Senior Field Crops Breeder - Lead Varieties & Trials

Placements24; Kimberley; Hybrid; CAD 75,000 - 126,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Life insurance

Retirement annuity

Performance bonuses

Relocation assistance

Company vehicle

Equity potential

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Plant Breeder to lead a field crops breeding program in Kimberley, Northern Cape. You will oversee germplasm evaluation, crossing, selection, field trials, and commercial release, applying genetics and quantitative methods to improve yield and resilience.

The role emphasizes leadership, collaboration across agronomy and pathology teams, and travel to trial sites, with a strong focus on developing varieties suited to challenging environments.

Qualifications

• Must hold a Master’s or Ph.D. in Plant Breeding, Genetics, Agronomy or related field.
• Proven track record in advancing field crops from germplasm to release.
• Strong background in genetics, quantitative genetics, statistics and experimental design.
• Willingness to travel extensively to field trial locations.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and execution of breeding programs for key field crops with desirable traits.
• Manage germplasm collection, evaluation and utilization.
• Conduct crosses and selection to identify superior lines.
• Plan multi-location field trials to assess performance under varying environments.
• Apply statistical and molecular breeding methods to accelerate breeding.
• Collaborate with agronomists, pathologists and other scientists.
• Oversee seed production and quality control for commercial varieties.
• Analyze trial data and make decisions on variety advancement.
• Prepare technical reports and conference presentations.
• Ensure compliance with IP rights and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Communication

Analytical skills

Travel readiness

Education

Master's or Ph.D. in Plant Breeding/Genetics/Agronomy

Tools

SAS

R

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Plant Breeder to lead a field crops breeding program in Kimberley, Northern Cape. You will oversee germplasm evaluation, crossing, selection, field trials, and commercial release, applying genetics and quantitative methods to improve yield and resilience.

The role emphasizes leadership, collaboration across agronomy and pathology teams, and travel to trial sites, with a strong focus on developing varieties suited to challenging environments.