Junior Investment Analyst and Project Manager

On behalf of our client we are looking for someone to join their team in central London who can grow into the role of identifying, analysing and project managing the buy-and-build investments they do.

As a Junior Investment Analyst and Project Manager you lead the projects and you are involved in the production of high-quality food in a sustainable and responsible manner. Our client buys land in various places and grows various products here. The Southampton office is investigating which crops and countries are interesting for starting up new crops. There is close contact between the office and the managers on the farms. A project includes the following steps:

• Buying and setting up a farm
• Contact with the operational manager
• Analyzing reports
• Contact with customers

This is a position in which you get a lot of freedom and responsibility, combined with a lot of travel. That is why it is useful that you speak English, a second foreign language is preferable. If you have not yet mastered this, you will be given the opportunity to learn it during your employment.

Our client is a UK based investment company focused on the agricultural sector.
They see a commercial opportunity in producing high value crops and commodities in a long-term perspective, using innovative and sustainable practices. The global population is predicted to grow to almost 10 billion by 2050. This, together with rising living standards, will boost agricultural demand and increase pressure on natural resources such as fresh water and fertile soils. The focus is on creating value through generating superior yields of high-quality products, while preserving our soils and making optimal use of water resources in favourable climates.

The buy-and-build strategy that our client is using, requires a long-term perspective on the global market dynamics of each specific crop. At the same time, it requires a thorough understanding of the technical, agronomic aspects related to these crops such as soil, water and radiation. Our client performs in depth research and analyses the market and economic aspects as well as the technical agricultural aspects to support our investment decisions. When they do not have the knowledge in-house, they work with experts and first-class research institutions such as Wageningen University and the University of California - Davis, to assist them in better understanding the complex environment in which they operate.

The current projects include the development of intensive certified organic crops (walnuts, almonds, pecans, wool) on 5,000 hectares in South America and the production of commodity crops (wheat, barley, corn, soya, sunflower, rapeseed) on 8,000 hectares in Eastern Europe. Our client continuously evaluates new long-term opportunities.

• Affinity with the agricultural sector, with a university degree (BSc, BEng, MSc, MEng or PhD) in agriculture, biology, plant sciences, forestry, natural sciences, soil sciences, hydrology, or other degrees related to the environmental sciences or the food sector;
• Interest in building a long-term career in the agricultural sector;
• Excellent analytical and project management skills;
• Financial modelling (a background in this is not required);
• Able to operate autonomously with a broad variety of tasks and to structure a project. Tasks range from technical research (water, soils and plant varieties) and financial modelling, to market analysis and project management;
• Curious and eager to learn;
• Willing to work in the UK as part of a small team;
• Foreign language skills are a plus;
• Previous work experience is not a requirement, maximum 3 years;
• Willingness to travel.

Please contact Alies Haange if you have any questions or want to know more about this position. You will find her contact information on this web page. We'd love to hear from you!