About Us 

United Genetics Co. has been developing and selling various vegetable seed products since 1990. We specialize in processing tomato, fresh market tomato, melon, watermelon, squash, hot pepper, sweet pepper and cucumber. Throughout the years, United Genetics has successfully grown into a network of sister companies across the globe allowing us to expand our breeding programs to Turkey, Italy, Spain, Mexico, and India. We owe our fast growth and continued innovations to our highest valued products - our people. Our employees across all countries are committed to "New ideas for better seeds," ensuring our products' quality comes before profit, and being true to nature. Our efforts to become a leading seed company continues to move forward with Kagome acquiring United Genetics Seed Co. in 2016. Our merger and acquisitions further expanded the United Genetics network and gives us a greater opportunity to better serve our customers to deliver the highest quality of seeds.

Job Purpose and Summary

To breed and develop innovative and competitive indeterminate fresh market tomato hybrids globally.

Duties and responsibilities

• Breed and develop hybrids of tomatoes for priority greenhouse segments in Italy, Spain and other international markets.
• Develop and maintain a well-organized breeding program that provide continuous pipeline of competitive hybrid tomato products.
• Make breeding crosses to incorporate multiple base and value-added traits (e.g. disease resistance, fruit quality, productivity) into existing germplasm.
• Establish breeding trials locally and internationally, and undertake evaluation and analysis of product performance within the breeding stations and screening sites.
• Use disease screens, visual assessments and molecular markers to select desirable plants and fix traits.
• Maintain breeder seed of parent lines with maximum genetic trueness, seed quality and adequate inventory; provide assistance to foundation seed increases.
• Communicate and discuss breeding strategies with other breeders to achieve breeding goals in the most effective manner.
• Communicate with marketing and sales to update the needs and trends of the global tomato markets.
• Work with greenhouse and farm managers to achieve breeding tasks with greatest efficiency.
• Plan and execute crossing blocks to make new hybrids with the combinations of disease resistance, fruit and plant characteristics required for the target market.
• Set up crossing blocks to maximize efficient use of greenhouse space and pollinating crew time.
• Perform other incidental and related duties as required and assigned.
• Interact with major customers, product development and sales personnel to evaluate and identify new commercial hybrids.
• Stay current on new and emerging breeding technologies, evaluate their relevance, and incorporate them into the breeding program if practical and feasible.
• Training, supporting and developing assistants, assess yearly performance and monitor daily activities and progress.

Position Dimensions and Qualifications

Educational Level and Focus:

M.Sc. or Ph.D. degree in science specialized in plant genetics/related field or experience in plant breeding.

Skills and Abilities:

Interpersonal:

Speaking and communicating fluently in Italian and English. Providing information to department managers, supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them at all times. Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and identifying the best people for the job.

Technical and Analytical:

Knowledge of: Microsoft Word; Microsoft Excel; Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Power Point and Phenome. Analytical mind to recognize and understand available genotyping and phenotyping technology to use in development of new products. Requires great attention to detail. Analytical mind to examine problems and find the best solutions. Be able to develop detailed project schedules and foresee potential problems and solutions.

Physical Demands:

Must be able to work in the office and fields/greenhouses under extreme weather conditions, be physically fit to walk, bend, kneel, squat, bend your neck, and lift up to 50 lbs. Be willing to travel within EU and internationally up to 20% of the time.

To apply:

Please send resume and cover letter to recruitment@unitedgenetics-usa.com

EOE