Trait Development Lead

Syngenta Seeds is one of the world’s largest developers and producers of seed for farmers, commercial growers, retailers and small seed companies. Syngenta seeds improve the quality and yields of crops. High-quality seeds ensure better and more productive crops, which is why farmers invest in them. Advanced seeds help mitigate risks such as disease and drought and allow farmers to grow food using less land, less water and fewer inputs.

Syngenta Seeds brings farmers more vigorous, stronger, resistant plants, including innovative hybrid varieties and biotech crops that can thrive even in challenging growing conditions.

Syngenta Seeds is headquartered in the United States.

Role Purpose

• This position will contribute to the disease and pest resistance R&D strategy for the assigned trait portfolio dedicated to Cucurbitaceous crops. The position will serve as project lead or member of a project team servicing Cucurbitaceae breeding targets, supplying his/her expertise for project success.
• Provide technical leadership to the entire R&D community on their selected area of expertise. The role is interacting closely across functions and different expertise from quantitative breeding to data analyst via bioinformatic and others required areas of excellence like plant pathologist.
• This position will also lead trait phenotyping capabilities through the Trait Assessment organization to provide assays for assessing plant resistance to biotic stresses for Cucurbitaceae crops which could be performed in open field, greenhouse or growth rooms. It includes coordination, support and guidance with platforms and operations to produce or manipulate pests and pathogens adhering strictly to relevant regulations.
• The development of strategy; the project and portfolio management; the identification and the characterization of emerging pests and diseases, the discovery of resistance traits; the development and the application of tools for genetic studies and product development along with the capture of intellectual property. All these actions are done in a matrix organization collaborating with relevant functions.

Critical Knowledge

• Expert knowledge in plant resistance to biotic stresses (Ph.D. Required or Master degree with 5 to 10 years’ experience) particularly related to plant pathogen interaction
• Demonstrated understanding of plant breeding
• Knowledge of abiotic stresses
• Advanced knowledge in genetics, statistics, plant or crop physiology, and molecular marker development

Critical experience

• 5 - 10 years of resistance breeding within commercial sector
• 5 – 10 years of technical and staff management

Critical technical, professional and personal capabilities

• Ability to communicate effectively (Verbal and Written) in English
• Project/portfolio management
• Strategic project planning
• Economics and effective resource management
• Bi-Lingual (French, English, Spanish)
• Ability to manage progress through others rather than direct management
• Multi-cultural, multi-regional understanding and appreciation
• Purposeful coaching/mentoring

Critical leadership capabilities

• Setting direction
• Results oriented
• Customer focused
• Inclusive / Collaborative / innovative
• People oriented
• Participatory management oriented but also decisive and accepting of hierarchical decisions

Biosafety

In this role, all activities have to comply with quarantine pests and diseases rules and guidelines to handle and manipulate plants and seeds which have been exposed to these pests and diseases. These guidelines have to be followed and any issue has to be mentioned to his manager. The non-application of one of these rules and guidelines will be considered as malpractice. In this context, it could lead to sanction according to impact.

National/International Travel Required

Location flexible : Khon Kean, Thailand / El Ejido, Spain