Research Associate 3

About Us
At Syngenta, we believe every employee has a role to play in safely feeding the world and taking care of our planet. We are currently seeking a Research Associate 3, to be located in Stanton, MN 

Role Purpose 
The purpose of the Research Associate 3 is to support the local seed production and processing team in meeting the targeted goals for quantity, quality and timeliness for Seed Production Breeding Nurseries of  field corn and soybean in an efficient manner, strictly following HSE and Stewardship practices, as well as to support site management with the functional activities of a research station.
 

Accountabilities

• Serve as a leader of a team responsible for processing, packaging, planting, pollinating, note taking and harvesting of breeding nurseries.
• Serve as the site leader for Metrics and KPI tracking and reporting.
• Lead large site projects and/or serve as a team member on cross-site projects aimed at standardization and best practice sharing
• Perform and behave in a manner compliant with and in support of all safety, stewardship, and quality policies and practices, including the completion of all required company training courses.
• Lead tasks completed by third-party contract labor to achieve desired results.
• Effectively communicate with peers and supervisors regarding the status of projects and work activities and be able to visually display progress. 
• Recruit and manage seasonal staff
• Oversee field trialing and related activities to assure that department standards and timelines are met for packaging, planting, agronomic management and harvesting of:
• In season nurseries
• Align resource and work plans 
• Work with the Production & Processing Manager and appropriate crop operations leadership to assure Demand and Resources are well balanced within your team
• Work with other cross functional teams when appropriate to ensure business goals are met.  

Requirements

• Minimum of a B.S. Degree in an agricultural related discipline and/or relevant experience required.
• An understanding of plant genetics and breeding practices for corn and soy.
• Demonstrate outstanding communication skills.
• Ability to plan and coordinate across multi-site teams.
• Proficient in MS Office, especially Word, Excel, Power Point and other standard office software.
• Familiarity with seed technology industry and plant breeding methodologies.
• Experience leading small teams
• Ability and motivation to learn new technologies.
• Willingness to drive change across teams.
• Role model Syngenta’s commitment to safety, sustainability and product stewardship.
• Must be able to work independently 
• Demonstrated leadership skills.
• Must be detail oriented
• Team focused and able to work in a matrix organization
• Preferred Requirements
• Experience working with interdisciplinary teams.
• Experience with tracking and visualizing metrics and KPI’s  
• Ability to use and support proprietary IT systems
• History of implementation of continuous improvements and new innovations.
• A knowledge of the breeding and testing process and requirements 
• Demonstrate initiative and implementation of specific, measurable performance objectives.

WORKING CONDITIONS / PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:  
Capable of working in high or low temperature conditions in field.  Capable of lifting up to 50 pounds.  Capable of working long hours during time-critical periods of the growing season.

WORKING CONDITIONS WHILE PERFORMING ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Field, laboratory, office.  Domestic and international travel required with occasional overnight stays. Stays at off-season production/nursery locations may extend to two to three weeks.  Potential allergenspollen, fungal spores, chemical pesticides in the field or greenhouse.

TRAVEL:
Potential Seasonal travel to off-station testing locations, project meetings, and winter nursery locations

What We Offer:

• Full Benefit Package (Medical, Dental & Vision) that starts the same day you do
• 401k plan with company match, Profit Sharing & Retirement Savings Contribution 
• Paid Vacation, 9 Paid Holidays, Maternity and Paternity Leave, Education Assistance, Wellness Programs, Corporate Discounts among others
• A culture that promotes work/life balance, celebrates diversity and offers numerous family-oriented events throughout the year

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

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) 
(http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/posters/fmla.htm)

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's (EEOC)
(http://webapps.dol.gov/elaws/firststep/poster_direct.htm)

Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA)
(http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/posters/eppa.htm)
        

#LI-ES1
 

About Syngenta
Syngenta is a global leader in agriculture; rooted in science and dedicated to bringing plant potential to life. Each of our 28,000 employees in more than 90 countries work together to solve one of humanity’s most pressing challenges: growing more food with fewer resources. A diverse workforce and an inclusive workplace environment are enablers of our ambition to be the most collaborative and trusted team in agriculture. Our employees reflect the diversity of our customers, the markets where we operate and the communities which we serve. Join us and help shape the future of agriculture.