Senior Researcher Seed Production | Enkhuizen

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

Benefits offered by this job

Permanent contract

Bonus scheme

Development program

Salary progression

Job summary

Enza Zaden is seeking a Senior Researcher Seed Production to lead a team of agronomy experts, steering research from concept to scalable, sustainable seed production practices. You will collaborate with global colleagues and external partners to translate breakthroughs into practical cultivation protocols, with a strong emphasis on data-driven strategies.

The role requires a PhD or Master’s in Agronomy or related field, 8+ years post-education experience, and proven leadership and collaboration

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s degree in Agronomy, Agricultural Sciences, or Agricultural Engineering with at least 8 years of post-educational experience; seed industry experience a must
• Proven track record in leading and coaching people with focus on personal development
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with 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 initiating, preparing and launching projects of (new) approaches and/or technologies, including stakeholder management
• Collaborative mindset and ease in working in multidisciplinary, multicultural teams to deliver results
• Strong communication skills in English and preferably French
• Flexibility and resilience in a fast-paced, innovation-driven environment

Responsibilities

• Lead and coach a team of experts in agronomy research, including producibility
• Identify, assess, and develop innovative agronomical practices, methods, and technologies
• Carry out research projects using agronomic expertise across 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 of data-driven future-proof seed production strategies
• Identify opportunities for collaboration with external partners and oversee Enza Zaden’s participation in such activities

Education

PhD or Master’s degree in Agronomy, Agricultural Sciences, or Agricultural Engineering

Job description

As Senior Researcher Seed Production your work contributes to everyone's worldwide access to healthy and varied vegetables. You willwork 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"teamwithinthe Seed Research and Innovationdepartment that integratesexpertise in plantphysiologyandintegratedpestmanagement toaddresschangingdemandsofseedproducers.

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 ateamof experts in thefieldofagronomyresearch,includingproducibility
• Identify,assess, anddevelopinnovativeagronomicalpractices,methods, and technologies.
• Carryoutresearchprojectsusingagronomicexpertiseacrossarange ofcropsandenvironments.
• Ensureeffectivetransferofresearchoutcomesto productionteamsandoperationalenvironments.
• Collaboratewithseedproductionspecialists,agronomists,breeders, and digitalphenotypingexperts to translateresearchintopracticalcultivationprotocols.
• Contributeto thedevelopmentdatadrivenfuture-proofseedproductionstrategies
• Identifynewopportunitiesfor collaborationwithexternalpartners,activelyparticipatein jointresearchprojects, andoverseeingEnzaZaden’sparticipation insuchactivities.

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 orMaster’sdegreeinAgronomy,AgriculturalSciences, or Agricultural Engineeringwithat least 8yearsof post-educationalexperience;experiencein theseedindustryisa must;
• Proventrackrecord inleadingand coaching people,witha focus onpersonaldevelopment;
• Stronganalyticalandproblem-solvingskillswitha focus onpracticalapplication;
• Demonstrated experience in managing diverse, complex agronomic projects in seed production and producibility assessment, and taking them through to implementation;
• Experiencein the initiation,preparationand launch ofprojectsof (new)approaches and/or technologies,includingstakeholder management;
• Collaborativemindsetandeaseinworkingonmultidisciplinary,multiculturalteamsto deliverresults;
• Strong communicationskillsin Englishand preferably also inFrench;
• Flexibilityandresiliencein a fast-paced, innovation-drivenenvironment.

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 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.

Do you have questions about the role or the application process? Email Esther Scharloo, Senior 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.