Job Description

Alora is seeking a skilled and motivated

Glasshouse Technician

to support the cultivation, care, and monitoring of genetically edited crops within our glasshouses, hydroponic systems, and UK field trial sites. This hands-on role is central to our crop development pipeline and involves working closely with our scientific team to ensure reliable, high-quality plant growth for research and trait development.

You will primarily work with rice but may also support trials in wheat, model cereals, and other species as our platform expands.

This position is ideal for someone who enjoys practical horticulture, has experience in controlled-environment plant growth, and is confident supporting research experiments with precise care, observation, and data collection.

Purpose of the Role

The Horticulture Operator plays a critical role in ALORA's mission to develop climate-resilient crops and sustainable agriculture systems. This position bridges the gap between scientific discovery and real-world crop performance by ensuring the consistent, healthy growth of our genetically-edited plants under controlled and field conditions.

By conducting our glasshouse and field trial operations, the Horticulture Technician ensures that experimental crops are nurtured, monitored, and maintained to the highest standard, enabling scientists to generate reliable, meaningful data. Your work will directly impact our ability to scale climate-adaptive crops, from rice to future cereal varieties.

You will report directly to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and work closely with both technical and scientific leads to coordinate trial activity and crop performance. ALORA is a rapidly growing company where you will have many opportunities to grow within the horticulture team.

Key Responsibilities

On a day-to-day, responsibilities of the successful candidate will include:

Plant Care & Cultivation:

- Daily management of plants in glasshouse and growth environments, including watering, transplanting, pest monitoring, sampling and phenotyping.
- Support hydroponic system setup and maintenance.
- Monitor plant health & performance and report observations to your supervisor.

Trial Support:

- Implement the setup, maintenance, and monitoring or research trials across glasshouse and field sites.
- Collect high-quality data on growth, stress responses, development, and yield traits.
- Follow consistent protocols for environmental stress experiments.
- Improve methodologies and implement new equipment and optimisations. This is a role where you have the opportunity to change how we conduct our glasshouse trials.

Environmental Monitoring:

- Check and adjust glasshouse systems (irrigation, ventilation, lighting, temperature) to maintain optimal growth conditions.
- Log environmental changes and report issues promptly.

Record-Keeping & Data Entry:

- Maintain accurate and organised records of plant care, experimental events, and environmental conditions.
- Use spreadsheets or data-tracking tools for phenotyping and experimental notes.
- Report on trial progress via presentations and written reviews.

Site & Equipment Maintenance:

-

Maintain clean, safe, and well-organised working environments.

-

Prepare pots, soil mixes, consumables, and equipment for ongoing trials.

Field Trial Support (Seasonal):

- Assist with transplanting, sampling, and monitoring at UK field sites.
- Work outdoors for short periods during planting and harvest seasons.

Collaboration & Communication:

-

Work closely with scientists and technicians as part of a small, supportive team.

-

Share observations and propose improvements to methods or workflows.

-

Occasionally present updates during team meetings.

What we're looking for:

Essential Skills & Experience

Degree or equivalent experience

with a focus on horticulture, plant science or physiology, controlled environment crop production or similar hands-on experience.

2+ years of hands-on experience

in a glasshouse or growth room.

Good working knowledge of plant care

, pest and disease identification, irrigation systems, and plant nutrition.

Strong observational skills

and attention to detail. Comfortable working in warm/humid environments and performing physical tasks. Able to maintain accurate records and follow research protocols. Strong

communication skills

, both written and oral.

Positive

,

collaborative

, and

adaptable

mindset.

?Desirable Skills

Experience with cereal crops (rice, wheat, barley, model grasses). Experience supporting research trials or regulated crop environments. Familiarity with phenotyping, data collection, or experimental protocols. Interest in climate adaptation, biotechnology, or sustainable agriculture.

Benefits

Pension scheme Free-on-site parking Canteen & Kitchenette Supportive, mission-driven team Company & Community events Possible equity scheme Casual dress Opportunity to grown within a rapidly expanding startup

Schedule & Job Type

Full time, in person. From Monday to Friday, with ability to commute to:Alora, Office 1, Centrum, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7UG

Candidates must be able to reliably commute or relocate.

Compensation:

Base pay between 26,500 - 28,500 annually, with competitive equity options based on performance.

How to Apply

Email your CV and a brief cover letter explaining your interest in the role to

wave@alora.world

with the subject line

"Glasshouse Technician Application"

.

About Alora

Alora is pioneering a new era of climate-adaptive agriculture. Our mission is simple but ambitious: t

o solve world hunger

. We develop genetically edited crops capable of thriving under saltwater, heat, and other conditions that are rapidly reshaping global food security.

From salt-tolerant rice to next-generation cereal crops, our work combines deep plant science with bold engineering to create agricultural systems that use no freshwater, no pesticides, and no fertilisers. Our long-term vision, Ocean Agriculture, reimagines farming entirely, bringing food production to places it has never been possible before.

Alora has grown from small beginnings in Yorkshire to a global team shaped in San Francisco, developed in Canada, and returning to the UK to lead the next chapter of sustainable agriculture. We're building technology that could change the world, and we're looking for people who want to be part of that journey.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 26,500.00-28,500.00 per year

Benefits:

Bereavement leave Canteen Casual dress Company events Company pension Free parking On-site parking Sick pay
Ability to commute/relocate:

Norwich NR4 7UG: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Experience:

Horticulture/Growing: 2 years (preferred) rice or cereal: 1 year (preferred) field trial: 1 year (preferred)
Language:

English (required)
Work Location: In person