Programme Manager

Programme Manager

Fresh Produce Innovation

Are you passionate about horticulture and ready to shape the future of fresh produce?

We are seeking a Programme Manager to lead the development of next-generation top fruit varieties, taking them from breeding trials through to commercial success with leading UK and international retailers.

This is a unique opportunity to combine technical horticultural expertise, programme management, and retailer engagement in a role that directly influences the future of the fresh produce industry.

The Role

As Programme Manager, you will :

Lead and coordinate the breeding pipeline, from early-stage trials to commercial rollout.

Manage orchard trial sites, ensuring they are well-resourced, sustainable, and delivering reliable performance data.

Act as the key contact for retailers, preparing and delivering presentations on varietal progress and commercial potential.

Develop and oversee multi-year programme plans, budgets, and stakeholder engagement.

Analyse trial data, consumer insights, and commercial results to guide decision-making.

Support branding and marketing initiatives to ensure new varieties achieve maximum market impact.

About You

Were looking for someone who can bring together scientific rigour and commercial pragmatism. You will ideally have :

A background in horticulture, agriculture, plant breeding, or fresh produce supply chains.

Experience managing multi-year programmes or technical projects.

Strong stakeholder management skills with growers, breeders, and retailers.

Excellent presentation and communication skills, confident in engaging diverse audiences.

Data-driven mindset with experience in managing trial data and QC dashboards.

Personal qualities we value include being entrepreneurial, proactive, and adaptablesomeone equally comfortable in the orchard, in trial sites, or presenting to retail partners.

Career-defining opportunity to influence the future of top fruit varietal innovation

If you are passionate about horticulture and want to play a leading role in bringing innovative fruit varieties to market, wed love to hear from you.

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