Breeding Manager Lettuce

Rijk Zwaan Italia S.r.L.; Netherlands; Remote; EUR 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Permanent contract (38h)

Salary commensurate with experience

25 vacation days + vitality day

Rijk Zwaan Academy training

Job summary

Rijk Zwaan is seeking a Breeding Manager based in the Netherlands to lead the Lettuce Breeding department. You will manage global breeding programs, coach teams, and drive the development of new varieties with a focus on innovation and collaboration.

The role requires a Master in Plant Sciences, 5+ years in plant breeding management, strong English skills, intercultural sensitivity, and willingness to travel. We offer a permanent contract, competitive salary, and generous benefits.

Qualifications

• As Breeding Manager, strong leadership in people-oriented management is required.
• Experience coaching and developing breeding teams across cultures.
• Fluent English with intercultural communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage the global portfolio of breeding programs and pre-breeding projects.
• Encourage adoption of new breeding techniques within the department.
• Regularly visit breeding teams worldwide and coordinate with R&D directors.
• Monitor developments in intellectual property related to breeding.
• Collaborate with departments such as operations and research.

Skills

Leadership experience

Intercultural sensitivity

Coaching and development

English proficiency

Willingness to learn Dutch

Education

Master in Plant Sciences

Job description

Your job at Rijk Zwaan

As a Breeding Manager, you are responsible for the global strategic and process‑based direction of the breeding programs. You focus on challenging, supporting, and coaching the breeding teams. You ensure the development of breeding programs and research projects and define the breeding objectives. Rijk Zwaan has a unique company culture. Two managers generally lead the departments. This means you will jointly manage the department in the Netherlands together with your fellow Breeding Manager. Within the department, attention to personal development, coaching, and a positive working atmosphere is just as important as the content of the projects. In addition, you will be involved:

• Managing the global portfolio of breeding programs and pre‑breeding projects
• Encouraging the implementation of new breeding techniques within the department
• Regularly visiting breeding teams worldwide and international R&D directors
• Monitoring developments in the field of intellectual property
• Collaborating with a wide range of departments, such as operational and research teams

Where will you be working?

Rijk Zwaan is an international family business with a people‑oriented company culture. Rijk Zwaan sits at the beginning of the food chain. We develop fruit and vegetable varieties and sell their seeds to growers and other chain partners around the world. In doing so, we make an important contribution to global food supply. As Breeding Manager, you will lead the Lettuce Breeding department. Based in our facility in Fijnaart, we focus on developing new, tasty, and healthy lettuce varieties. The department consists of various breeding, pre‑breeding, and support teams. More than 80 colleagues worldwide work in this department.
Jair, Breeding Manager Lettuce: “It’s wonderful to work together with a diverse group of colleagues to shape the lettuce of the future.”

Your contribution

As a Breeding Manager, you have experience in people‑oriented leadership. You enjoy coaching, guiding, and helping employees develop further. You work in a structured way, communicative, and collaborative—both within and outside the organization—and you possess intercultural sensitivity. You can organize well, able to plan effectively, and have a keen sense of responsibility and strategic insight. You are also willing to travel regularly. In addition, you can find the following on your cv:

• At least a completed Master, for example in Plant Sciences
• 5 or more years of managerial experience in plant breeding or breeding research
• Strong command of the English language
• Willingly to learn Dutch

What you can expect from us

The basics are, of course, well arranged. You will work in an inspiring environment with dedicated colleagues and contribute to our mission: making healthy vegetables available to everyone. At Rijk Zwaan, responsibilities are placed as low as possible within the organization. We give breeding departments a great deal of freedom to organize their work in a way that best suits the colleagues carrying it out and the crop in question. This results in successful varieties with global impact on food supply. Each year, Rijk Zwaan invests nearly 30% of its revenue into R&D. We are happy to offer you:

• A permanent contract from the start for 38 hours per week
• A good salary based on position level and experience
• 25 vacation days, a vitality day, and the option to purchase additional days
• Training opportunities through the Rijk Zwaan Academy

At Rijk Zwaan, it’s not only about good employment conditions, but also about your development, health, and enjoyment at work. You will find this reflected in, among other things:

• Introduction lunch with management and other new colleagues
• Fresh soup, fruit, and/or salads
• “Rondjes Rijk Zwaan” introduction program—get to know our culture, departments, and history
• Development discussions instead of appraisal interviews
• Rijk Zwaan Fit, including sports activities such as running and bootcamp, plus discounts on gym memberships
• Voluntary Preventive Medical Examination
• Activities you can participate in, from BBQs to photography workshops

Would you like more information about this position first? Then contact Johan Schut (Breeding Manager Lettuce) at [phone].