Lead Plant Breeder for Drought-Resistant Crops

Placements24; Cape Town; Sur place; ZAR 1 200 000 - 1 800 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Competitive salary + performance bonus

Private medical aid

Pension fund

Life assurance

Research facilities

Professional development

Career progression

Cape Town based

Résumé du poste

Placements24 in Cape Town is seeking a Lead Plant Breeder to head our drought-tolerance crop program, guiding germplasm selection, crossing, and field trials from concept to release.

You will manage a team of breeders and technicians, collaborate with agronomists and pathologists, ensure regulatory compliance, publish findings, and advance food security in water-scarce environments.

Qualifications

• PhD in Plant Breeding, Genetics, or a closely related field.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive plant breeding experience with crop improvement.
• Proven expertise in developing drought-tolerant varieties or traits.
• Hands-on molecular breeding: marker-assisted and genomic selection.
• Strong leadership and project management experience.

Responsabilités

• Lead and manage the plant breeding program focused on developing drought-tolerant crop varieties.
• Oversee all stages of the breeding cycle, including germplasm evaluation, hybridization, selection, and performance testing.
• Develop and implement advanced breeding strategies, incorporating molecular markers and genomic selection techniques.
• Supervise and mentor a team of plant breeders, technicians, and research assistants.
• Collaborate with agronomists, pathologists, and entomologists to ensure integrated trait development.
• Manage field trial logistics, data collection, and statistical analysis for breeding populations.
• Establish and maintain a diverse and valuable germplasm collection.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and ethical standards in plant breeding.
• Communicate research progress and findings to stakeholders, including internal management, research partners, and regulatory bodies.
• Contribute to the publication of research findings in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at scientific conferences.

Connaissances

Leadership

Genetics

Molecular breeding

Statistical analysis

Communication

Formation

PhD in Plant Breeding or Genetics

Outils

JMP

GenStat

R

Description du poste

About the Role

Our client, a premier agricultural innovation hub located in the scenic **Cape Town, Western Cape**, is seeking an accomplished and visionary Lead Plant Breeder to spearhead the development of new crop varieties with enhanced drought resistance. This pivotal role is central to addressing the challenges posed by climate change and water scarcity in agriculture. You will lead a dedicated team of scientists, guiding research from initial germplasm selection through to advanced field trials and commercial release. The focus will be on identifying and breeding superior genetic traits in staple crops relevant to the region and beyond. This position requires a deep understanding of genetics, molecular biology, and conventional breeding techniques, coupled with strong leadership and project management skills. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in ensuring food security and enhancing agricultural sustainability in water-stressed environments. Join us in **Cape Town** and be at the forefront of agricultural innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the plant breeding program focused on developing drought-tolerant crop varieties.
• Oversee all stages of the breeding cycle, including germplasm evaluation, hybridization, selection, and performance testing.
• Develop and implement advanced breeding strategies, incorporating molecular markers and genomic selection techniques.
• Supervise and mentor a team of plant breeders, technicians, and research assistants.
• Collaborate with agronomists, pathologists, and entomologists to ensure integrated trait development.
• Manage field trial logistics, data collection, and statistical analysis for breeding populations.
• Establish and maintain a diverse and valuable germplasm collection.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and ethical standards in plant breeding.
• Communicate research progress and findings to stakeholders, including internal management, research partners, and regulatory bodies.
• Contribute to the publication of research findings in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at scientific conferences.

Requirements

• A PhD in Plant Breeding, Genetics, or a closely related field.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in plant breeding, with a significant focus on crop improvement.
• Proven expertise in developing drought-resistant varieties or traits.
• Hands-on experience with molecular breeding techniques (e.g., marker-assisted selection, genomic selection).
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including managing research teams and projects.
• Strong analytical skills and proficiency in statistical software for genetic analysis (e.g., JMP, GenStat, R).
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience working with relevant crops in the South African context is highly desirable.
• Ability to work effectively in a demanding, fast-paced research environment in **Cape Town**.
• A valid driver's license is required for field site visits.

Benefits

• Our client offers an attractive compensation package including a competitive base salary, annual performance bonuses, and a comprehensive benefits suite.
• This includes private medical aid, a pension fund, and life assurance.
• You will have access to state-of-the-art research facilities and opportunities for professional development, including attending international symposia.
• We provide a stimulating and collaborative research environment that encourages scientific excellence and innovation.
• Career progression opportunities are significant for high-achievers within our organization.
• This role is based in the beautiful city of **Cape Town**, offering a high quality of life and unique environmental attractions.
• The position is not remote and requires full-time presence at our research facilities.