As part of our growth strategy and our plans, we are looking for a Pre Breeder - Pepper (m/f/d), for KWS Vegetable s. This is a full-time, permanent position based at our station in Almeria, Spain .
It is a strategic goal of KWS to establish a significant position in the field of vegetable seeds in the long run. For this purpose, the company is making step-by-step investments in the years to come. Moreover, we offer a hands-on working environment and the chance to work with highly motivated and qualified colleagues.
Key responsibilities:
1. Develop genetic material enhancing the germplasm of one or several crops.
2. Discover and develop novel traits and new breeding technologies with commercial impact for the breeding program.
3. Support breeding teams on the global level.
4. Develop methods and techniques to enhance germplasm or improve breeding efficiency. Cooperate within the team and with other teams or external partners to develop new methods and techniques.
5. Formulate, design and, after approval of the Head of Breeding, implement and execute the crop specific pre-breeding plan by managing a continuous flow of pre-breeding projects. Advise, propose and inform the R&D team(s) on pre breeding projects. Report on results via team meetings and other meetings in word and via official reports.
6. Build and Manage KWS germplasm collection.
7. Translate market requirements and future needs observed by the breeder and by S&M into new traits in order to be able to determine pre-breeding goals
8. Generate knowledge on genetics to increase efficiency in breeding. Use internal and external contacts, literature, conferences etc. to increase the breeding knowledge.
9. Advise, propose and inform the Head of Breeding, breeding teams regarding external research projects that could be beneficial for the breeding programs in line with the crop specific breeding strategy
10. Act as a contact person for research cooperation with 3rd parties (after signing of the contract by the Head of Breeding or the Head of Research)
11. Manage the execution and administration of in kind contributions to research cooperation with 3rd parties, if required
12. Manage, support and direct a pre breeding team. Manage in cooperation with the Head of Breeding and with HR, the personnel flow within the team, including appraisal, training and development and career planning by using HR instruments, guidelines, procedures and advise in order to select and maintain competent employees and ensure an efficient and effective functioning breeding team.
13. Prepare, and after approval of the Head of Breeding, implement specified pre-breeding budgets and operational plans for the pre-breeding program by analyzing discrepancies in realized and budgeted cost within the guidelines of the breeding department, and by checking the realization of the budget and by taking corrective measures in order to ensure a correct and optimal realization of the pre-breeding budget and operational plan.
Your profile:
14. Msc with at least 5 relevant years in breeding and/or PhD in plant breeding or genetics;
15. In depth working knowledge of horticulture, agronomy, genetics, pathology, statistics, physiology, molecular genetics and cell biology;
16. Fluency in English (written and spoken) is required for the position and preferably good working knowledge of Spanish
17. Able to communicate well with peers to develop common projects;
18. Able to manage several projects at the same time;
19. Willing to travel to places of interest for the pre-breeding;
20. Creative, opportunistic, pragmatic;
21. Consistent, persistent;
22. Good communicative and inter personal skills; team player;
23. Analytical thinking
24. Client focused and result driven;
25. Feeling for the marketing aspects related to downstream customers;
26. Able to translate customers problems into novel genetic solutions;
27. Willingness and ability to travel.
28. Functional Competencies: analytical thinking, Innovation, Solving problems, Convincing, Entrepreneurship;
29. Organization and planning
We look forward to receiving your application through our SuccessFactors application system! Use the "Apply now" function in the advertisement.