Canola Breeder

Advanta Seeds; Toowoomba Regional; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Pacific Seeds invites a Canola Breeder to join our R&D team in Toowoomba, working across field, greenhouse, lab and office environments. You will help develop elite germplasm and a pipeline of high-performing canola hybrids, collaborating with the Senior Canola Breeder and using modern breeding technologies.

You will contribute to crossing programs, design and run breeding trials across Australia, and manage data in breeding databases.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or doctorate in agriculture, horticulture, plant breeding, plant science or related field.
• Experience with crop breeding concepts, data recording, and trial design is preferred.
• Ability to work across field, greenhouse, lab and office environments.

Responsibilities

• Support crossing programs and germplasm development, manage canola germplasm resources.
• Plan and deliver breeding nurseries, yield and disease trials with internal teams and contractors.
• Capture and maintain agronomic, yield and quality data; prepare trial reports with databases and statistics.
• Coordinate phenomics, genomics and pathology activities, including sampling and testing.
• Assist breeder seed development and seasonal operational breeding tasks.

Skills

Field trial coordination

Data management

Statistical software

Teamwork

Communication

Education

Master's or PhD in agriculture/plant breeding

Tools

Excel

Breeding databases

Genomics tools

Job description

Help develop the next generation of canola hybrids

Pacific Seeds is seeking a Canola Breeder to join our Research and Development team in Toowoomba. Known internally as the Trait Development Breeder, this permanent, full-time position supports the development of elite germplasm and a strong pipeline of high-performing canola hybrids.

Working closely with the Senior Canola Breeder, you will contribute across the breeding cycle, combining practical field and greenhouse work with trial coordination, data management and modern breeding technologies.

About Pacific Seeds

Pacific Seeds has worked alongside Australian growers since 1962. We breed, produce and market seed for summer and winter crops, combining Australian field knowledge with research, technology and commercial plant breeding.

The opportunity

This is a varied, hands-on role spanning field, greenhouse, laboratory and office environments. You will help develop and evaluate canola germplasm, deliver breeding trials across Australia and maintain the accurate data and records that support breeding decisions.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Supporting crossing programs, doubled haploid line development, hybrid nurseries and the management of canola germplasm resources.
• Planning and delivering breeding nurseries, yield trials and disease nurseries with internal teams, contractors and research service providers.
• Capturing and maintaining agronomic, yield, quality and disease data, and preparing trial reports using breeding databases and statistical software.
• Coordinating phenomics, genomics and plant pathology activities, including imaging, tissue and seed sampling, molecular testing and third-party pathology services.
• Assisting with breeder seed development and practical breeding operations during seasonal peak periods.

About you

You will be organised, methodical and motivated by practical crop improvement. You will be comfortable moving between scientific, operational and data-focused work while collaborating with colleagues and external service providers.

You will ideally bring:

• A master's degree or doctorate in agriculture, horticulture, plant breeding, plant science or a related discipline.
• Knowledge of crop production cycles and contemporary plant breeding techniques.
• Strong attention to detail, record-keeping and organisational skills.
• Good computer literacy, including Excel and data-entry systems.
• Effective communication and teamwork skills, together with a current C Class Driver's Licence.
• Experience in agriculture, seed or research and development would be advantageous but is not essential.

What to expect

The role involves field, greenhouse, laboratory and office-based work, domestic travel during the growing season and limited international travel. Seasonal overtime or occasional weekend work may be required. Candidates should also be comfortable with the physical requirements of field research and seed handling, including lifting and moving equipment and seed bags.

Why join Pacific Seeds?

You will gain broad exposure to commercial canola breeding and develop capability across germplasm development, field experimentation, phenomics, genomics, pathology and breeding data. Most importantly, your work will contribute directly to future products for Australian growers.