This is a great opportunity for an experienced Vinyard Manager with the skills in looking after the vines and a hands-on approach to join a privately-owned small vineyard in the location of Reading, UK. Live-in and live-out options are available for the right candidate.

Responsibilities

• To manage the day to day running of the vineyard and the staff
• Consulting the Client and team of managers as required
• Direct, organise, motivate, and train vineyard staff
• Ensure safe working conditions
• All related vineyard work including, but not limited to: pruning, planting, canopy management, maintenance work, spraying vines (if licensed) with suitable and authorised chemical products, managing the spray plan and being responsible for it, mechanical work (e.g. mowing, rotavating, fertilising, bud rubbing, vine trimming etc. depending on experience)
• Evolve the training/pruning system for each variety in each area and assess if changes need to be made, in line with recommendations by vineyard development manager
• Produce a proactive plan for continued improvement in vineyard practices across the site
• Keep up to date with new systems and sprays that may benefit the vineyard
• Keep an up-to-date diary of all work done in the vineyard including, but not limited to: flowering dates, bud burst and any other relevant dates that need recording
• Frost monitoring and prevention
• Bird Bangers installation and control via app
• Planting and establishing new vineyard areas if needed
• Using mechanical equipment safely and, where necessary, ensure staff are fully trained and are also using equipment safely
• Use and check maintenance plans for all equipment and ensure servicing is carried out when needed
• Make sure that faulty equipment is taken out of use and are repaired, informing your line manager of repairs that need to be made
• Monitoring the lists of the day to day running of the vineyard
• Managing the vineyard budget
• Undertake all tasks as reasonably requested from time to time by the company/business

Skills preferred

• Tertiary qualifications in viticulture or relevant experience
• PA1 and PA3 spraying certificates
• Forklift qualifications
• Computer literate
• Competent operator of all vineyard equipment and tractors
• Full right to work in the UK
• Driving Licence
• Skilled in managing staff
• First Aid trained

Job advantages

• Lovely vineyard to look after
• Stayable long-term job opportunity
• Competitive and negotiable salary
• Holidays: 23 days + bank holidays