Agricultural Scientist - Plant Breeding

Placements24; Soweto; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary incentives

Health & retirement benefits

State-of-the-art facilities

Conference travel

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an accomplished Agricultural Scientist specializing in Plant Breeding near Soweto, Gauteng. You will design breeding programs, apply genetic techniques, and collaborate with field agronomists to develop new crop varieties with higher yields, disease resistance, and improved nutrition.

The role emphasizes leadership of research teams and advanced genetics skills to address food security challenges in Gauteng.

Qualifications

• PhD in Plant Breeding, Genetics, Agronomy or related field.
• 7+ years in crop breeding and experimental design.
• Strong knowledge of genetics, molecular biology, and statistics for breeding.
• Experience with quantitative genetics.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement plant breeding programs using selection, hybridization, and genetic techniques.
• Develop and evaluate new crop varieties for yield, stress tolerance, and quality.
• Use molecular markers and genomic tools to speed breeding.
• Conduct field trials to test candidate varieties under diverse environmental conditions.
• Analyze breeding data and guide program progression.
• Collaborate with seed production and agronomists to commercialize varieties.

Skills

Plant genetics

Molecular biology

Statistical analysis

Quantitative genetics

Breeding data analysis

Education

PhD in Plant Breeding

Tools

Breeding software

Job description

About the Role

Our client is looking for an accomplished Agricultural Scientist with expertise in Plant Breeding to join their research team near Soweto , Gauteng. This role is focused on developing new and improved crop varieties that exhibit enhanced yield, disease resistance, and nutritional value. You will design and conduct breeding programs, utilize advanced genetic and molecular techniques, and collaborate with field agronomists to test and commercialize new varieties. The ideal candidate possesses a strong scientific foundation, extensive experience in plant genetics, and a passion for innovation in crop improvement to address food security challenges.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement comprehensive plant breeding programs utilizing selection, hybridization, and genetic techniques.
• Develop and evaluate new crop varieties for desirable traits such as yield, stress tolerance, and quality.
• Utilize molecular markers and genomic tools to accelerate breeding programs and enhance efficiency.
• Conduct field trials to assess the performance of candidate varieties under various environmental conditions.
• Analyze breeding data, interpret results, and make informed decisions for program progression.
• Collaborate with seed production teams and field agronomists to ensure successful commercialization of new varieties.

Requirements

• PhD in Plant Breeding, Genetics, Agronomy, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of hands‑on experience in crop breeding programs and experimental design.
• Strong knowledge of genetics, molecular biology, and statistical analysis for breeding data.
• Experience with quantitative genetics and breeding software.
• Proven ability to manage research projects and lead scientific teams.

Benefits

• Competitive salary package and performance‑based incentives.
• Comprehensive health, retirement, and insurance benefits.
• Access to state‑of‑the‑art research facilities and laboratory equipment.
• Opportunities for travel to conferences and collaborative research institutions.
• A stimulating research environment contributing to advancements in agricultural science within Gauteng .