Breeding Principal Bulb & Root Crops

Enza Zaden; Enkhuizen; Hybrid; EUR 87,000 - 124,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary: €7,774.05–€11,105.78 gross/mo

Vacation: 8.33% vacation allowance

Annual bonus: 15% of salary

25 vacation days (+ options)

Company car

Remote work allowance

Great to Grow program

Health & wellness support

Job summary

Enza Zaden in the Netherlands seeks a Breeding Principal to translate crop strategy into breeding direction, strengthen breeding quality, and drive innovation across programs. You will lead with dual management and collaborate with R&D and commercial teams to keep pipelines competitive and future-focused.

You will bring 15+ years of experience in plant breeding, a Master’s or PhD in Plant Science, and strong leadership, communication, and coaching skills to influence stakeholders across

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Plant Science or related field.
• 15+ years of experience in plant breeding with impact.
• Expertise in plant breeding, modern methods, and phytopathology.
• Strong market sense to align breeding with commercial value.
• Proven leadership of complex breeding programs and cross-functional teams.
• Excellent English and local language communication.

Responsibilities

• Translate crop strategy into breeding targets and processes.
• Co‑lead crop groups in a dual management structure.
• Serve as technical authority in plant breeding and phytopathology.
• Drive innovation with new breeding concepts and opportunities.
• Lead continuous improvement of breeding programs across segments.
• Coach and mentor breeders while safeguarding knowledge.
• Be a valued member of the Crop Group Management Team.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Coaching

Stakeholder management

Influencing

International environments

Education

Master’s degree or PhD in Plant Science

Job description

Strong breeding programs are essential for maintaining a competitive and innovative crop portfolio. As Breeding Principal, you play a leading role in shaping the long‑term success of Enza Zaden’s crop groups by translating crop strategy into breeding direction, strengthening breeding quality, and driving innovation across multiple breeding programs. Working closely with breeding leadership, R&D, and commercial stakeholders, you help ensure that our breeding pipelines remain strong, relevant, and future‑focused.

Make a difference as Breeding Principal

As Breeding Principal, you are responsible for ensuring breeding excellence and the long‑term competitiveness of one or more crop groups. Reporting to the Vice President Breeding you work in a dual leadership model together with the Head of / Global Manager Breeding, combining scientific expertise, strategic insight, and innovation leadership to strengthen breeding performance and future opportunities. You play a key role in connecting crop strategy, breeding execution, and technological innovation while supporting the development of high‑performing breeding programs and teams.

In this role, your work will include:

• Contributing to crop group strategy and planning by translating crop segment strategies into breeding targets, priorities, and processes aligned with Business Dynamics.
• Co‑leading the crop group in a dual management structure, ensuring strong governance, alignment, and performance across breeding programs.
• Acting as a recognized technical authority in plant breeding, modern breeding methodologies, and phytopathology for the crop group.
• Driving innovation through the development and implementation of new breeding concepts, techniques, and crop opportunities with high strategic impact.
• Leading continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen the quality, efficiency, and performance of breeding programs across crop segments.
• Coaching and mentoring breeders while safeguarding critical knowledge and strengthening technical expertise throughout the breeding community.
• A valued member of the Crop Group Management Team.

What you bring as our future colleague

As Breeding Principal, you are a respected and forward‑thinking breeding expert who combines deep scientific knowledge with strategic vision and a passion for innovation. You know how to connect science, market needs, and business objectives, and you are able to influence stakeholders at different organizational levels. With your strong leadership, communication, and coaching skills, you build alignment, inspire others, and help shape the future of breeding.

In addition, you have:

• A Master’s degree or PhD in Plant Science or a related discipline.
• More than 15 years of relevant experience in plant breeding, with a strong track record of delivering impact.
• Recognized expertise in plant breeding, modern breeding methodologies, and phytopathology, with extensive breeding experience in onion and root crops.
• Deep understanding of market dynamics and customer needs, enabling you to connect breeding direction with commercial value.
• Proven experience leading complex breeding programs and driving continuous improvement across multiple programs or crop segments.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills in multidisciplinary and international environments.
• Experience in coaching and developing breeders and other technical professionals.
• Excellent command of English and the local language, both written and spoken.
• Willingness to travel internationally as required for the role.

Enza Zaden as your employer
Enza Zaden is an international family‑owned company that has been developing innovative vegetable varieties since 1938. Together with more than 3,300 colleagues worldwide, we work on vegetable seeds with better flavor, higher yields and strong resistances. We do this from our mission: "Breeding to feed the world." Every day, more than 480 million people eat vegetables grown from our seeds, and that is something we are very proud of.

We are passionate about our work and care about one another. Good ideas are given room to grow and together we keep moving forward. This is how we continue to grow and innovate, both as a company and as colleagues.

What you can expect from us

We believe it is important that you can grow in your work and feel good about what you do. That is why we invest in your development, well‑being, and job satisfaction. Through our Great to Grow development program, our focus on vitality, and activities that bring colleagues together, we create a work environment where you can keep learning and contribute with energy and enjoyment.

You can also count on:

• A position for 38 hours per week;
• A gross monthly salary between €7,774.05 and €11,105.78 based on a full‑time workweek of 38 hours and aligned with your knowledge and experience;
• 8.33% vacation allowance and an attractive annual bonus program of 15% of your annual salary, depending on your job level and company performance;
• 25 vacation days, the option to purchase additional vacation days, and one paid vitality day per year, with extra vacation days granted as you get older;
• A laptop and mobile phone provided by Enza Zaden;
• A company car;
• A contribution toward overnight accommodation costs if you live farther away from Enza Zaden. This program applies to employees working for Enza Zaden in the Netherlands whose one‑way commute exceeds 100 kilometers and 75 minutes;
• An attractive retirement plan, commuting reimbursement if you live more than 10 kilometers from your workplace and a remote work allowance when working partly from home in consultation with your manager;
• Opportunities for personal and professional growth through our Great to Grow development program, training courses, workshops, and e‑learning platform;
• Plenty of opportunities to connect with colleagues outside of your daily work through social events organized by the Staff Association, as well as Young Enza networking events, inspiration sessions, and social gatherings. We also host an annual summer barbecue, Christmas market and New Year’s reception;
• A strong focus on your health and well‑being, including free fresh fruit, healthy lunch options at the office, a bike‑to‑work program, sports activities through enzActive, and mental well‑being support through OpenUp.

An assessment is part of the application process. This role cannot be filled on an interim basis.

Do you have questions about the role or the application process? Please feel free to contact Annemarie Weening, Senior Corporate Recruiter, at [e-mail].

Enza Zaden is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on background, identity, or personal characteristics.

Want to learn more about Enza Zaden? Visit our website.