align trials work with agri-tech business commercial goals and IUK programme outcomes.
• Work with Engagement team to build relationships with early adopters, value chain partners as appropriate.
• Work in collaboration with the other Test Trial & Demonstrate Heads of Business to achieve business KPIs and targets.
• Support continuous improvement across test and validation team/capability - including evaluating team targets to enable evidence-based decision making and prove success .
• Provide relevant information in a time manner and of a high standard/quality to internal and external stakeholders e.g. board, IUK.
• Represent the UKATC and its activities to range of stakeholders.

Leadership / People Responsibilities:
• Direct line management
• Day to day leadership, mentoring and coaching.
• Key contact point for agri-tech business, farmers/growers/supply chain.
• Role model collaborative, outcome focused and disciplined delivery behaviours.
• Key leadership role as Head of Business within UKATC.

Essential:
• 5 year plus leadership experience in trials, validation or applied R&D environments.
• Proven experience developing and managing multidisciplinary teams.
• Track record in management of remote/offsite teams.
• Sound understanding of animal health & welfare, crop health, environmental and other relevant regulatory frameworks.
• Understanding of relevant HSE practices.
• Experience in shaping processes, standards and frameworks.
• Ability to pivot quickly to deal with new and emerging priorities.
• Ability to articulate a compelling case for change and coach other managers on messaging, influence and behaviour modelling for their teams.
• Stakeholder and relationship management internally and externally.
• Proven experience with ‘customer management’.
• Committed to working collaboratively and collegiately across the UK Agri-Tech Centre.
• Team player, self motivated.
• Strong communication skills to range of stakeholders.
• Excellent time management.
• Able to prioritise work load and make effective decisions at pace when required.
• Excellent IT skills and proficient with Microsoft environments.
• Full UK driving licence.

Desirable:
• Project management.

Additional information
Technical / Professional Competencies:
• Degree in Agriculture, Animal Science, Agronomy or a related field or equivalent commercial experience.
• In depth knowledge of R&D, agricultural trials.