Company Description

Syngenta Group, a global leader in agricultural technology and innovation, employs 60,000 people across more than 100 countries to transform agriculture through tailor-made solutions for farmers, society, and our planet. Our diverse portfolio encompasses seeds, crop protection, nutrition products, agronomic solutions, and digital services, all designed to help farmers produce healthy food, feed, fiber, and fuel while conserving natural resources and protecting the environment. Our mission is to address critical challenges such as climate change and food security through sustainable practices and cutting-edge solutions, while safeguarding the planet's resources.

Job Description

Join our Applied Genetics team and use cutting-edge molecular tools to discover, develop, and deliver breakthrough traits that will shape the future of global vegetable production — improving nutrition, sustainability, and food security for communities worldwide.

The Purpose

You will be a key contributor to trait innovation for our global vegetable portfolio.

Your expertise will support the discovery and delivery of impactful traits through breeding pipelines, enabling marker-assisted workflows that accelerate trait introduction and integration.

You’ll design and implement genomic resources and platforms that power our trait and germplasm initiatives, working with advanced breeding technologies in a collaborative, supportive environment.

Your work will directly translate scientific insights into varieties that growers depend on, contributing to sustainable agriculture and resilient food systems.

This role offers the opportunity to combine deep scientific expertise with practical breeding applications — making a tangible difference in crop improvement at a global scale.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead and collaborate on trait discovery and development projects from concept to delivery, working closely with Trait Development and Germplasm Development teams, as well as external partners.
• Conduct advanced genomic analysis (genetic mapping, GWAS, genomic prediction) to identify actionable trait insights and novel alleles aligned with market needs.
• Develop and optimize marker assays for laboratory deployment, ensuring robust marker-trait associations and smooth technology transfer.
• Design and implement genotyping platforms and curate genomic resources that enable breakthrough research capabilities.
• Enable marker-assisted breeding workflows for efficient trait deployment, collaborating with breeding teams to maximize marker utility while meeting budget and timeline goals.
• Build expertise across assigned vegetable crops and market segments to ensure successful technology application and strategic alignment.
• Drive methodological innovation by staying current with advances in genetics, genomics, and analytics, and leading the development of new tools and methods.
• Manage intellectual property strategically while maintaining awareness of the IP landscape in relevant crops and technologies.
  
  

Qualifications

What We're Looking For

Essential Qualifications

• PhD in Plant Breeding and Genetics or closely related field.
• Strong expertise in Mendelian genetics, quantitative genetics, and molecular genetics.
• Solid foundation in breeding methodologies, statistics, and experimental design.
• Proficiency with genomic technologies and platforms.
• High level of English (spoken and written).
  
  

Critical Experience

• Proven track record in experimental design and statistical analysis of complex datasets.
• Advanced programming skills (R, Python, or similar).
• Experience analyzing large, diverse, and complex genomic datasets.
• Strong data visualization skills and familiarity with modern analytics tools.
  
  

Technical & Professional Skills

• Ability to communicate complex genetic concepts clearly to diverse audiences.
• Creativity and innovation in scientific problem-solving.
• Collaborative approach with success in cross-disciplinary teams.
• Results-focused mindset with the ability to manage multiple projects.
  
  

Additional Information

• Location: El Ejido, Almería
• Expect 5-10% travel within your region and internationally, providing opportunities to collaborate with global teams and stay connected with field operations and market needs.
• A culture that promotes work/life balance and celebrates diversity.
• Flexible working arragements to support work-life balance.
• Extensive benefits package including a pension plan scheme, bonus, life insurance & a pool of flexible benefits to choose (Ticket Restaurant, WellHub, etc.)
• 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)