Remote Plant Breeder - Cereals

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

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work schedule

Fully remote work arrangement

Generous annual leave

Stipend for home office setup

Performance bonuses

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a remote Plant Breeder (cereals) to advance breeding programs for high-yield, disease-resistant crops. The role leans on genomics, phenotyping, and statistics to translate genetic insights into crop improvements.

The ideal candidate possesses a PhD in Plant Breeding or Genetics, 5+ years of cereal breeding, and strong skills in quantitative genetics, R, SAS, and genomic tools. This is a fully remote, globally distributed collaboration.

Qualifications

• PhD in Plant Breeding, Genetics, or a closely related field.
• Minimum 5 years of hands-on plant breeding experience in cereals.
• Strong expertise in quantitative and population genetics, and molecular breeding.
• Proficiency with statistical software and genomic analysis tools.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a remote team.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute plant breeding programs for cereals using advanced genetic methods.
• Analyze field trial data and genomic data to select promising lines.
• Develop MAS strategies to accelerate progress.
• Collaborate remotely with international researchers, data scientists, and agronomists.
• Maintain detailed records of experiments, germplasm, and results digitally.
• Stay current with literature and emerging breeding technologies.

Skills

Quantitative genetics

Population genetics

Molecular breeding

Statistical analysis

Remote collaboration

Education

PhD in Plant Breeding/Genetics

Tools

R

SAS

Genomic analysis tools

Job description

Our client is revolutionizing the agricultural sector through advanced genetic research and is seeking a talented Remote Plant Breeder specializing in cereals to join their globally distributed team. This position focuses on developing superior cereal crop varieties with enhanced yields, disease resistance, and climate resilience. As a fully remote employee, you will leverage cutting-edge genomics, phenotyping, and statistical analysis tools to drive breeding programs forward. You will collaborate extensively with international research teams, data scientists, and field agronomists to translate genetic insights into practical crop improvements. This is an exceptional opportunity for a forward-thinking plant breeder to contribute to global food security from the comfort of their home office.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute comprehensive plant breeding programs for key cereal crops, utilizing advanced genetic and genomic techniques.
• Analyze field trial data and genomic information to identify promising breeding lines and make selection decisions.
• Develop and implement marker-assisted selection (MAS) strategies to accelerate breeding progress.
• Collaborate remotely with international research partners, field teams, and data scientists on breeding initiatives.
• Maintain detailed records of breeding experiments, germplasm, and results using digital platforms.
• Stay current with scientific literature and emerging technologies in plant breeding and genetics.

Requirements

• PhD in Plant Breeding, Genetics, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience in plant breeding, with a proven track record in cereal crops.
• Strong expertise in quantitative genetics, population genetics, and molecular breeding techniques.
• Proficiency in using statistical software (e.g., R, SAS) and genomic analysis tools.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in a remote team environment.
• Excellent scientific communication skills, both written and verbal.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance bonuses.
• Flexible work schedule and a fully remote working arrangement.
• Generous annual leave and paid holidays.
• Stipend for home office setup and professional development.
• Contribution to innovative research impacting global agriculture.