Breeding Manager Brassica

In this role, you will provide strategic direction to our breeding programmes in the Netherlands and abroad. You will lead a team of 40 colleagues with a people-oriented management style. Contribute to the vegetables of tomorrow as Breeding Manager Brassi

Netherlands , Fijnaart
Management | Research & Breeding
PhD | Master

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Your job at Rijk Zwaan

As a Breeding Manager, you are responsible for the global strategic and operational management of our breeding programmes. You focus on challenging, guiding and coaching breeding teams. You oversee the development of breeding programmes and research projects and define breeding objectives.Rijk Zwaan has a unique company culture. Many departments are led by two managers. This means that together with your fellow Breeding Manager, you will lead the Brassica breeding department in the Netherlands. Personal development, coaching and maintaining a positive work environment are just as important as the scientific and technical aspects of the projects.You will also be responsible for:

Managing the global portfolio of breeding programmes and pre-breeding projects
Promoting the implementation of new breeding techniques within the department
Regularly visiting breeding teams and R&D directors around the world
Keeping up to date with developments in intellectual property (IP)
Collaborating with a wide range of departments

Where will you be working?

Rijk Zwaan is an international family business with a people‑oriented company culture. Rijk Zwaan sits at the beginning of the food chain. We develop fruit and vegetable varieties and sell their seeds to growers and other chain partners around the world. In doing so, we make an important contribution to global food supply.As Breeding Manager, you will lead the Lettuce Breeding department. Based in our facility in Fijnaart, we focus on developing new, tasty, and healthy varieties of broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi and head cabbage.The department consists of several breeding, pre-breeding and support teams and employs approximately 40 colleagues worldwide.Renate, Breeding Manager Brassica:"What I really enjoy is that we do it together. We work together on nutritious products for the future."

Your contribution

As a Breeding Manager, you have experience in people‑oriented leadership. You enjoy coaching, guiding, and helping employees develop further. You work in a structured way, communicative, and collaborative—both within and outside the organization—and you possess intercultural sensitivity. You can organize well, able to plan effectively, and have a keen sense of responsibility and strategic insight. You are also willing to travel regularly. In addition, we can find the following on your cv:

At least a completed Master, for example in Plant Sciences
5 or more years of managerial experience in plant breeding or breeding research
Strong command of the English language
Willingly to learn Dutch

What you can expect from us

The basics are, of course, well arranged. You will work in an inspiring environment with dedicated colleagues and contribute to our mission: making healthy vegetables available to everyone. At Rijk Zwaan, responsibilities are placed as low as possible within the organization. We give breeding departments a great deal of freedom to organize their work in a way that best suits the colleagues carrying it out and the crop in question. This results in successful varieties with global impact on food supply. Each year, Rijk Zwaan invests nearly 30% of its revenue into R&D.We are happy to offer you:

A permanent contract from the start for 38 hours per week
A good salary based on position level and experience
25 vacation days, a vitality day, and the option to purchase additional days
Training opportunities through the Rijk Zwaan Academy

At Rijk Zwaan, it’s not only about good employment conditions, but also about your development, health, and enjoyment at work. You will find this reflected in, among other things:

Introduction lunch with management and other new colleagues
Fresh soup, fruit, and/or salads
“Rondjes Rijk Zwaan” introduction program—get to know our culture, departments, and history
Development discussions instead of appraisal interviews
Rijk Zwaan Fit, including sports activities such as running and bootcamp, plus discounts on gym memberships
Voluntary Preventive Medical Examination
Activities you can participate in, from BBQs to photography workshops

Interested?

Contribute to the vegetables of tomorrow as Breeding Manager Lettuce. Click ‘Apply’ and upload your CV and motivation letter. You will receive a response within 10 working days. An assessment is part of the procedure.Would you like more information about this position first? Then contact Kees Reinink (Breeding Manager Brassica) at k.reinink@rijkzwaan.nl.