Remote Lead Horticultural Scientist - CEA/Vertical Farming

Placements24; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hours

Remote work culture

Advanced research resources

Job summary

Placements24 in South Africa seeks a Lead Horticultural Scientist to spearhead remote R&D in controlled environment agriculture, optimizing plant growth and nutritional content. You will design trials, mentor a team of scientists, and collaborate with engineers on automation and environmental controls.

The ideal candidate holds a PhD in horticulture or related field, has extensive experience in CEA, hydroponics, and IPM, and demonstrates strong data analysis and leadership in a remote setting.

Qualifications

• PhD in Horticulture, Plant Science, Plant Physiology, or related field.
• 8+ years in horticultural R&D with focus on controlled environment agriculture.
• Proven remote or hybrid project leadership.
• Expertise in hydroponics, aeroponics, vertical farming, IPM.
• Strong stats and data visualization skills (R, SAS).
• Knowledge of plant genetics, breeding, physiology in CEA.

Responsibilities

• Design and oversee research trials for new crop varieties and growing systems in controlled environments.
• Develop and implement advanced nutrient management and irrigation strategies for hydroponic/aeroponic systems.
• Analyze datasets from environmental sensors and phenotyping to optimize conditions.
• Lead development and application of predictive models for plant growth and yield forecasting.
• Mentor a team of horticultural scientists and technicians to meet milestones.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to integrate horticultural science with automation and environmental controls.
• Prepare scientific publications, technical reports, and presentations.
• Ensure compliance with safety and operational protocols within research environments.
• Stay current with trends and technologies in horticulture and sustainable agriculture.

Skills

Leadership

Statistical analysis

Data visualization

Education

Ph.D. in Horticulture or related field

Tools

R

SAS

Job description

Placements24 in South Africa seeks a Lead Horticultural Scientist to spearhead remote R&D in controlled environment agriculture, optimizing plant growth and nutritional content. You will design trials, mentor a team of scientists, and collaborate with engineers on automation and environmental controls.

The ideal candidate holds a PhD in horticulture or related field, has extensive experience in CEA, hydroponics, and IPM, and demonstrates strong data analysis and leadership in a remote setting.