Germplasm Development Lead

Role Purpose:

• The Germplasm Development Lead will support the LBO Germplasm Development Head by leading and developing a team of Breeders for defined crop and market segments.
• Germplasm development role will continue to lead the crop breeding program for defined segments, in this case Cauliflower segment.
• The time ratio Team Lead / Breeding position will be approx. 20-80.

Accountabilities:

• Manage, mentor, coach and develop individual members of the crop breeding team .
• Promote and inspire teamwork, developing synergy between programs and regions. Increase team interaction, germplasm exchange and share culture of knowledge, good practices, and experience.
• Drive germplasm development process optimization (drive genetic gain improvement, process optimization, document via KPI measurement) in accordance to Crop Strategy.
• Support the local crop teams and the strategy via stewardship of its execution within the Breeding Team responsibility.
• Manage Crop-Team project portfolio and maintain alignment with market segment teams, global portfolio team and business needs.
• Develop/maintain expert knowledge of crop germplasm to understand the usefulness of lines and hybrids across environments.
• Secure data-driven processes in trialing, product advancement decisions, predictive breeding implementation, and late-stage product placement across market segments globally.
• Facilitate and organize the use of technologies such as molecular markers, advanced phenotyping techniques, cell biology, produce/seed quality/physiology, fast fixation.
• Drive regular program reviews for each program to contribute data to crop pipeline reviews.
• Establish good relationships with RD functions, Marketing and Sales, Production and Supply.

Knowledge Skills Experience:

Critical Knowledge:

• PhD or MSc. in plant science, with emphasis on breeding and genetics
• Experience of minimum 5 years in leading a commercial breeding program
• Knowledge of phytopathology, plant physiology, quantitative genetics, statistics, crop management and new technologies.

Critical Skills:

• Leading expertise in relevant area
• Good communicator within academic as well as business environment
• Keen eye for innovations
• Good sense of economics of new processes and products
• Flexible with regard to international character of the job (e. g. traveling)
• Both an independent and team worker
• Fluent English

Critical Experience:

• Proven success with product development projects in breeding
• Proven experience in leading a team

Competencies:

• Customer-focused
• Participatory management oriented.
• Innovative
• Decisive
• Communicative
• Trusted
• Team-oriented
• Results-oriented

Critical Success factors Key Challenges:

• Visionary, futuristic thinking with the ability to create products with particular regards to dissection and optimization of complex traits.
• Ability to work within a matrix management system.
• Ability to manage and work within dispersed and multi-cultural teams.
• Ability to mentor, coach, and develop people.
• Ability to communicate effectively in the academic and business environment.
• Ability to execute on strategic goals.
• Knowledge of Crop global and regional markets linked to the assigned Crop-Team.
• Knowledge of marker technology, plant physiology, produce and seed quality, and Crop biology/agronomy.
• Developing germplasm and varieties for crop

.