Vacancies at Freeland Horticulture

Our current vacancies are listed below, if you would like to apply for a position or require further information please call 01322 619161 or email us.

------- Added: 18/05/2017 -------

Job Title: National Soil Coordinator

Reports To: Managing Director but on a day to day basis – Head Office Manager and for Safety aspects the R&D manager

Job Purpose

This is a great opportunity to join a small growing, but forward thinking company, at the forefront of manufactured soil to BS3882 (2015), organic processes and monitoring, based in our head office in Kent.

The role will have several facets associated with the company’s core business of soil manufacture, which will challenge any individual, but it will be carried out with full training support of the whole team, so we are no looking for a readymade individual, but we are looking for somebody with good numeracy, likeable personality and ability to communicate across all levels in the company and a high capacity to learn.

The company’s success is based on high levels of technical skills, first in class customer service and a mentality of passion, for what we do.

To help to develop management systems to organise key aspects of the company’s health & safety, quality and environmental in line with modern international standards (ISO18001, ISO9001, ISO14001).

This is a key role in the continued success of the company and has such will have the full support of the managing director.

Duties and Responsibilities

The job holder will be based at our head office in Hextable (Kent), but will be expected to undertake monthly visits to all our soil sites, which total 10 and are growing in number. These are distributed across the country, located around the main population centres of London, Birmingham and Manchester, with new developments around Cardiff/Bristol. This will inevitably involve staying away from your home base.

These visits will primarily focus on health and safety within our existing management system and policies, with a future requirement to comply with ISO14001/9001 and 18001. In addition, they will be used to support local personnel in their daily tasks and ensure they have clear instructions/methods to follow. There is also a requirement to ensure that we are complaint with the needs of the quarry operator in the execution of working practices, within their site boundary.

A template for the control of the soil operations exists, but needs to be tailored to site specific conditions, so the job holder will need to set up the initial site control systems and their implementation.

The understanding of technical information contained with soil enquires, and the controls required to ensure compliance with the stated specifications. The company recognises that this skill is unique, so there will be a great deal of on the job learning. To facilitate this, the candidate will need to demonstrate a high level of numeracy in handling chemical analysis data and ability to handle customers by phone/email and in person if required.

Familiarity with architectural specifications for materials and the supply chain requirements of the construction industry. A full knowledge of the details within soil manufacturing specification BS 3882 (2015) for top soil and testing methods for evaluation of soils, will need to be developed.

A horticulture, gardening or landscaping background may allow early uptake of many of the requirements of this role, particularly in customer facing or technical knowledge requirements. Individuals involved in the formulation of products from a range of components in chemical supply industries may also be good candidates for starting the training process.

Key duties can be summarised as follows:

  • Provision of technical services within the sales function for soil operations.
  • Close and productive communication with the sales team based at head office.
  • Assist in the documentation and implementation of management system requirements across all soil operations, that are in line with ISO9001, 14001 and 18001.
  • Formulate site specific documentation within the constraints of the management systems.
  • Ensure regular monthly checking of all soil sites to confirm they are operated in a safe and compliant matter.
  • Close liaison with the technical manager and maintenance manager regarding inputs and output logistics for the soil operations.
  • Handling of any issues that will prevent the customer achieving a product to the correct specification for the stated delivery deadline.
  • Translation of architectural requirements into manageable operational requirements, development of QA plans or method statements, when required.
  • Ensure soils are sampled and analysed in accordance with the contract requirements.
  • Develop a good understanding of the requirements within BS3882 (2015) top soil.

Qualifications

Though, we are not looking specifically for a high level of education, we think that a science, operational and/or agricultural background may contribute key elements of what are required. It is more important that they can analyze numerical data and extract meaning and knowledge, but some understanding of mathematics and/or sciences would be beneficial. An adaptable soil scientist with some industrial experience in horticulture /growth media formulation or agriculture would perhaps be an idea candidate.

The post holder will need to be computer literate in terms of using a web browser, email applications and standard business software such as WORD/EXCEL for documents and data analysis.

Health and safety systems implementation is a core part of the role, so some experience of health and safety controls or direct involvement in their implementation would be helpful. The company would provide the necessary training so that the post holder, should attain ISOH or NEBOSH certificate level knowledge of health and safety.
Some experience of operational management in terms of being handle to communicate and ensure targets are met, in a high-volume business would also be looked upon favorably.

Experience in horticulture, landscaping or farming could be beneficial in formulation of soil specifications for landscaping projects.

Personal attributes such as ability to learn, passion for what you do and having the ability to influence the behavior of others is critical. Customer service is vital to the business, so a friendly and professional telephone manner is important.

Working Conditions

The job is mainly office based, so working within a team and being able to communicate to a wide range of other company personnel is important.

Salary: with be competitive and for discuss at the interview. All reasonable expenses will also be met by the company.
Working hours: normally 8am – 5pm, though flexibility will be required based on workload and when undertaking site visits.
Vehicle: fully expensed.
Other benefits: pension with company matched contribution up to 7% of salary.
Holidays: 20 days plus statutory bank holidays

Physical Requirements

If the job is not physically demanding, but inclement weather maybe experienced on sites.

Travelling to sites and customers may require the job holder to work outside their normal office hours.

Direct Reports

Site operators in terms of health and safety, but no daily operations.

How to Apply

If you would like to apply for this position or require further information please call 01322 619161 or email us.