Senior Manager, Biology R&D

Vive Crop Protection; Mississauga; Hybrid; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Stock options

Health and wellness coverage

Retirement savings

Parental leave top-ups

Paid time off

Job summary

Vive Crop Protection in Mississauga is seeking a Senior Manager, Biology R&D to lead the research and development teams focused on Vive technology and field trials. You will drive strategy, manage a hybrid team across Canada/USA, and translate data into strategic insights to propel growth.

Ideal candidates will have 12+ years in relevant fields, advanced degrees, and proven leadership with pathology/entomology/nematology. Expect a fast‑paced, growth‑minded culture with strong rewards.

Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in a scientific discipline such as Crop Science, Agriculture, Agronomy, Plant Biology, Pathology, Entomology or Nematology.
• Minimum of 12 years of experience in a relevant field, including leadership in a matrix organization.
• Strong literature and experimental research skills; data analysis and statistics; proficient with AI and statistical software.
• Excellent communication, planning, and ability to drive cross‑functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead Vive’s Biology R&D strategy and deliver on field development and controlled environment priorities.
• Collaborate daily with Research Chemistry, Product Development Chemistry and Product Marketing to feed a high‑velocity pipeline.
• Allocate resources across controlled environment, greenhouse and field programs; ensure on‑time, on‑budget delivery.
• Mentor and guide team members; provide technical direction and scientific rigor for projects.
• Maintain external contacts with customers, collaborators, and researchers for joint studies.

Skills

Leadership

Data analysis

Statistical software

Artificial intelligence

Microsoft Office

Communication

Teamwork

Project management

Education

MSc/PhD in Crop Science

Tools

AI software

Statistical software

Microsoft Office

Job description

The successful incumbent will work out of the Mississauga head office/lab at least 3 days per week.

The pay range for this role is $120,000 to $180,000 CAD, with final compensation determined based on factors such as relevant experience, skills, job-related knowledge, and internal equity. Where applicable, location and market data may also influence the final offer.

Total rewards include bonus + stock options, comprehensive health and wellness coverage, retirement savings, parental leave top‑ups, paid time off, and a culture that celebrates growth and recognizes great work. We move fast, and we want you energized for it, not burned out by it.

About Vive

Vive is a high‑growth, sustainable agtech firm founded in 2006 and headquartered in Mississauga, ON. Our Made‑in Canada, patented Allosperse® delivery technology helps farmers do more with less. By bringing the power of Precision Chemistry™ to agriculture, Vive connects the lab to the field, enabling growers to cut costs and reduce their environmental footprint. We are fully commercial with established distribution across the US, and our products were used in the USA and Canada on over 2.3 million acres in 2025, with total treated acreage growing at 149 % per year on average.

We were recently selected as part of the inaugural cohort of the Government of Canada’s Global Hypergrowth Project, and we are well on our way to becoming Canada’s leading anchor agtech firm. Our global expansion ambition began with our first product Canadian registration in spring 2023. We’ve received several awards for innovation, been named the SDTC Changemaker of the Year, and ranked #196 on the list of the fastest‑growing companies in the Americas. With over 100 patents, and a vision of having a Vive solution on every acre, we’re looking for passionate, growth‑minded individuals to join us on our journey!

Values

• We are grower‑focused
• We succeed through collective genius
• We are building something real
• We are confident and adaptive owners
• We are data‑driven

If you’re looking to build something real with a team of smart, confident, and adaptive owners (and like to have lots of fun along the way), keep reading to learn more about the Senior Manager, Biology R&D position and the role you will play in helping us reach our goals!

Mission

Your core mission as part of the Technology team is to lead the research and development teams in the delivery of Company biology priorities. The major focus areas are Vive technology and products in controlled environments and field trials, respectively. This role is also accountable for the adoption of new research methods necessary to support Vive’s growth, such as in pathology, nematology, entomology and weed science.

