Global Research Lead - Entomology & Weed Science

Upl; Cary (NC); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

UPL Limited in Cary, NC seeks a Global Research Lead, Entomology and Weed Science to set global research strategy and lead late-stage discovery and early development for insecticides and herbicides under the OpenAg model. This role drives cross-functional collaboration and data-driven decisions across a diverse portfolio.

You will build and optimize screening programs from lab to field, oversee multidisciplinary teams, and translate scientific insights into tangible agronomic and commercial

Responsibilities

• Lead global late-stage discovery and portfolio decisions.
• Build and govern screening platforms from lab to field.
• Coach and develop scientists and technical staff; set priorities and cross-train.
• Synthesize complex datasets into concise technical positions and recommendations.

Job description

UPL Limited (NSE: UPL & BSE: 512070, LSE: UPLL) is a global provider of sustainable agriculture products and solutions, with annual revenue exceeding $6bn. We are a purpose-led company. Through OpenAg®, UPL is focused on accelerating progress for the food system. We are building a network that is reimagining sustainability, redefining the way an entire industry thinks and works – open to fresh ideas, innovation, and new answers as we strive towards our mission to make every single food product more sustainable. As one of the largest agriculture solutions companies worldwide, our robust portfolio consists of biologicals and traditional crop protection solutions with more than 14,000 registrations. We are present in more than 130 countries, represented by more than 10,000 colleagues globally. For more information about our integrated portfolio of solutions across the food value chain including seeds, post-harvest, as well as physical and digital services, please visit upl-ltd.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Job Summary

The Global Research Lead, Entomology and Weed Science provides scientific and people leadership for UPL's Late-Stage Discovery and Early Development Program across insecticides and herbicides, spanning conventional and biological technologies. The role sets global research strategy, builds fit-for-purpose laboratory, insectary, greenhouse, and field screening programs, and converts biological evidence into clear advancement, optimization, partnership, or stop decisions. A central responsibility within the OpenAg model is to scientifically evaluate and validate external technologies, define their technical differentiation, development potential, risks, and evidence gaps, and help the business articulate a credible agronomic and commercial value proposition. This leader manages and develops multidisciplinary teams, connects global category priorities with regional agronomic needs, and ensures high-quality, reproducible data packages that support product concepts from late-stage discovery through field proof of concept.

Key Responsibilities

Lead global late-stage discovery, early-development, and portfolio decisions

• Translate business, grower, resistance-management, and portfolio needs into a balanced entomology and weed science roadmap spanning late-stage discovery and early development.
• Define stage-appropriate evidence requirements and recommend advance, refine, partner, or stop decisions based on scientific quality, technical differentiation, development feasibility, risk, and potential value.
• Provide technical leadership across conventional chemistry, biologicals, combinations, formulations, seed treatments, and enabling technologies, including externally sourced concepts evaluated through OpenAg.

Build and govern screening platforms from lab to field

• Direct development, validation, standardization, and continuous improvement of insect, mite, weed, crop-safety, dose-response, spectrum, residual, rainfastness, resistance, and environmental-condition screens.
• Ensure laboratory, insectary, controlled-environment, greenhouse, and field methods are biologically relevant, reproducible, statistically sound, and transferable across sites and partners.
• Establish quality, stewardship, biosafety, permit, recordkeeping, and data-integrity expectations for internal and external studies.

Lead people, capability, and external research networks

• Coach and develop scientists and technical staff; set clear priorities, strengthen experimental judgment, and build succession and cross-training across both disciplines.
• Allocate people, facilities, budget, test organisms, germplasm, and field resources against portfolio priorities while balancing speed, quality, and cost.
• Build productive networks with regional development teams, universities, CROs, technology partners, and professional societies; lead rigorous evaluation and validation of external technologies and partnerships.

Integrate science, business insight, and execution

• Synthesize complex datasets into concise technical positions, risk assessments, and decision-ready recommendations for R&D, Category, Portfolio, Regulatory, IP, Formulation, Manufacturing, and Commercial stakeholders.
• Help the business define each technology’s agronomic value proposition, technical differentiation, development fit, evidence needs, and key uncertainties.
• Anticipate technical gaps, emerging pests and weeds, resistance trends, assay limitations, and field-translation risks; initiate experiments that reduce uncertainty early.

We are one team, for maximum impact. One team with shared goals. We all play for the team and no one plays against the team. We have a laser-like focus on what our customers need and want, on anticipating their future needs and on how we can create innovative solutions and experiences for them.

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