Remote Plant Breeder - Grains

Placements24; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health insurance

Home office stipend

Virtual conferences

Flexible hours

Fully remote

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly motivated Remote Plant Breeder specializing in grains to join its R&D team in South Africa. The role focuses on developing high-performance grain varieties using MAS and GS, and requires strong genetics, molecular biology, and independent project management from a virtual environment.

You will collaborate with global scientists, conduct field trials, manage germplasm, and stay abreast of latest breeding technologies.

Qualifications

• PhD in Plant Breeding, Genetics or related field.
• Minimum 5 years hands-on experience in quantitative genetics and plant breeding.
• Experience with molecular breeding techniques and genomic data interpretation.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute plant breeding programs for grain crops.
• Utilize MAS and GS for selection.
• Conduct field trials, collect data, and interpret results.
• Manage breeding nurseries and germplasm collections.
• Collaborate virtually with pathologists, agronomists, and data scientists.
• Stay updated on genetics and breeding technologies.

Skills

Grain genetics

Quantitative genetics

Remote collaboration

Project management

Education

PhD in Plant Breeding or Genetics

Tools

R

SAS

JMP

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly motivated and innovative Remote Plant Breeder specializing in grains to join their cutting-edge research and development team. This position is fully remote, offering the flexibility to work from anywhere within South Africa. You will be responsible for developing new, high-performance grain varieties through advanced breeding techniques, contributing significantly to food security and agricultural sustainability. This role demands a deep understanding of genetics, molecular biology, and agronomic principles, coupled with the ability to manage projects independently in a virtual environment. You will collaborate with a global team of scientists and researchers, driving the future of grain production.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute plant breeding programs for key grain crops, focusing on yield, disease resistance, and quality traits.
• Utilize advanced molecular breeding techniques, including marker-assisted selection (MAS) and genomic selection (GS).
• Conduct field trials, collect and analyze data, and interpret results to select superior lines.
• Manage breeding nurseries, seed increase programs, and germplasm collections.
• Collaborate virtually with plant pathologists, agronomists, and data scientists to ensure integrated breeding approaches.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in plant genetics and breeding technologies.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Plant Breeding, Genetics, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience in quantitative genetics and plant breeding.
• Demonstrated success in developing and releasing new crop varieties.
• Proficiency with breeding software and statistical analysis tools (e.g., R, SAS, JMP).
• Experience with molecular breeding techniques and interpretation of genomic data.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for effective remote collaboration.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and annual bonus potential.
• Comprehensive health insurance coverage.
• Generous home office stipend and IT support.
• Opportunities for professional growth and virtual conference attendance.
• Flexible working hours and a truly remote work environment.