About Keelings
Keelings is a 100% Irish-owned family business passionate about fresh produce. Operating across Ireland, the UK, and Europe, we grow, source, and supply top-quality fruit and vegetables. Our success is built on innovation, sustainability, and strong partnerships - powered by our dedicated people.
Role Overview:
Your role will be responsible for developing and implementing crop management strategies, focusing on quality, including soil health, and plant health programs, through crop monitoring and research investigative works, that align with the business's goals for productivity, profitability, and environmental stewardship. You will act as a technical authority across the farms, constructively challenging growers to ensure adherence to best agronomic practices, crop protection standards, and quality expectations.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Strategic Crop Management
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Work closely with growers to design and deliver effective crop programmes that optimise yield, quality, and consistency across all soft fruit production.
- Monitor crop performance using data and field observations, proactively adjusting strategies to optimise outcomes.
- Partner with breeding and nursery suppliers to identify opportunities, and secure high-quality plant material aligned with production plans.
- Align all crop programmes with company objectives on quality, sustainability, profitability, and the Better Food, Better World mission.
Oversee the planning and procurement of crop inputs, ensuring quality and availability, cost control, and timely delivery in collaboration with procurement teams.
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2. Agronomy Management
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Build, lead, and develop a high-performing agronomy team to support the growers across all sites.
- Maintain a strong operational agronomy focus on current crops, ensuring both plant health and fruit quality are optimised through to harvest, including proactive management of waste factors (e.g. misshaped or diseased berries) to minimise losses and protect overall yield and marketable output
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Set clear priorities and coordinate agronomy activities, including crop monitoring, reporting, and advisory services.
- Set clear priorities and coordinate agronomy activities, including crop monitoring, reporting, and advisory services, while actively collaborating with external bodies and advisors and specialist providers to identify emerging pest and disease risks,
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Ensure effective crop and substrate sampling programmes.
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Ensure accurate, timely reporting on crop health, risks, and agronomic interventions.
- Provide expert guidance to growing teams on crop nutrition, irrigation, and protection strategies tailored to crop stage and conditions.
- Develop and implement crop protection programmes, ensuring effective pest and disease control while maintaining full regulatory compliance.
- Support production planning through crop forecasting, including flower and berry counts, providing early insight into yield potential and identifying periods of peak fruiting to enable proactive management of labour, harvesting, and market supply.
Key Skills & Knowledge
Essential:
- Proven experience in soft fruit crop production (e.g. strawberries, raspberries, blueberries) and desirable top fruit
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Strong knowledge of irrigation, fertigation, and substrate-based growing systems
- Expertise in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and crop protection strategies
- Familiarity with EU regulatory frameworks, including pesticide use and certification standards (e.g. GLOBALG.A.P.)
- Experience with data-driven agronomy and crop monitoring systems
- Demonstrated team leadership and farm operations management
- Commercial awareness with the ability to optimise yield, quality, and cost efficiency
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Experience with crop management in a senior capacity
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Project Management qualification
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Prince 2 / PMBOK an advantage
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Excellent communication skills
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Strong Administration & Planning skills,
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Fluent English (Written and spoken)
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Full Driving license
Desirable:
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Qualification in Entomology
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Qualified pesticide advisor
Behavioural Competencies:
- Drive for Results
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Lead the Way
- Teamwork & Collaboration
- Be Responsible & Ensure Accountability
Benefits:
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Staff discount at Keelings Farm Shop and subsidized canteen
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Free On-site parking with access to electric chargers
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Wellness Initiatives such as wellness week
Keelings Values
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People Matter
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Teamwork
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Integrity
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Passion for Achievement
Inclusion & Diversity Statement
In Keelings we value all perspectives and knowledge that our colleagues bring to our business. We are committed to forming a diverse and inclusive team where all can share their unique experiences and perspectives. We welcome applications from all cultures and backgrounds and are dedicated to forming an environment of inclusiveness and diversity where all can thoroughly feel a sense of belonging.
Reasonable Accommodation Statement
If you require reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process, please let us know at [email protected]
Recruitment Process
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1. CV Submission & email acknowledgment of receipt
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2. Phone Screening
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3. 1st Interview
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4. 2nd Interview
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5. Outcome & Feedback
Keelings Careers - https://www.keelings.com/careers-keelings/
Keelings Strategy & Values - https://www.keelings.com/our-people/
