Melon Breeder (M/F)

As part of our activities in EAME, we are looking for a Melon Breeder (M/F)

Role purpose

The Melon Breeder contributes to the development of inbred lines and hybrid varieties of Charentais and Italo American melon that meet the performance targets set by the EAME and Americas market segment teams with input from the Breeding Trial Specialists (BTS) and the Cucurbits business unit.

You will participate in nursery and hybrid testing related activities and take the ownership of areas in the breeding program. You will focus on implementing strategies that aid in the development of commercially successful lines and hybrids and to ensure that all activities act to enhance genetic gain and the long-term success of the breeding program

The position is offered on a permanent contract, ideally based in our Toulouse Innovation Center, France, Saint Sauveur (31). 

This position requires business trips in Europe (up to 30% for field visits and workshops), and occasionally Worldwide.

Start date : June 2023

Sites not accessible by public transport.

Accountabilities

• Maintain and develop a product development portfolio in line with market segment requests and business planning, addressing short-, medium-, and long-term market segment needs.
• Develop awareness of market needs for commercial products throughout EAME and Americas market segments areas. Interactions with Breeding Trial specialists and product Development Specialist colleagues to anticipate product performance gaps and contribute to a research plan to address these gaps.
• Pro-actively learn to understand changing market needs and provide information to Sales/Commercial team to assist them with their decision-making processes.
• Develop expertise in crop biology, germplasm and critical trait priorities.
• Collaborate with Trait Development Leads and Genetic scientists to identify and develop marker-trait associations, innovative traits, germplasm management: Participate actively to discovery projects.
• Develop and deploy new breeding technologies and methods. Implement data driven decision in every part of the breeding program.
• Using analytic and data science tools, predictive models for product selection and genomic selection.
• Prepare nurseries and yield trial experiments: Design current and future resource plans with key stake holders.
• Provide meaningful input on hybrid advancement decisions. Work with market segment teams to ensure appropriate selection criteria and target product profiles are being applied.
• Responsible for a quantitative assessment of pipeline performance in alignment with market needs: Generate reports/tables/charts to highlight to other functions and management how product performance is measured over time or in comparison to check hybrids in a current growing season.
• Communicate effectively and regularly with peers and supervisors regarding status of projects and work activities, raise awareness of issues that could affect meeting project objectives and business goals.
• Perform all tasks in a manner compliant with and in support of all safety and stewardship related company policies and practices, including completing all required training courses.

• Ph.D. with 2 years of experience in plant breeding preferred in either a commercial or academic Plant Breeding setting.
• Strong experience working with molecular marker-based studies applied to breeding, such as marker-assisted selection, genome-wide phenotype-to-genotype association, and genomic selection.
• Successful quantitative genetics and genomic selection implementation in breeding programs.
• Basic coding skills in R and/or Python with some experience in visualization tools/applications Rshiny, Tableau
• Project management experience in a team-oriented atmosphere; ability to develop and adhere to a budget.
• Experience in operating independently in a complex matrix environment.
• Well-developed private and academic scientific network. 
• Fluent in English and French mandatory. Spanish will be valued.

Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, colour, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

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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.