Corn Pathology Lead (f/m/d)

Syngenta is a global leader in agricultural innovation with a presence in more than 90 countries. Syngenta is focused on developing technologies and farming practices that empower farmers, so they can make the transformation required to feed the world’s population while preserving our planet.

As a partner to farmers, we share the love for agriculture and understand the importance of delivering high-quality seeds, supporting farmers through challenging times, and thinking ahead together.

 Working at Syngenta Seeds means being part of a passionate team with attractive benefits and interesting career opportunities

As part of our activities in Bad Salzuflen Germany, Syngenta is looking for a:

Corn Pathology Lead (f/m/d)

Role purpose:

The Corn Pathology Lead will develop and execute disease and pest resistance R&D strategies for corn, collaborating with pipeline teams and leveraging technology advances. They will lead resistance trait discovery projects while managing timelines and stakeholder relationships, applying expertise in phytopathology, genetics, and project management to accelerate corn germplasm.

Responsibilities/main tasks:

• Planning and undertaking trials or assays to assess and characterize resistance phenotypes in lines or hybrids. Generating and sharing quality data in a timely manner to enable germplasm selection or advancement decisions.
• Development and delivery of corn pathology capabilities and disease resistance trait strategies. Management of technology access, people, resources, and budget.
• Development and application of tools for disease phenotyping, genetic studies, and corn product development; characterization of new genetic sources and the capture of intellectual property.
• Development and execution of strategies for tracking pathogen evolution for key market segment disease targets, ensuring rational resistance trait deployment.
• Collaboration, communication and interchange with pathology colleagues, and breeding leads, academics, and external collaborators.
• Participation and contribution to Eu corn MSTs.
• Project, portfolio and budget management.
• Proactive engagement with R&D digital initiatives and governance frameworks.
• Team activity management and people development.
• Principle contributor or lead within Biotic Stress network or cross crop technical initiatives.

Knowledge and experience expected:

• Expert knowledge in plant pathology (Ph.D. Required or Masters’ degree with 5+ years’experience) particularly combined with plant breeding, agronomy, or plant pathogen interactions.
• 5+ years of experience in plant breeding and trait development
• 3+ years of experience in scientific project and staff management
• Good knowledge of corn diseases, phytopathology and available resistance traits.
• Experience of disease trialing and disease assay execution.
• Demonstrated understanding of trait discovery, validation, and deployment.
• Capability to use digital tools to process, store or communicate data.
• Applied understanding of statistics, plant physiology, and molecular marker development.
• Bi-Lingual (English needed as common language within Syngenta), Multi-cultural, multi-regional understanding and appreciation
• Proven ability to communicate with project partners and influence stakeholders to ensure efficient project deployment
• Willing to travel and to work in a multicultural team, ability to work in a matrix environment

Employment: full-time

Contract: permanent

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.