Managing Director R&D Turkey

Your job at Rijk Zwaan Turkey

Our subsidiary Rijk Zwaan Turkey will be led by a board of three Managing Directors who are jointly responsible for the entire operation in 3 stations (Silyon, Kurşunlu and Korkuteli) and more than 130 employees in Turkey. Each Managing Director has specific areas of responsibility in R&D, Commercial Affairs or Finance, IT and Human Resources.

In the role of Managing Director R&D, you will be responsible for the organization and operation of our Turkish breeding teams, phytopathology specialist and the crop maintenance team. You are supported by station managers and team leads breeding. The entire R&D group consists of approximately 70 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 report to the global Board of Directors based in The Netherlands.

You ensure that breeding activities run smoothly and that the results are communicated effectively to the commercial teams in the markets served by the Turkish teams. This requires a good understanding of those vegetable seed markets and close interaction with commercial and product development teams. As a manager you have an important people- oriented role, managing and facilitating the R&D teams in our stations in Turkey. 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.

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 our company. You are able to think and act independently, to be a team player, think in long-term processes, maintaining 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 receiving feedback. We are seeking a good leader and organizer with an international outlook, someone with an active and practical approach, intrinsically motivated towards persevering and problem solving. 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 relevant management experience
• Fluency in English and Turkish

What can you expect from us?

As Managing Director R&D Turkey, you will lead our Turkish R&D Group, where every day the team develops healthy new vegetable varieties. Rijk Zwaan reinvests 30% of its annual turnover to fuel these innovations. Besides a growing international work environment, we are happy to offer you: 

• A permanent contract from the start
• Market-based salary
• Various training opportunities through our Rijk Zwaan Academy and specific management training
• An entrepreneurial / innovative work environment with constantly new challenges 

Where will you be working?

Rijk Zwaan is an international family business with a solid people-oriented culture that dates back 100 years. Rijk Zwaan is 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. We have a total of 4,200 employees in 30 different countries. We make an important contribution to the global food supply.