Head of Germplasm Development Solanaceae

The Seeds Development department for Syngenta seeks a passionate candidate for a full-time position of: 

Head Germplasm Development - Solanaceae

Type: Permanent

Department: R&D Seeds Development

Location: Enkhuizen (NL), El Ejido (ES)

Into Action

At the forefront of agricultural innovation, we invite visionary leaders to join our Vegetables and Flowers Seeds Development Leadership Team (VFSDLT) and spearhead the transformation of our Breeding organization. In this pivotal role, you will be empowered to shape the future of our global seeds development strategy for Solanaceae, leveraging your technical expertise to supercharge our customer offerings and drive business growth across all regions.

Your mission is to lead the global Solanaceae Germplasm Development team, responsible for creating cutting-edge varieties that anticipate and address the current and future market needs. With a keen eye for innovation, you will champion the development and adoption of new technologies and advanced analytics tools, driving precision and accelerating the breeding process to unprecedented levels.

As a global leader, you will nurture our talent pool, fostering an environment of continuous learning and development. Your collaborative approach will bridge cross-functional teams, ensuring seamless alignment and execution of our customer-centric strategies worldwide.

This is an opportunity to leave an indelible mark on the future of agriculture, shaping the way Syngenta develop and deliver game-changing products that contribute to a more sustainable and prosperous world.

Syngenta is a leading agriculture company helping to improve global food security by enabling millions of farmers to make better use of available resources. Through world class science and innovative crop solutions, our 28,000 people in over 90 countries are working to transform how crops are grown. We are committed to rescuing land from degradation, enhancing biodiversity and revitalizing rural communities.

The Challenge

Develop and execute the global germplasm development strategy for the Solanaceae crops (Tomato and Pepper), maximizing portfolio diversity through internal resources, collaborations, and strategic acquisitions while ensuring regulatory compliance and IP protection.

• Lead and mentor the global Germplasm Development team, driving product development, trialing, selection, and continuous process improvement to deliver high-value varieties to customers.
• Champion the integration of advanced breeding methods, data analytics tools, and cutting-edge technologies to accelerate the development of new, high-performing varieties.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators across the product development lifecycle, taking corrective actions to ensure targets are met.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration with research, production, trait integration, and commercial teams to align efforts and ensure successful market adoption of new products.

Your Profile

To succeed in this highly challenging position, you must possess a Ph.D. degree in Agronomy, Genetics, Plant Breeding, or a closely related field, complemented by at least 10 years of proven experience in an international R&D seeds development environment. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional leadership skills to motivate and inspire a high-performing technical team, coupled with strong stakeholder management, communication, and influencing abilities. Fluency in English is a mandatory requirement for this role, as effective communication and collaboration within our global organization are essential. Furthermore, you should possess a strategic mindset, a deep understanding of the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in the field of plant breeding and germplasm development, and a proven ability to drive continuous improvement, optimize processes, and implement innovative solutions to overcome complex challenges. A commitment to upholding the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and regulatory compliance in all aspects of germplasm development activities is also expected.

Your Chance!

Syngenta is proud of its unique culture and the values that are at the heart of it. We also foster a strong learning culture with plenty of opportunities for personal development. Why? Because our work matters! We offer a competitive salary package, flexible working hours and excellent benefits.

Are you ready to grow your career with us? 

If you recognize yourself in this profile and would like to apply for this position, please apply on-line via www.syngenta.com. If you would like to have more information about this vacancy please contact our recruiter Silvana van den Elzen via Write an email or +31 6 82426074.