Cereal Crop Plant Breeder - Genomics & Field Trials

Placements24; Pretoria; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical aid

Pension plan

International travel

State-of-the-art facilities

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 in Pretoria, Gauteng seeks a Plant Breeder to develop higher yielding, disease-tolerant cereal varieties through crossing, selection, and testing. The role combines lab work, field trials, and data analysis within a hybrid setting.

The ideal candidate has a Ph.D. or Master’s in Plant Breeding or related field, 5+ years in breeding, and strong genetics/statistics skills. Willingness to travel to field locations near Pretoria is required.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Plant Breeding, Genetics, Crop Science, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of plant breeding experience, preferably with cereal crops.
• Strong understanding of quantitative genetics and experimental design.
• Experience with molecular breeding (marker-assisted selection) desirable.
• Proficiency in data management software and breeding databases.
• Excellent observational and communication skills.
• Willingness to spend time in field locations near Pretoria.
• Passion for agricultural innovation and food security.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute plant breeding programs for key cereal crops, focusing on yield, quality, and stress tolerance.
• Conduct controlled crosses and implement selection strategies to develop superior genotypes.
• Manage field trials, including experimental design, data collection, and statistical analysis.
• Utilize molecular markers and genomic selection techniques to accelerate breeding progress.
• Evaluate germplasm for desired traits and identify elite breeding lines.
• Collaborate with pathologists, entomologists, and agronomists to assess crop performance and resistance.
• Participate in seed production and variety release activities.
• Maintain detailed records of breeding activities, pedigrees, and trial results.
• Stay current with advancements in plant breeding, genetics, and biotechnology.

Skills

Plant breeding

Quantitative genetics

Experimental design

Statistical analysis

Molecular breeding techniques

Data management (R/SAS)

Education

Ph.D. or Master's degree in Plant Breeding, Genetics, Crop Science, or a closely related field

Tools

R

SAS

Job description

Placements24 in Pretoria, Gauteng seeks a Plant Breeder to develop higher yielding, disease-tolerant cereal varieties through crossing, selection, and testing. The role combines lab work, field trials, and data analysis within a hybrid setting.

The ideal candidate has a Ph.D. or Master’s in Plant Breeding or related field, 5+ years in breeding, and strong genetics/statistics skills. Willingness to travel to field locations near Pretoria is required.