Senior Plant Scientist - Crop Breeding & Genomics Lead

Placements24; Vereeniging; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Competitive salary

Retirement contributions

Opportunities to attend international/

Job summary

Placements24 in Vereeniging, Gauteng is seeking a Senior Plant Scientist to lead breeding programs and advance crop genetics to deliver high-yielding, locally adapted varieties. You will drive trait discovery, manage pipelines, and collaborate across disciplines in a cutting-edge research environment.

The role requires a PhD, 7+ years post-doctoral experience, and expertise in quantitative genetics, molecular breeding, and bioinformatics. Leadership and publishing strength are valued.

Qualifications

• PhD in Plant Breeding, Genetics, Molecular Biology, or related field.
• 7+ years of post-doctoral research experience in crop breeding and genetics.
• Strong foundation in quantitative genetics, molecular breeding, and statistics.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage breeding research programs focused on crop improvement.
• Develop and implement breeding strategies to improve yield, resilience, and quality.
• Design and conduct field trials; evaluate lines and select superior genotypes.
• Utilize marker-assisted selection, genomics, and bioinformatics to accelerate breeding.
• Manage germplasm collections and ensure genetic diversity.
• Collaborate with agronomists and scientists; supervise junior staff and interns.

Job description

Placements24 in Vereeniging, Gauteng is seeking a Senior Plant Scientist to lead breeding programs and advance crop genetics to deliver high-yielding, locally adapted varieties. You will drive trait discovery, manage pipelines, and collaborate across disciplines in a cutting-edge research environment.

The role requires a PhD, 7+ years post-doctoral experience, and expertise in quantitative genetics, molecular breeding, and bioinformatics. Leadership and publishing strength are valued.