Job Description

At Syngenta Vegetables and Flowers, we're cultivating tomorrow's diversity through innovative breeding that brings vibrant colors to gardens and nutritious vegetables to tables worldwide. We combine centuries of seed heritage with cutting-edge innovation to develop resilient, high-performing varieties that thrive in diverse climates. Join us in shaping the future of sustainable horticulture, where every seed holds the potential to enhance lives through better nutrition and natural beauty.

Syngenta is one of the world's leading agriculture companies, serving customers in more than 100 countries. Our Seeds business is at the forefront of innovation, developing high-performing varieties that help farmers grow more with less. The Fruity Crop Technology Center is part of our global R&D network, where breakthrough science meets real-world application.

At Syngenta, our goal is to build the most collaborative and trustworthy team in agriculture, providing top-quality seeds and innovative crop protection solutions that improve farmers' success. To support this mission, Syngenta's Fruity Crop Technology Center in El Ejido, Almería, Spain is seeking a Seed Operations Specialist

This role will support the agronomy program at our state-of-the-art facility within a highly regulated, controlled environment You will work across the full plant lifecycle-from seedling production in nurseries to adult plants in growth chambers and high-tech greenhouses-managing crop recipes, environmental parameters, and biosafety protocols. The successful candidate will be structured, detail-oriented, and comfortable working within strict procedures, while executing farming activities, managing data intensively, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality products efficiently and sustainably.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute farming operations across nursery (seedling production), growth chambers, and high-tech greenhouses, including sowing, transplanting small plants, planting, crop development, climate management, pest/disease monitoring, and phytosanitary treatments.
• Manage and document crop recipes and environmental settings (light intensity, temperature, humidity) in growth chambers, ensuring accurate records for repeatability and compliance.
• Support trial management by collecting and organizing quantitative and qualitative data, contributing observations and recommendations to ensure quality, quantity, and timeliness standards.
• Work within a highly regulated environment, following strict biosafety and disinfection protocols at every stage, from seedling to mature plant.
• Apply new technologies and tools in daily operations, identifying opportunities for process improvements aligned with R&D strategy.
• Coordinate activities with Syngenta employees and third-party labor, building effective relationships across Breeders, T&T, Marketing, Sales, and Farm Staff.
• Ensure biosafety and HSE compliance by following all safety rules, completing required training, and promoting adherence to regulations.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, participating in networks to learn best practices and support standardization efforts.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant Science, or related field.
• 1–3 years of experience in nursery/seedling production, greenhouse crop production, or controlled environment agriculture: while the role is suitable for a junior profile, hands-on experience in seedling production, greenhouse operations, or controlled-environment agriculture is essential.
• Highly structured and detail-oriented approach to work-this role requires adherence to clear rules and strict procedures in a regulated facility.
• Experience with intensive data collection, organization, and analysis in agricultural or research settings (e.g., analyzing light intensity, environmental parameters).
• Knowledge of horticultural crops and plant breeding principles.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in Excel (pivot tables, data analysis) and Smartsheet for data management and workflow tracking.
• Conversational English to communicate effectively with diverse, international project teams on and off the station.
• Understanding of sustainability and environmental practices; exposure to robotics and automation is a plus.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience working in regulated facilities or controlled environment agriculture (growth chambers, high-biosafety greenhouses).
• Familiarity with process improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, etc.).
• Exposure to advanced agricultural technologies and automation systems.
• Ability to work across the full plant lifecycle-from seedling nursery to mature plants in controlled environments.

We're Looking For

We need someone who knows how to grow crops but is structured and methodical This role is about following rules, maintaining rigorous protocols, and working with data in a smaller, more regulated environment than a typical production greenhouse. If you're organized, detail-focused, and thrive in controlled, process-driven settings, this is the role for you.

Additional Information

Work Environment & Location

• Location: El Ejido, Almería, Spain
• Facility: Fruity Crop Technology Center with growth chambers, high-tech greenhouses, and nursery operations in a highly regulated, controlled environment
• Team: Collaborative Operations team working with Breeders, T&T, Marketing, and Sales functions

What we offer

• A culture that promotes work/life balance, celebrates diversity and offers numerous events throughout the year.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• A role that contributes to valuable and impactful work in a stimulating and international environment.
• Learning culture and a wide range of development options, including access to learning platforms (Degreed and LinkedIn Learning)

Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.