Job Description

As part of our growth strategy and our plans to develop breeding activities for our Vegetable Business Unit, we are looking for an Sweet Pepper Assistant Breeder, based at KWS Vegetables in Culiacan - Sinaloa, Mexico The Assistant Breeder will contribute to the execution of the R&D strategy, effectively supporting breeding activities. She/He will report to the Breeder within the Vegetable Business Unit of KWS.

Job purpose

Under the supervision and in cooperation with the Sweet Pepper Breeder give direction to the breeding program to guide the development of new varieties following the strategy of the company allowing a short time-to-market introduction of successful varieties.

Your Tasks

• Research: Assist and support the Breeder in optimizing the efficiency and output of the breeding program by designing and implementing new technologies and breeding methods in order to ensure a constant flow of commercially successful varieties.
• Management of Information: Design, evaluate and formulate with the Breeder the short term breeding plan, the work process and performance by means of drawing up trial data in filing system, preparing summary reports, give feedback, make proposals and draw conclusions about the breeding program in order to facilitate, and enable divisional and corporate decision making.
• Breeding trials: Design and plan and after approval of the Breeder, implement, execute, evaluate, analyze, interpret and document autonomously breeding trials and their results in line with the breeding plan, guidelines and procedures, in order to optimize the efficiency and output of the breeding program.
• Basic Stock Seeds: Manage and execute the increase and maintenance of basic stock seed in coordination with the Breeder, Stock Seed and/or Production departments in order to ensure the availability of the quantity and quality of basic stock seeds.
• Administration: Manage an accurate and detailed breeding administration within the breeding team and conform the procedures and guidelines in the breeding department, in order to enable the running of an efficient and effective breeding program. Fill the budget plan forms for the respective breeding segments together with the Breeder.
• Management: Coordinate and communicate the breeding program activities to the technical assistant(s) and the crop technicians within the breeding team and provide them with technical advice in order to meet agreed standards, time planning and budgets.
• Market Knowledge: Develop and maintain updated and broad vision on the market demands and translate market demands into breeding goals in order to be able to act for the breeder as an equal discussion partner on all breeding issues and to replace the breeder for short to medium term periods.

Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• BSc /MSc in horticulture, plant breeding, genetics or closely related field;
• Working knowledge of horticultural practices and procedures, genetics and plant breeding;
• Few years of experience in plant breeding;
• Language skills: English
• Team player;
• Organization and planning;
• Operate specialized breeding and research equipment;
• Computer skills: management information systems, databases, spread sheets;
• Communication skills.
• Functional competencies: analytical thinking, interpersonal skills, convincing, solving problems, innovative, entrepreneurship