Managing Director R&D France

How does your job as Managing Director R&D at Rijk Zwaan France look like?

Our subsidiary Rijk Zwaan France is managed by a board of three directors, who are jointly responsible for the entire operation. Each managing director however has his own attention fields in R&D, Commercial Affairs or Finance, IT and Human Resources. We are looking for a candidate responsible for leading and supporting our French breeding teams, laboratory teams, crop maintenance teams and commercial seed production team. The whole R&D and production group consists of around 100 people. In Rijk Zwaan, breeding is an international activity and the managing director R&D is in close contact with the international breeding managers and with breeding stations elsewhere in the world for the international co-ordination of breeding efforts. You will take care that breeding is well facilitated and that results are well communicated with the commercial teams of the markets for which the French teams work. This requires a good understanding of those vegetable seed markets and a close interaction with commercial and product development teams. As a manager you have an important people orientated role, managing and facilitating the R&D teams in our stations in France. You will provide purpose, direction and motivation for your teams. Every year, together with the two other managing directors, you prepare a five-year development plan, including sales targets, investments, personnel growth and cost development. The team of Managing Directors reports to the Board of Directors, who is located in The Netherlands.

Your contribution:

As Managing Director we expect you to have a broad interest in all aspects of managing a company including fostering the Rijk Zwaan company culture, managing human and financial risks, legal compliance and the public image of the company. You are able to think and act independently, to be a team player, think in long-term processes, maintain a good balance between the long-term goals and short-term demands. You have an open personality, good communication skills, you are trustworthy and open to receive feedback.

We are seeking a good leader and organizer with an international outlook and global mind-set, someone with an active and practical approach, orientated towards persevering and problem solving. Someone who possesses positive thinking and attitude.

In addition, we can find the following on your resume:

• a university education with good knowledge of horticulture and plant breeding;
• at least 10 years of relevant management experience;
• people oriented leadership skills;
• fluency in French and English.

What can you expect from us?

As Managing Director R&D France you will be responsible for the R&D and seed production group. This group consists of around 100 colleagues who work on healthy new vegetable varieties. Besides a growing international work environment, we are happy to offer you:

• market-based salary;
• various training opportunities through our Rijk Zwaan Academy and specific management training;
• an entrepreneurial and innovative work environment with constantly new challenges.

Rijk Zwaan: your new employer?

Rijk Zwaan is an international family company with a people-oriented culture. Rijk Zwaan is right at the start of the food chain. We develop vegetable varieties and sell the seeds produced from them globally to growers and other chain partners. From our strategic position we contribute to the world food supply. Everything we do is about healthy growth. The growth of our business; worldwide availability of vegetable seeds for the growth of healthy products. The growth of our company and above all the growth of our people: we give you every opportunity to use your own initiative and achieve your full potential.