Manager Plant Phenotyping & Diagnostics Applications (PPDA) | Enkhuizen

Enza Zaden; Enkhuizen; On-site; EUR 61,000 - 87,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Gross monthly salary €5,103.90–€7,291.

Vacation allowance 8.33%

Annual bonus up to 10%

25 vacation days

Laptop and mobile phone

Remote work allowance when partly from

Commuting reimbursement

Job summary

Enza Zaden is seeking a Manager PPDA to lead a team of 20–30 specialists across multiple locations in the Netherlands, Spain, and the United States. You will oversee daily operations, ensure scientific quality, and steer automation and data integration projects to advance digital phenotyping and biotic/abiotic testing.

The role emphasizes international collaboration, remote and on-site leadership, and a strong background in plant science.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading teams within a scientific or high-throughput environment.
• Experience managing remote teams and working within an international organization.
• Background in Plant Science, Plant Pathology, Phenotyping, Diagnostics, or a related field.
• Experience with laboratory or process automation and digitalization.
• Affinity with LIMS, data flows, and process monitoring is considered an advantage.
• Excellent command of both Dutch and English.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations and drive continuous process improvement across multiple locations.
• Safeguard the scientific quality and relevance of disease screening and diagnostic activities in close collaboration with Breeding and Biotechnology;
• Drive automation and digitalization initiatives in close cooperation with the Implementation Expert;
• Ensure consistent ways of working and quality standards across the Netherlands, Spain, and the United States;
• Initiate and lead improvement and innovation projects focused on efficiency, scalability, quality, and data integration;
• Represent PPDA within the organization and collaborate with stakeholders at different levels and across locations.

Skills

Team leadership

Remote management

Process optimization

International collaboration

Data-driven decision making

Communication in English

Education

Plant Science background

Tools

LIMS

Laboratory automation

Job description

PPDA plays a key role within our global breeding programs. The department supports breeders and Seed Operations with disease and stress phenotyping, routine diagnostics and monitoring, and is continuously evolving towards high-throughput, automated, and data-driven workflows. As Manager PPDA, you will lead an international organization with teams in the Netherlands, Spain, and the United States, playing a key role in the further digitalization, automation, and professionalization of our services.

Make a difference as Manager PPDA

As Manager PPDA, you will lead Process Supervisors and Team Leads and be responsible for a team of approximately 20 to 30 specialists across multiple locations. In Spain and the United States, you will provide functional leadership to the PPDA teams in close collaboration with local managers. You will ensure a stable day-to-day operation while also creating a clear, shared direction, regardless of location or reporting line. Together with your team, you will help shape the future of PPDA, where global diagnostics will become an increasingly important pillar alongside digital phenotyping for biotic and abiotic testing.

In this role, you will:

• Lead daily operations and drive continuous process improvement across multiple locations
• Safeguard the scientific quality and relevance of disease screening and diagnostic activities in close collaboration with Breeding and Biotechnology;
• Drive automation and digitalization initiatives in close cooperation with the Implementation Expert;
• Ensure consistent ways of working and quality standards across the Netherlands, Spain, and the United States;
• Initiate and lead improvement and innovation projects focused on efficiency, scalability, quality, and data integration;
• Represent PPDA within the organization and collaborate with stakeholders at different levels and across locations.

What you bring as our future colleague

You are a people-oriented manager with a strong affinity for processes, technology, and international collaboration. You know how to effectively connect and lead teams, including in a remote setting, while bringing structure, clarity, and trust to an international environment. You recognize and develop talent, encourage collaboration across departments and locations, and contribute to an open, transparent, and inclusive team culture.

In addition, you bring:

• Extensive experience leading teams within a scientific or high-throughput environment;
• Experience managing remote teams and working within an international organization;
• A background in Plant Science, Plant Pathology, Phenotyping, Diagnostics, or a related field;
• Experience with laboratory or process automation and digitalization;
• Affinity with LIMS, data flows, and process monitoring is considered an advantage
• Excellent command of both Dutch and English.

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 32-38 hours per week;
• A gross monthly salary between €5.103,90 and €7.291,28, 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 10% 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 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.

Let’s connect

This role cannot be filled on an interim basis.

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.