Pipeline Development Lead - Field Crops

Vylor, Inc.; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Paid time off

Parental leave

Retirement plan

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Vylor, Inc. is seeking a Pipeline Development Lead to align global Field Crops seed innovation with long-term business strategy. You will drive prioritization, budgeting, and execution of transformative genetics projects across the portfolio.

You will mentor teams, advance stakeholder collaboration, and represent the organization in innovation forums. Advanced degrees and 5–10 years in breeding or genetics are preferred.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of agricultural industry dynamics and seed markets.
• Ability to translate strategy into actionable innovation roadmaps.
• Proven track record in building business cases with financial metrics (NPV/IRR/ROI).
• Experience leading cross-functional teams through stage-gate processes.

Responsibilities

• Translate enterprise strategy into actionable innovation roadmaps for R&D.
• Lead long-range planning and investment prioritization with stakeholders.
• Oversee pipeline optimization and lifecycle management for field crops innovations.
• Develop business cases with finance and portfolio leads for projects.
• Lead cross-functional teams through stage-gate milestones and commercialization.

Skills

Agricultural industry knowledge

Innovation mindset

Financial acumen

Thought leadership

Influence & collaboration

Communication skills

Education

Advanced degree in Plant Science, Genetics, Agronomy, Business, or related field

Job description

The Pipeline Development Lead is a strategic role responsible for driving alignment and operational excellence across the global Field Crops seed innovation portfolio. This role ensures that innovation investments are prioritized, resourced, and executed to deliver transformative solutions in seeds and advanced genetics technologies, aligned with long-term business strategy, global crop portfolio strategies, and market needs.Innovation Portfolio Leadership & Strategic EnablementTranslate enterprise strategy into actionable innovation roadmaps across R&D.Lead long-range planning and partner with internal stakeholders on R&D investment prioritization.Oversee Field Crops R&D pipeline optimization and lifecycle management of pipeline innovations.Lead business case development for each project in partnership with finance, portfolio analysis, and global portfolio leads.Lead cross-functional teams through stage-gate processes and commercialization milestones.Innovation Governance & Operational ExcellenceSteward innovation management systems and planning cycles.Ensure consistency and simplification across resource costing, data inputs, and reporting.Partner with finance and R&D sub-functions to align budgets and capacity planning.Stakeholder Engagement & External PartnershipsBuild strategic relationships with industry partners, research organizations, and academic institutions.Represent the organization in innovation forums, conferences, and public engagements.Partner with R&D leadership teams to identify external collaboration opportunities aligned with innovation strategy.Leadership & Change ManagementChampion innovation culture and organizational transformation.Mentor cross-functional teams and embed innovation management principles across the organization.Drive change initiatives that enhance strategic alignment and employee engagement.Preferred Skills and Qualifications:Keen understanding of agricultural industry, global seed markets, market dynamics, and customer needs, and the overall businessStrong innovation mindset to think creatively and differentiate our product portfolio in a global market.Business financial acumen; demonstrated experience in building project business cases and financial metrics, e.g., NPV, IRR, ROI.Demonstrated ability as a thought leader, challenging status quo and driving investment prioritizations to enable business success.Demonstrated ability to influence others, working collaboratively across functions toward an aligned business strategy.Strong leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and guide cross-functional teams towards common goals.Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of building strong relationships both internally and externally.Education:Advanced degree (M.S., MBA, or Ph.D. preferred) in Plant Science, Genetics, Agronomy, Business, or related field.Experience:5-10 years of scientific experience in breeding, advanced genetics, biotechnology, regulatory, or technical agronomy.5-10 years of commercial or relevant industry experience in sales agronomy, product development, product management, marketing, or sales.Scientific or commercial leadership experience with the depth and breadth of technical expertise to solve complex technical problems and deliver comprehensive solutions.Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects, prioritize tasks, and make data-driven decisions.#LI-CK1Benefits – How We’ll Support You:Numerous development opportunities offered to build your skillsBe part of a company with a higher purpose and contribute to making the world a better placeHealth benefits for you and your family on your first day of employmentFour weeks of paid time off and two weeks of well-being pay per year, plus paid holidaysExcellent parental leave which includes a minimum of 16 weeks for mother and fatherFuture planning with our competitive retirement savings plan and tuition reimbursement programLearn more about our total rewards package here - Corteva BenefitsCheck out life at Vylor! https://www.linkedin.com/company/vylorgenetics/Are you a good match? Apply today! We seek applicants from all backgrounds to ensure we get the best, most creative talent on our team.Vylor is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to embracing our differences to enrich lives, advance innovation, and boost company performance. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, military or veteran status, pregnancy related conditions (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), disability or any other protected status in accordance with federal, state, or local laws.