Senior Researcher Seed Production

Enza Zaden Services; Enkhuizen; On-site; EUR 52,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

Enza Zaden seeks a Senior Researcher Seed Production to lead the Seed Production Research team and translate agronomic research into scalable production practices. Based at Enkhuizen, Netherlands, or Allonnes, France, you will collaborate with global experts and travel regularly to drive innovations in seed production.

You will guide projects from conception to implementation, manage diverse teams, and contribute to future-proof strategies for high-quality vegetable seeds supplied to growers

Qualifications

• PhD or MSc in Agronomy, Agricultural Engineering or equivalent with 8+ years in seed industry.
• Proven leadership and coaching capabilities with focus on development.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with practical application.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coach the Seed Production Research team in agronomy research and producibility.
• Identify, assess and develop innovative agronomic practices, methods and technologies.
• Carry out research projects across crops and environments.
• Ensure transfer of research outcomes to production teams and operations.
• Collaborate with seed production specialists, agronomists, breeders, and digital phenotyping experts to translate research into practical protocols.
• Contribute to data-driven, future-proof seed production strategies.
• Identify opportunities for external collaboration and oversee Enza Zaden's participation in joint projects.

Skills

Team leadership

Analytical problem-solving

Multidisciplinary teamwork

English language

French language preferred

Education

PhD or MSc in Agronomy or Agricultural Engineering

8+ years seed industry experience

Job description

As Senior Researcher Seed Production your work contributes to everyone's worldwide access to healthy and varied vegetables. You will work at the forefront of strategic research initiatives that directly influence vegetable seed production practices. While you collaborate with internal and external global experts to develop and facilitate the implementation of innovative agronomic technologies you are part of a mission-driven team ensuring high-quality vegetable seeds reach growers worldwide.

Make a difference as Senior Researcher Seed Production

As Senior Researcher Seed Production, you will join the "Seed Production Research" team within the Seed Research and Innovation department that integrates expertise in plant physiology and integrated pest management to address changing demands of seed producers.

You play a key role in steering research in agronomy and producibility, transforming scientific advances into innovative, scalable, and sustainable seed production practices with a strong operational impact. In this role, your work will include:

• Leading and coaching a team of experts in the field of agronomy research, including producibility
• Identify, assess, and develop innovative agronomical practices, methods, and technologies.
• Carry out research projects using agronomic expertise across a range of crops and environments.
• Ensure effective transfer of research outcomes to production teams and operational environments.
• Collaborate with seed production specialists, agronomists, breeders, and digital phenotyping experts to translate research into practical cultivation protocols.
• Contribute to the development data driven future-proof seed production strategies
• Identify new opportunities for collaboration with external partners, actively participate in joint research projects, and overseeing Enza Zaden's participation in such activities.

Based at our headquarters in Enkhuizen (Netherlands) or at our research center in Allonnes (Maine-et-Loire), you will have regular interactions with your colleagues internationally with regular business trips.

What you bring as our future colleague

• A PhD or Master's degree in Agronomy, Agricultural Sciences, or Agricultural Engineering with at least 8 years of post-educational experience; experience in the seed industry is a must;
• Proven track record in leading and coaching people, with a focus on personal development;
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on practical application;
• Demonstrated experience in managing diverse, complex agronomic projects in seed production and producibility assessment, and taking them through to implementation;
• Experience in the initiation, preparation and launch of projects of (new) approaches and/or technologies, including stakeholder management;
• Collaborative mindset and ease in working on multidisciplinary, multicultural teams to deliver results;
• Strong communication skills in English and preferably also in French;
• Flexibility and resilience in a fast-paced, innovation-driven environment.

What you can expect from us

• A permanent employment contract;
• A transparent compensation policy, including continuous salary progression and a bonus scheme;
• A development program designed to support the growth and success of every employee;
• A gross annual salary ranging from €51 700 to €73 700 (depending on your experience, skills, and profile).

Enza Zaden as an 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 yield 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're 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.

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