Melon Breeder (H/F)

HM.CLAUSE; La Mojonera; Hybrid; EUR 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit-sharing

Health insurance

Company vehicle

Hybrid working model

Employee benefits

Job summary

Limagrain's Global Melon Breeding Team in Almería is seeking an experienced breeding expert to drive strategy and deliver new melon varieties. You will lead a small local team, collaborate across the BU and Limagrain Group, and manage trial programs with a data-driven approach.

You will travel ~25–30% to evaluate trials in France and abroad, staying at the forefront of breeding technologies. Fluency in English is required; Spanish is a plus.

Qualifications

• Master degree in Plant Breeding.
• At least 5 years of experience in breeding programs implementation.
• Results-oriented with interest in new breeding technologies and field work.
• Analytical and project management skills; scientific and commercial curiosity.
• Fluency in English; French is acceptable; intermediate Spanish would be a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop a breeding strategy aligned with R&D objectives.
• Implement the program with BU teams and optimize trial usage.
• Develop germplasm and hybrids based on market needs.
• Ensure supply of homogeneous basic seeds and data-driven optimization.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing, Development and Sales.
• Manage a small local team and coordinate with international breeders.
• Travel about 25–30% to evaluate trials in France and abroad.

Skills

Project management

Data analysis

Team leadership

Communication

International collaboration

Education

Master degree in Plant Breeding

Job description

Limagrain is a global company with deep local roots. Our parent company is an agricultural cooperative based in the Limagne-Val d’Allier plain, in the heart of Central France’s Auvergne region, while we are an international seed and agri-food group with some 9,600 employees working in 53 countries.

As the 4th largest seed company in the world, we achieved sales of 2.522 billion euros in 2023-2024, with additional sales of 729 million euros from activities carried out in collaboration with our strategic partners.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

Based at La Mojonera, (Almería/ Spain) one of our main global R&D centres specialising in plant breeding, you will contribute to the development of our varietal range, by joining our international breeding team for the Melon programs. You will collaborate with teams from different parts of the world, in our Business Unit (BU) HM.CLAUSE and within the Limagrain Group.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop a breeding strategy based on defined company’s R&D objectives
  • You will ensure the implementation of the program, by collaborating with the different teams of the BU
  • You will make optimal use of the available trial network and resources (human, financial, material, etc.)
  • You will develop germplasm and parental lines by integrating innovative traits,
  • You will develop new hybrids corresponding to market needs
• Guarantee the supply of homogeneous and stable basic seeds,
• Optimize the breeding program through the use of modern technologies and data analysis tools,
• Maintain your knowledge of products and markets, through technological monitoring and regular interactions with the Marketing, Development and Sales departments
• Participate in various cross-functional projects with research teams at the BU level and those of the Limagrain Group
• Manage a small local team and work closely with other breeders of our international team

You will be travelling ~25/30% of your time to strategic markets to evaluate/select trials in France and abroad

PROFILE

You hold a Master degree in Plant Breeding and have at least 5 years of experience in similar position, in particular in breeding programs implementation.

Results-oriented, you are attracted by new breeding technologies as well as field work.

Your analytical and project management skills, as well as your scientific and commercial curiosity, will be your assets to carry out your missions and be proactive in terms of innovation.

Finally, you are recognized as a good "team player" & enjoy interacting in an international environment. Fluency in English (or French if English-speaker) is necessary and an intermediate level of Spanish would be a plus.

Experience In Team Management Is Required.

Joining us means becoming part of our Global Melon Breeding Team, working alongside passionate professionals dedicated to innovation and the development of sustainable solutions for the agriculture of tomorrow.

In this role, you will enjoy:

• A high level of autonomy and ownership to drive your breeding strategy and projects.
• An intensive working schedule that supports work-life balance.
• A hybrid working model.
• Opportunities for professional growth, continuous learning and international collaboration.
• Benefit from profit-sharing, health insurance and additional employee benefits.
• A company vehicle.

If you are passionate about genetic improvement and want to contribute to the development of the melon varieties of the future, we would love to meet you.