Head of Quality

Your job at Rijk Zwaan

In the role of Manager within the Quality department, you and a colleague will lead a team of 25 specialists, each with their own expertise. Every day, this department works to achieve the best possible seed quality within Rijk Zwaan. The quality requirements for seed lots are becoming increasingly complex. This requires sharp focus and careful consideration. As a people-oriented manager, you will inspire and coach a group of independently operating professionals. Specifically, you will be involved in:

• Formulating the vision and objectives related to quality across the company and aligning these with the strategy and culture of the organization
• Representing Rijk Zwaan externally in quality-related matters
• Communicating and promoting the importance and value of quality to all stakeholders, including senior management, employees, customers, suppliers, and regulators

Where will you be working?

Rijk Zwaan is an international family business with a people-oriented corporate culture, operating at the start of the food chain. We develop fruit and vegetable varieties and sell the seeds to growers and other chain partners around the world. In doing so, we make an important contribution to the global food supply.

At the head office in De Lier, you will work in the Quality department, which consists of three teams and a total of 25 colleagues. The Quality Management & Complaints team is responsible for the operational policy related to product quality and the handling of quality-related complaints. The Quality Projects team handles large multidisciplinary quality related programs and projects. The Project Management Support team is responsible for the Rijk Zwaan wide approach to project and portfolio management. 

Your contribution:

As a Quality Manager, you combine strong management skills with a people-oriented leadership style. You have natural charisma and can convey knowledge in a clear manner.  Your communication is open, making you easily approachable for colleagues and external partners. You can easily switch between different situations and are adept at prioritizing. In contact with external and scientific stakeholders, you are knowledgeable and can convey messages convincingly. Your ability to connect with others allows you to inspire them. In addition, your resume includes:

• A completed university master's degree in an agricultural field, such as plant biology, biotechnology, or plant breeding
• At least 15 years of work experience, of which at least 5 years in a management position
• Sound knowledge of seed quality and plant genetics
• Excellent command of Dutch and English

What can you expect from us?

In addition to working in an international and challenging environment where specialists collaborate to achieve the highest quality, we are pleased to offer you:

• A permanent contract for a minimum of 32 hours per week
• A competitive salary based on job level and experience
• Various training opportunities through our Rijk Zwaan Academy, 25 holidays and a vitality day
• The option to purchase additional leave days