You will deliver on this mission by:

1. Working as part of the Technology Leadership Team to create Vive’s research and development strategy.
2. Collaborating daily with Research Chemistry, Product Development Chemistry and Product Marketing to feed Vive’s high‑velocity pipeline.
3. Delivering on field trialing and controlled environment strategic objectives with functional excellence, on budget and on time.
4. Allocating resources across controlled environment, greenhouse and field programs, where project aims are complex and inter‑related.
5. Identifying and implementing new biological research methods in the lab and field.
6. Translating broad data sets into strategic insight for peers, stakeholders and external partners.

Interactions

• Internally – Research, Product Development, Product Marketing, Regulatory, Senior Management, Operations, Agronomy, Marketing, Joint Health and Safety Committee
• Externally – Customer, Collaborators, Consultants, Service Providers, and Suppliers

Accountability – First 12 months

• Strategy – Work with the Technology Leadership Team to create and implement Vive’s Field Development and Controlled Environment Bioassay strategy across the function to drive decisions with maximum biological confidence.
• Goals and Objectives – Embrace Company culture by becoming fluent in Vive’s philosophy of goal setting, sprints, and design thinking.
• Leadership – Optimize cross‑functional collaborations by identifying and addressing gaps in structure and processes.
• Operations – Ensure project milestones are met, assign projects and tasks as required, and monitor performance against Company objectives. Provide technical direction and ensure scientific rigor for all projects.
• Budgets – Co‑develop and deliver against yearly operating and capital budgets for the department.
• Values – Model and amplify Vive’s 5 core values as part of your commitment to professionalism.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Manage team members on a daily or weekly basis, including formal performance management. This role manages a hybrid team, with some members on site and others remote across Canada and the USA.
• Provide mentoring and technical guidance to develop direct and indirect reports, focusing on improving individual performance as well as team performance.
• Collaborate with members of the Technology Leadership Team to optimise and implement Vive’s research, development, and commercialization strategies.
• Drive accountability and collaboration across functions to deliver projects on time and on budget.
• Provide input into development projects, the design and development of new products and systems, or on modifications/expansions of existing products.
• Seek out and implement applied research methods in both laboratory and field.
• Maintain external contacts with customers/consultants, including project leads and scientists of corporate clients and partner organisations, suppliers and independent researchers for joint and third‑party research.
• Provide technical assistance to customers. Participate in professional meetings when required.
• Follow all applicable employment, health and safety legislation.
• Demonstrate corporate values in the performance of the work and interactions with others.
• Perform other job‑related duties, as necessary.

Skills & Experiences

• Minimum of 12 years of experience in a relevant field, inclusive of both education and work experience.
• Your experience most likely includes an MSc or PhD in a scientific discipline such as Crop Science, Agriculture, Agronomy, Plant Biology, Pathology, Entomology, Nematology or similar.
• Practical and research skills within pathology, entomology and/or nematology, especially as they relate to controlled environment testing.
• Demonstrated leadership and management skills, ideally within a matrix organization.
• Excellent literature and experimental research skills; data analysis and statistical skills; very good computer skills including using artificial intelligence, ARM and other statistical software, Microsoft Office programs, and other applicable software applications.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, creativity and innovation, organising and planning skills, ability to work under pressure in a multitask environment, good oral and written communication skills, very good interpersonal skills, team skills, leadership skills, and a propensity for continuous learning and experimenting.
• Personal attributes: sense of goal, self‑motivation, pride in work, objectivity, cooperativeness, approachability, positive outlook, enthusiasm, and adaptability to changing business requirements.

Work Environment

• Works under general direction with respect to business objectives and Company philosophy and uses own judgment to meet and direct the company goals/needs.
• Has autonomy to initiate new processes and delegate responsibilities within the functional group of the Biology Team.
• Has latitude to create and implement process improvements within the confines of achieving objectives of the role.
• Decisions beyond the scope of the role are generally validated or approved by senior management.
• Is accountable to Vive’s Chief Technology Officer and senior management.
• Will be evaluated based on the overall team performance along with own individual contribution to the business.
• Much of the work is performed in an environment that is normally clean; some of the work is performed in an environment where exposures to physical, chemical and biological hazards exist under controlled conditions.
• Potential hazards may include noise, temperature extremes, biohazards and hazardous chemical products. Standard safety procedures will describe personal protective devices that are mandatory requirements of performing the work.