Remote Plant Breeder - Drought-Resistant Crop Development

Placements24; Upington; Híbrido; ZAR 900.000 - 1.300.000; Tempo integral

Benefícios oferecidos por esta vaga

Fully remote work model

Competitive salary

Flexible schedule

Global research collaboration

Resumo da vaga

Placements24 is seeking a remote Plant Breeder to lead breeding programs aimed at drought tolerance and water-use efficiency across major crops. Work with international teams to design, implement, and optimize advanced genomic and phenomic pipelines in a fully remote setup.

The role requires a Ph.D. in plant breeding or related field and 7+ years of progressive experience, with strong expertise in molecular breeding, MAS, and data-driven decision making.

Qualificações

• Ph.D. in plant breeding, genetics, or related field.
• 7+ years experience in plant breeding for stress-tolerant crops.
• Experience with large-scale field trials and molecular breeding.
• Proficiency in R/SAS/PLINK.

Responsabilidades

• Design and execute drought-tolerant breeding programs across key crops.
• Utilize genomic, phenomic, and bioinformatics tools to accelerate trait discovery.
• Analyze large field trial and genetic analysis datasets to identify superior lines.
• Develop and implement MAS strategies for efficient trait incorporation.
• Collaborate with scientists across disciplines and manage remote teams.

Conhecimentos

Genetic analysis

Bioinformatics

Data interpretation

Communication

Project leadership

Formação

Ph.D. in Plant Breeding/Genetics/Agronomy

7+ years plant breeding experience

Ferramentas

R

SAS

PLINK

Descrição da vaga

About the Role

Our client, a global leader in agricultural innovation, is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Remote Plant Breeder to spearhead the development of drought-resistant crop varieties. This fully remote position allows you to contribute your expertise from anywhere, driving crucial research to enhance crop resilience in arid and semi-arid regions. You will be instrumental in designing and implementing breeding programs, utilizing advanced genomic and phenomic tools, and collaborating with international teams to accelerate the development of crops capable of thriving under water-scarce conditions. This is a vital role in addressing global food security challenges and promoting sustainable agriculture in vulnerable environments. The position demands exceptional scientific acumen, a deep understanding of plant genetics, and the ability to thrive in a collaborative, remote-first setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute innovative plant breeding programs focused on drought tolerance and water-use efficiency in key agricultural crops.
• Utilize cutting-edge genomic, phenomic, and bioinformatics tools to accelerate trait discovery and selection.
• Analyze large datasets from field trials and genetic analyses to identify superior breeding lines.
• Develop and implement advanced molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS) strategies.
• Collaborate closely with plant physiologists, agronomists, and data scientists to integrate diverse data streams.
• Manage breeding pipelines, from germplasm evaluation to advanced yield testing and varietal release.
• Prepare detailed research proposals, scientific publications, and technical reports.
• Contribute to the development of intellectual property and patent applications.
• Provide scientific leadership and mentorship to junior researchers and technical staff remotely.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in plant genetics, breeding technologies, and drought stress physiology.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Plant Breeding, Genetics, Agronomy, or a related field with a strong focus on quantitative genetics and breeding methodologies.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in plant breeding, with a significant track record in developing stress-tolerant crop varieties.
• Proven expertise in designing and managing large-scale field breeding trials.
• Extensive knowledge and practical application of molecular breeding techniques (e.g., marker-assisted selection, genomic selection).
• Proficiency in using bioinformatics tools and statistical software for genetic analysis and data interpretation (e.g., R, SAS, PLINK).
• Excellent scientific writing, communication, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage complex projects, and collaborate effectively within a remote global team.
• Experience with drought physiology and its integration into breeding programs is essential.
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements for new crop varieties is an advantage.
• Passion for contributing to global food security and sustainable agriculture.

Benefits

• This fully remote position offers unparalleled flexibility and the opportunity to work on groundbreaking research with global impact.
• Our client provides a highly competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package including health, retirement, and generous research support.
• You will be part of a dynamic, innovative, and mission-driven organization.
• Enjoy the autonomy of working from anywhere while contributing to the development of climate-resilient crops.
• Join our client in their mission to improve agriculture worldwide, with the operational base potentially linked to Upington, Northern Cape, ZA , while embracing a remote work model.