Regulated and Stewardship Specialist

Syngenta Group; Malta Township (IL); On-site; USD 69,000 - 103,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full Benefits

401k with company match

Paid vacation

Job summary

Syngenta seeks a Regulated and Stewardship Specialist to oversee nursery seed production QA and stewarded trials in North America. You will ensure compliant handling of regulated materials and provide leadership to align with QA standards across trialing and nursery operations.

Responsibilities include managing documentation, audits, risk analysis, and incident response, with a focus on USDA inspections readiness and process improvements. Eligibility to work in the US is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in agriculture, biology or related field or 5+ years’ experience in agricultural operations, preferably in Seed Development, Seed research, Seed Production or plant breeding environments.
• Clear understanding of Quality Management and Stewardship guidelines and practices applicable to nursery seed production.
• Knowledge of Regulated/Stewarded compliance guidelines is required.
• Knowledge of Quality Management and Stewardship methods and systems and Reliance tool (Quality Management System tool).
• Ideally working knowledge of Regulated/Stewarded Field Trials and RegOne (regulatory management system) tool.
• Continuous Improvement mindset.
• Ability to build relationships, influence and collaborate cross functionally.
• Experience working with Regulated and Stewarded materials and strong interaction with Regulatory team is a plus.
• All applicants must be eligible to work in the US.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate quality & stewardship initiatives across NA Nurseries.
• Support MoC (Management of Change) processes for regulated/stewarded changes.
• Implement QA methods in NA Nurseries and present metrics to leaders.
• Lead audits and inspections to ensure regulatory compliance and quality.
• Develop training resources for regulated and stewarded processes.
• Ensure waste streams and destruction processes are followed.
• Manage quality for Regulated and Stewarded trials including document management and nonconformity handling.

Skills

Quality management

Stewardship practices

Regulated/Stewarded compliance

Cross-functional collaboration

Regulatory interaction

Continuous improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree in agriculture/biology

Tools

Reliance

RegOne

Job description

About Syngenta

At Syngenta Seeds Field Crops,we'reshaping the future of agriculture and empowering farmers to meet the ever-growing demand for food and fuel.We’rea global Ag Tech powerhouse, headquartered in the United States, with passionate, local experts collaborating with farmers to deliver solutions that create market opportunities.We unite precision breeding, advanced biotechnology trait choice, and digital platforms for unmatched in-field performance.Our seeds help mitigate risks such as disease,insect,weed, and extreme weather pressures, all while promoting sustainable farming practices that protect and enhance our planet. Join our mission of revolutionizing food security and transforming agriculture.

At Syngenta, our goal is to build the most collaborative and trustworthy team in agriculture, providing top-quality seeds and innovative crop protection solutions that improve farmers' success. To support this mission, Syngenta’sQuality team is seeking aRegulated and Stewardship SpecialistinMalta, IL.

The Regulated and Stewardship Specialist oversees quality and stewardship activities for nursery seed production and trialing teams within the North America (NA) region. This role focuses on the compliant handling of stewarded and regulated materials (including GM and GE traits) to ensure field compliance and quality assurance (QA) for effective pipeline delivery.

Working closely with Regulatory, Trialing, Operations, and Scientists, this role ensures strict adherence to Regulated and Stewarded guidelines across all operational stages, including seed movement, planting, harvesting, and processing. The role provides expert guidance and leadership to foster a culture of continuous improvement and excellence. Key responsibilities incorporate managing comprehensive quality systems—such as training, document management, audits, risk analysis, and incident response—while maintaining USDA inspection readiness to protect the company's license to operate.

Accountabilities

• Lead and coordinate new processes, protocols, and site designs to incorporateregulatory, stewardship, and quality control requirements.
• Lead and supportMoC (Management of Change) process for regulated/stewarded process changes.
• Coordinate and support implementation of QA (Quality Assurance) methods in NA Nurseries.
• Provide and present Quality & Stewardship metrics to leaders.
• Lead Quality & Stewardship monthly calls.
• Lead critical investigations and RCA (Root Cause Analysis) for problems related to regulatory, stewardship, and quality.
• Lead yearly Level 2 Regulated & Stewardship Audits & Level 1 assessments.
• Regional SQC lead for North America Region – Seeds Development: Ensure SQC Strategy and Operation is in compliance with Global SQC standards:
  • Follow-up SQC results and actions taken to avoid GMI and maintain LTO.
• Assist Trialing and Nursery operations with USDA inspections during preparation and execution.
• Develop training resources for regulated and stewarded key processes within Trialing & Nursery Operations.
• Develop and improve training tools and resources for all QMS regionally.
• Ensure waste streams and destruction processes are followed.
• Manage quality for Regulated and Stewarded trials, including:
  • Document Management
  • Nonconformity Management
  • PDCA
  • Audits
  • Risk Analysis
  • Incident Response
• Support Operation teams to ensure regulated seed shipments meet compliance requirements.
• Support Trait Assessment APHIS/NSVBM process review for compliance.
• Support shipping and receiving of NSVBM (Non-Seed Viable Biological Materials including. insects, pathogens, nematodes, soil, plants) to meet compliance requirements.
• Support ETS (Excellence Through Stewardship) best practices implementation.

Required

• Bachelor's degree in agriculture, biology or related field or 5+ years’ experience in agricultural operations, preferably in Seed Development, Seed research, Seed Production or plant breeding environments.
• Clear understanding of Quality Management and Stewardship guidelines and practices applicable to nursery seed production.
• Knowledge of Regulated/Stewarded compliance guidelines is required.
• Knowledge of Quality Management and Stewardship methods and systems and Reliance tool (Quality Management System tool).
• Ideally working knowledge of Regulated/Stewarded Field Trials and RegOne (regulatory management system) tool.
• Continuous Improvement mindset.
• Ability to build relationships, influence and collaborate cross functionally.
• Experience working with Regulated and Stewarded materials and strong interaction with Regulatory team is a plus.
• All applicants must be eligible to work in the US.

Salary for this position ranges between $68,800 - $103,200 annually.

What We Offer:

• A culture that celebrates belonging and collaboration, promotes professional development and strives for a work-life balance that supports the team members. Offers flexible work options to support your work and personal needs.
• Full Benefit Package (Medical,Dental& Vision) that starts your first day.
• 401k plan with company match, Profit Sharing & Retirement Savings Contribution.
• Paid Vacation, Paid Holidays, Maternity and Paternity Leave, Education Assistance, Wellness Programs, Corporate Discounts, among other benefits.

Syngenta has been ranked as top employer by Science Journal. Learn more about our team and our mission here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVCN_51GbNI

Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training,promotionor any other employment practices for reasons ofrace, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

WL3A

#LI-ONSITE