Company : GRAINES VOLTZ SA 

GRAINES VOLTZ is a French seed company, based in Colmar, which is enjoying international success.

For 35 years, GRAINES VOLTZ has been a rapid growing and independent family business. The main activity of the company is the trade in vegetable and flower seeds, as well as young plants.

Through the takeover of the HILD aromatic and vegetable seeds business from BASF, based in Marbach am Neckar (Germany), as well as the acquisition of HERMINA MAIER GmbH in Regensburg (Germany), GRAINES VOLTZ has become a major supplier and breeder of vegetable seeds in Germany.

GRAINES VOLTZ intends to integrate and further develop the aromatic and vegetable Breeding businesses acquired by HILD. The breeding programs for aromatic, in particular, enjoy an excellent reputation around the world. Other breeding programs, such as green beans and radishes, as well as a wide range of conservation breeding of HILD varieties, require a new site for research and development. 

To this end, we have set up a new breeding station in the north of the area of Stuttgart, Germany (approximately 10 000 m² of glass greenhouses and plastic tunnels, 10 ha of open fields).

We are looking for a Breeding R&D Director (m/f/d).

Responsibilities

R&D General

• Oversee all vegetable projects in the breeding pipeline, and manage a team of breeders.
• Manage the budget for all breeding activities
• Manage breeding contracts and agreements
• Organize work schedules from part of the team.
• Collaborate with the team to develop near- and long-term objectives for GRAINES VOLTZ’s crop portfolio, strategizing around key market opportunities and breeding goals
• Draft proposals for new internal and external breeding projects, including project goals, timeline/path to market and royalty agreements
• Support the development of data gathering systems for early trials. Implement these systems in coordination with GRAINES VOLTZ team
• Distill trials data and input to inform decision-making and recommendations around GRAINES VOLTZ pipeline
• Communicate research goals and updates across the team during meetings
• Maintain clear and accurate records using project management tools
• Support and manage team members involved in ongoing breeding projects, including: planning of crossing blocks, pollination management, plant maintenance and evaluation, ...
• Support and participate in seeds production, including basic seeds with the production manager, coordinate genetic testing and disease screening as required

Research Farm

• Build and manage a team of breeding technicians in close collaboration with a team of 5 breeders, who will support you with their long experience in the implementation of your plans.
• Manage the budget for the entire horticultural operation (OPEX, CapEx).
• Contact and negotiate with manufacturers and suppliers of horticultural supplies.
• Manage daily work schedules.
• Ensure that agricultural protocols and on-site work practices are in line with international health and stewardship guidelines and local laws and regulations.
• Establish demonstration and trial plots on the farm site, working closely with the GRAINES VOLTZ marketing team.

Required education and experience:

• BA/BS, PhD or M.Sc. with focus on plant breeding required
• Experience with Plant Physiology, Biochemistry, Plant Breeding, Plant Pathology, Plant Genetics and/or Biotechnology
• Experience with the use of molecular markers for marker assisted selection
• Seed industry experience
• Research/trial experience and knowledge of plant breeding techniques
• Experience in project management
• Experience in motivating and leading team members
• Very good language skills of English and German and interest in learning French and other languages
• Ability to work accurately and systematically both in the office and in the field
• Familiar with the use of MS Office applications and interest in learning new software
• Team player and excellent communication skills

Qualities

• Able to convert knowledge into product innovation.
• a skilled oral and written communicator
• Initiative, likes to take on responsibilities.
• Awareness of interests and can communicate easily on different levels.
• Aligned with GRAINES VOLTZ’s mission and values

Conditions

• Job to be filled immediately
• Management status
• Full time
• Ability to travel regularly
• Driving license of type B
• Based in MUNDELSHEIM (Germany), home working possible

Are you interested?

We look forward to your convincing application in English or German per Email at: skoch@grainesvoltz.com