Head of Cereals Breeding & Genomic Innovation

Ceres Recruitment France | Food & Agri; France; On-site; EUR 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Our client is an international group delivering agricultural seeds research, production and commercialization. They seek a Head of Breeding Cereals to steer strategic breeding, lead diverse teams across Europe and beyond, and push innovative approaches for tomorrow’s varieties.

You will head an international organization spanning breeding, field trials and research, shaping priorities while coordinating with cross-functional partners to accelerate varietal innovation and sustainability.

Qualifications

• Engineering or higher degree in plant breeding or related field.
• Minimum of 10 years in plant breeding, preferably in arable crops.
• Experience leading complex, international organizations and teams.
• Fluency in English; French a plus.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the cereal breeding strategy across markets.
• Lead multiple breeding programs (wheat, barley, oats, etc.) ensuring scientific and economic alignment.
• Manage and unite breeders and researchers to deliver common objectives.
• Collaborate with R&D and Marketing to drive cross-functional synergies.
• Develop budgets (CAPEX and OPEX) and contribute to medium-term planning.
• Incorporate new breeding approaches (marker-assisted, GWAS, genomic selection).
• Promote HSE policy within the team and represent the Group with scientific partners.

Skills

Team leadership

Strategic direction

Cross-functional collaboration

Organizational transformation

Education

Engineering degree

Master’s or PhD in plant breeding/plant genetics

Tools

Genomics & marker-assisted selection

Job description

Our client is an international group delivering agricultural seeds research, production and commercialization. They seek a Head of Breeding Cereals to steer strategic breeding, lead diverse teams across Europe and beyond, and push innovative approaches for tomorrow’s varieties.

You will head an international organization spanning breeding, field trials and research, shaping priorities while coordinating with cross-functional partners to accelerate varietal innovation and sustainability.