The Limagrain Maize Breeding organization is expanding, and we are looking for a candidate to join our organization to lead hybrid breeding and testing teams dedicated to the earliest market segment in Europe. This include the Ultra early market segment made of United Kingdom, Denmark and Baltic countries and the very early segment made of North France, Germany, Benelux and Eastern countries. This position provides an excellent opportunity to develop your career working in a multi-disciplinary international highly competitive environment, contributing to development and implementation of ambitious breeding strategies to feed the market needs

Strategy / business orientation:
In colalboration with the Head of Breeding program:
- Define the short-, medium- and long-term objectives of the hybridization project and the target portfolio with development and marketing teams.
- Develop breeding direction and germplasm strategies to bring new hybrids on the market
- Develop the trialing strategy (short to medium-term)
- Develop a good understanding of business challenges through interactions with all relevant stakeholders, including competitors, government officials and/or public institute.
- Lead local collaborations and propose exchanges with public and private partners.
- Steers innovation in coordination with relevant internal or external stakeholders and maintain a high technical and scientific level in the Maize European team.

Operations:
- Deliver hybrids fitting your market segment to the product development team.
- Implement the breeding strategy and manage the hybrid breeding project
- Decide on crossing plan to produce “pre-application” hybrids.
- Maintain a high level of trial quality and ensure continuous improvements.
- Manage and take charge of the assessment of hybrids, visit and score trials and nurseries
- Develop and maintain expert knowledge of germplasm to understand the usefulness of lines and hybrids across environments
- Develop and follow germplasm exchange programs with third parties.
- Analyze all data with appropriate tools and take breeding decisions.
- Optimize breeding strategy by fully integrating novel technologies available

People Management:
- Manage testing teams in Netherland and Germany.
- Mentor, coach and develop your team
- Promote innovation and maintain high technical and scientific level of his / her team.
- Play a key role in the management of the relevant stations: facilitate coordination with other teams, resources organization and resources sharing.
- Ensure that all team members follow the company standards (health, safety and environment and other).
- Develop a strong relationship with the product development team and the local business.
- Develop close relationship with Maize breeders operating in other programs or other territories as well as other key partners of the Limagrain Field Seed Research organization
Finance:
- Propose and follow budgets and investments for your perimeter and appropriately justify any deviations.

- Master or PhD or equivalent in Plant Breeding and Genetics, or a closely related field, and at least 10 years of relevant experience are required.
- Strong demonstrated knowledge in plant breeding, quantitative genetics, agronomy and seed industry.
- Good communication skills within business environment
- Leadership skills and experience in managing people and programs
- Knowledge of the market of the target zone including associated biotic and abiotic stresses, and relevant germplasm base, would be appreciated.
- Experience as a plant breeder of maize or another hybrid crop in a successful commercial program is highly desirable
- Ability to use software for data analysis, management, presentation, and reporting; general competence in statistics and data management is required.
- Interest for the international dimension of the job (traveling, working with multi-cultural teams).
- Good knowledge of English language, oral and written.

Joining us means enjoying a range of benefits:

- Target bonus
- Profit-sharing bonus
- 214-day agreement
- Family health insurance
- Supplementary pension plan
- CE benefits
- A "balanced life": telecommuting agreement for compatible positions up to 8 days/month.
- An induction program and regular training.

Joining us means joining an agricultural cooperative and an international Group offering career prospects in France and worldwide.

At Limagrain, we are committed to diversity and inclusion, which are sources of progress and wealth for the company.

If you recognize yourself in this profile, don't wait any longer and join us now to experience the Limagrain Adventure!

The recruitment process takes place in several stages:

- the first consists of a pre-sorting of applications by our Talent Acquisition Manager

- the future manager of the position in question then sorts through the CVs to establish the most relevant shortlist possible.

- (A telephone pre-qualification may be carried out).

- A first interview is organized with the future manager.

- A second HR interview is organized shortly afterwards.

Finally, feedback is given to the shortlisted candidates. Various tests may also be considered (language, personality, etc.).

This process is indicative only, and may change depending on the position in question.