Manager Molecular Breeding

Enza Zaden Services B.V.; Enkhuizen; On-site; EUR 66,669 - 95,239; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

8.33% vacation allowance

Annual bonus up to 15%

25 vacation days

Company laptop and phone

Remote-work allowance

Retirement plan

Commuting reimbursement

Wellbeing programs

Job summary

EnzaZaden is looking for an experienced leader to manage and grow an international molecular breeding team across the Netherlands, Spain, and France. You will translate long‑term crop strategies into practical R&D programs and steer adoption of state‑of‑the‑art breeding technologies.

You will drive data‑driven decision making, oversee complex breeding data, and partner with Crop Management and Research Portfolio teams, reporting to the Global Manager Molecular Breeding.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Plant Breeding, Genetics, Biotechnology, Life Sciences, or a related scientific field.
• 6 to 8 years of relevant experience in molecular breeding, plant breeding, or a closely related discipline.
• Proven experience in people management and development of high‑performing teams.
• Strong knowledge of modern breeding technologies, biotechnology, genomics, and data analysis.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder‑management skills.
• Fluency in English, both written and spoken.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop an international team of genomic breeders and pre‑breeders located in the Netherlands, Spain, and France.
• Translate long‑term crop strategies into actionable research and breeding initiatives in collaboration with Crop Management Teams and the Research Portfolio Manager.
• Drive the implementation and adoption of new molecular and data‑driven breeding technologies across breeding programs.
• Optimize processes for the introduction of new genetics and traits, ensuring effective transfer from research into breeding.
• Manage and interpret complex breeding data, including genealogy, phenotype, genotype, and trait‑architecture information.
• Act as a key stakeholder for digital tools, software implementation, quality compliance, and, where applicable, crop‑related intellectual‑property management.
• Report to the Global Manager Molecular Breeding and lead an international team of approximately 10 molecular breeding professionals.

Skills

People management

Genomics

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

English fluency

Breeding technologies

Communication

Education

Master’s degree in Plant Breeding, Genetics, Biotechnology, Life Sciences, or related field

PhD (advantage)

Job description

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop an international team of genomic breeders and pre‑breeders located in the Netherlands, Spain, and France.
• Translate long‑term crop strategies into actionable research and breeding initiatives in collaboration with Crop Management Teams and the Research Portfolio Manager.
• Drive the implementation and adoption of new molecular and data‑driven breeding technologies across breeding programs.
• Optimize processes for the introduction of new genetics and traits, ensuring effective transfer from research into breeding.
• Manage and interpret complex breeding data, including genealogy, phenotype, genotype, and trait‑architecture information.
• Act as a key stakeholder for digital tools, software implementation, quality compliance, and, where applicable, crop‑related intellectual‑property management.
• Report to the Global Manager Molecular Breeding and lead an international team of approximately 10 molecular breeding professionals.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Plant Breeding, Genetics, Biotechnology, Life Sciences, or a related scientific field; PhD is an advantage.
• 6 to 8 years of relevant experience in molecular breeding, plant breeding, or a closely related discipline.
• Proven experience in people management and development of high‑performing teams.
• Strong knowledge of modern breeding technologies, biotechnology, genomics, and data analysis.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder‑management skills.
• Fluency in English, both written and spoken.

Benefits

• Full‑time position for 38 hours per week.
• Gross monthly salary between €5974,10 and €8534,42 based on experience.
• 8.33% vacation allowance and an annual bonus program up to 15% of salary.
• 25 vacation days, option to purchase additional days, and one paid vitality day per year.
• Company laptop, mobile phone and, where applicable, contribution toward overnight accommodation costs.
• Retirement plan, commuting reimbursement, and remote‑work allowance.
• Access to training courses, workshops, e‑learning platform and various well‑being initiatives.

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