Senior Plant Breeder - Cereal Crops

Placements24; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,700,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Health benefits

Retirement plan

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Plant Breeder with a Ph.D. in Plant Breeding or Genetics to lead cereal crop breeding programs in the Sandton area.

The role involves hands-on management of trials, germplasm evaluation, and crossing, with line development and collaboration across geneticists and seed production teams. Expect to direct breeding pipelines, leverage molecular markers and phenomics, mentor staff, and travel for field evaluations and conferences.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Plant Breeding, Genetics, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in plant breeding, with a strong focus on cereal crops.
• Demonstrated success in developing and releasing new crop varieties.
• Expertise in quantitative genetics, experimental design, and statistical analysis of field trial data.
• Proficiency in using breeding management software and bioinformatics tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage breeding programs for key cereal crops (maize, wheat, sorghum).
• Develop and implement breeding strategies to improve yield, disease resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, and nutritional quality.
• Oversee germplasm evaluation, selection, and the development of elite breeding lines.
• Design and manage field trials across multiple locations to assess promising genotypes.
• Utilize advanced breeding techniques, including molecular markers, genomics, and phenomics.
• Supervise, mentor, and train a team of plant breeders, technicians, and field staff.
• Collaborate with geneticists, agronomists, pathologists, and seed production teams.
• Analyze breeding data using statistical software and interpret results to make breeding decisions.
• Contribute to intellectual property management, including patent applications.
• Represent the company at scientific conferences and publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals.

Skills

Leadership

Germplasm evaluation

Crossing programs

Molecular markers

Quantitative genetics

Statistical analysis

Communication

Education

Ph.D. in Plant Breeding/Genetics

Tools

Breeding management software

Bioinformatics tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading agricultural research institute and seed company with a significant presence in Sandton, Gauteng , is seeking an exceptional Senior Plant Breeder specializing in cereal crops. This role is at the forefront of developing new, high-yielding, resilient, and nutritious cereal varieties to meet global food security challenges. The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in Plant Breeding or a related discipline, extensive experience in breeding programs, and a strong understanding of genetics, molecular markers, and quantitative genetics. This is an on-site position, requiring leadership and hands-on involvement in breeding trials, germplasm evaluation, and crossing programs. You will manage a team of researchers and technicians, oversee breeding pipelines, and contribute to the company's innovation strategy. Our client is committed to scientific excellence and sustainable agriculture, providing state-of-the-art facilities and a collaborative research environment. This is a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on the future of agriculture through cutting-edge plant science in the vibrant Sandton hub.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage breeding programs for key cereal crops (e.g., maize, wheat, sorghum).
• Develop and implement breeding strategies to improve yield, disease resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, and nutritional quality.
• Oversee germplasm evaluation, selection, and the development of elite breeding lines.
• Design and manage field trials across multiple locations to assess promising genotypes.
• Utilize advanced breeding techniques, including molecular markers, genomics, and phenomics.
• Supervise, mentor, and train a team of plant breeders, technicians, and field staff.
• Collaborate with geneticists, agronomists, pathologists, and seed production teams.
• Analyze breeding data using statistical software and interpret results to make breeding decisions.
• Contribute to intellectual property management, including patent applications.
• Represent the company at scientific conferences and publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Plant Breeding, Genetics, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in plant breeding, with a strong focus on cereal crops.
• Demonstrated success in developing and releasing new crop varieties.
• Expertise in quantitative genetics, experimental design, and statistical analysis of field trial data.
• Proficiency in using breeding management software and bioinformatics tools.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities.
• Familiarity with molecular breeding techniques and their application.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally for field evaluations and conferences.
• Passion for innovation and a commitment to advancing agricultural science.

Benefits

• Highly competitive annual salary of ZAR.
• Significant annual bonus based on program success and company performance.
• Comprehensive executive health benefits package.
• Top-tier retirement savings plan.
• Generous research and development budget.
• Opportunities for international collaboration and travel.
• Access to advanced research facilities and technologies.
• Relocation assistance may be available.