Senior Plant Breeder - Crop Improvement

Placements24; Mtubatuba Local Municipality; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Relocation assistance

Health, dental & vision insurance

Professional development & conference

Retirement savings plan

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Plant Breeder in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal. The role leads breeding programs to enhance yield, disease resistance, and nutritional quality, using state-of-the-art genetic techniques.

The candidate will design field trials, analyze data, and oversee germplasm development while mentoring junior staff and collaborating with researchers and commercial teams. This is a field-focused, impact-driven leadership role.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Plant Breeding, Genetics, Agronomy, or related discipline.
• 7+ years hands-on plant breeding experience, preferably in research or seed industry.
• Strong quantitative genetics and field trial data analysis skills.
• Experience with molecular breeding techniques is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Design and lead breeding programs for yield, resistance, and quality.
• Use MAS and GS to accelerate cultivar development and release.
• Manage field trials, data collection, and statistical evaluation.
• Oversee germplasm acquisition, characterization, and seed production.
• Mentor junior breeders and collaborate with researchers and commercial teams.
• Maintain records and contribute to publications and patents.

Skills

Quantitative genetics

Statistical analysis

Leadership

Communication

Education

Master's or PhD in Plant Breeding or Genetics

Tools

MAS

Genomic selection

R

SAS

SNP genotyping

Job description

About the Role

Our client is a globally recognized leader in agricultural innovation, dedicated to developing superior crop varieties that enhance food security and sustainability. We are seeking a highly accomplished Senior Plant Breeder to join our research and development team. This critical role is based in the vibrant region of Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, and involves hands-on work in breeding programs focused on enhancing yield, disease resistance, and nutritional quality of key crops. You will lead advanced breeding projects, utilizing cutting-edge genetic and molecular techniques. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of plant genetics, breeding methodologies, and has a proven track record of successfully bringing new varieties to market. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute significantly to the advancement of agricultural science and impact food production on a large scale.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute comprehensive plant breeding programs for targeted crop improvement, focusing on traits such as yield, stress tolerance, disease resistance, and quality.
• Utilize advanced genetic and molecular breeding techniques, including marker-assisted selection (MAS) and genomic selection (GS).
• Conduct field trials, collect data, and perform statistical analysis to evaluate breeding lines and identify superior genotypes.
• Manage the entire breeding cycle from germplasm acquisition and characterization to hybrid development and seed production.
• Collaborate with other researchers, geneticists, agronomists, and commercial teams to ensure alignment with market needs and research objectives.
• Supervise and mentor junior breeders and technical staff, fostering a collaborative and productive research environment.
• Maintain detailed records of breeding experiments, data, and outcomes, and contribute to scientific publications and patent applications.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in plant breeding, genetics, and biotechnology.
• Oversee the development and release of new crop varieties.

Requirements

• A Master's or PhD degree in Plant Breeding, Genetics, Agronomy, or a related plant science discipline.
• A minimum of 7 years of hands-on experience in plant breeding, preferably within an agricultural research setting or commercial seed company.
• Proven expertise in quantitative genetics and statistical analysis of field trial data.
• Experience with molecular breeding techniques (e.g., MAS, SNP genotyping) is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated success in developing and releasing improved crop varieties.
• Strong leadership and project management skills, with the ability to manage complex breeding programs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a field-based research environment, including challenging weather conditions.
• Proficiency in relevant bioinformatics and statistical software packages.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and potential for performance-based incentives.
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge crop improvement projects.
• State-of-the-art research facilities and equipment.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Retirement savings plan.
• Relocation assistance may be provided.
• Professional development and conference attendance support.
• Significant impact on agricultural productivity and food security.