Head of breeding cereals (H/F/X)

Head of breeding cereals (H/F/X)

Based in France, the UK, or Germany, with 30% international travel

Are you ready to lead a strategic cereal breeding activity within a leading international group? Do you want to leverage your scientific expertise, strategic vision and leadership to drive plant improvement? If you enjoy bringing together teams of experts, supporting research transformation and contributing to the development of tomorrow's varieties, this opportunity could be your next challenge.

About organization

Our client is an international group specializing in the research, production, and commercialization of agricultural seeds. Operating across numerous countries, the group combines recognized scientific expertise, significant investment in R&D, and a strong culture of innovation to support the sustainable development of agriculture for the future.

Driven by strong human values, our client places collaboration, responsibility, close relationships, and long-term commitment at the heart of its development. Every day, its teams work to develop high-performing varieties that address the challenges of productivity, sustainability, and adaptation to climate change.

As part of its R&D ambitions, our client is looking to appoint its future Head of Breeding Cereals. This is a true scientific leadership role, positioned at the heart of the Group's R&D strategy and playing a key role in shaping scientific priorities and developing the next generations of varieties.

The team

Reporting to the Deputy General Manager of the Research Division, you will join the R&D Leadership Team and take responsibility for an international organization comprising breeding, field experimentation and scientific research teams across several sites in Europe and internationally.

You will operate in a multicultural environment where collaboration between different areas of expertise is a key driver of innovation and performance.

You will define and lead the cereal breeding strategy in order to accelerate varietal innovation and sustainably support the Group's development ambitions.

At the head of a strategic research activity, you will bring teams together around a shared vision, support scientific and technological developments, and actively contribute to shaping the Group's research priorities.

Beyond managing current breeding programmes, you will play a key role in evolving breeding approaches and integrating scientific innovations that will shape the varieties of tomorrow.

Key responsibilities

• Define the breeding strategy for cereal crops and ensure its implementation in response to the agronomic, economic, and environmental challenges of the various markets.
• Lead all breeding programmes (soft wheat, durum wheat, barley, oats, triticale, etc.), ensuring their scientific, technical and economic consistency.
• Lead a team of breeders and researchers, who in turn manage research teams, and unite the entire organization around common objectives. Support skills development, cross-functional collaboration and collective performance.
• Work closely with other Research and Marketing departments to foster cross-functional collaboration and synergies.
• Develop capital investment budgets (CAPEX), oversee the activity budget and contribute to the development of the medium-term strategic plan.
• Drive the integration of new scientific approaches (marker-assisted selection, genomic selection, GWAS, etc.) to accelerate varietal innovation and shape the breeding programmes of the future.
• Ensure that the company's HSE strategy is effectively communicated and implemented within your team.
• Represent the Group with scientific partners, research institutes, professional networks, and international collaborative projects.

Profile

You are recognized for your ability to provide strategic direction, build a strong collective dynamic, and develop teams in a demanding and constantly evolving environment.

You are comfortable operating in international environments where collaboration, decision-making and the ability to engage multidisciplinary teams are essential. Curious, open to new approaches and results-oriented, you enjoy driving organizational development as much as advancing research programmes.

Your background

• You hold an Engineering degree, Master's degree or PhD in plant breeding, plant genetics or a related discipline.
• You have at least 10 years of experience in plant breeding, ideally within arable crops.
• You have strong expertise in modern breeding tools and technologies (genomics, marker-assisted selection, GWAS, genomic selection, etc.).
• You have demonstrated your ability to lead complex organizations, manage large teams and drive transformation in an international environment.
• You are fluent in English in a professional environment; French would be an advantage.

Offer

Joining our client means taking the lead of a strategic research activity within a leading international group. You will work in an environment where scientific excellence, collaboration, and innovation are at the heart of performance.

This role offers a high degree of autonomy, a significant level of responsibility, and the opportunity to have a lasting influence on the Group's scientific direction and the development of future generations of varieties.

An attractive remuneration package, commensurate with the responsibilities of the position, is offered.

Location

The position is based at one of the Group's research sites in France or the United Kingdom or in Germany, with regular international travel (approximately 30% of the time).

For jobs or career and recruitment news in food and agri, follow us on social media!