Crop Genebank Head of Service in London

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a crop genebank Head of Service to join the Crop Genetics Department at the John Innes Centre.

About the John Innes Centre: The John Innes Centre is an independent, international centre of excellence in plant and microbial sciences. We nurture a creative, curiosity‑led approach to answering fundamental questions in bioscience, and translate that knowledge into societal benefits. Our strategic vision, Healthy Plants, Healthy People, Healthy Planet, sets out our ambitious long‑term goals for the game‑changing impact of our science globally.

The Germplasm Resources National Bioscience Research Infrastructure (GR‑NBRI, also known as the Germplasm Resources Unit, GRU) at the John Innes Centre houses biological seed collections. The GR‑NBRI aims to capture the broadest possible diversity of the gene pool of the UK’s major strategic crops and their crop wild relatives, thereby supporting plant science and crop improvement through breeding. We focus on wheat, pea, barley and oat germplasm. The collections include crop wild relatives, traditional landraces, adapted and elite cultivars, derived lines, mapping populations, and induced (mutagenised) diversity panels. The seeds are stored in a specialised cool‑dry chamber to extend their shelf life and are regenerated according to a 20–30‑year cycle plan. The germplasm‑associated data is catalogued in an in‑house‑tailored management system and public database (SeedStor).

The role: The Head of Service is the first point of contact for both external and internal users of the seed collections. They triage seed requests submitted through the team’s bespoke public database and direct each request to the appropriate team member. They also provide guidance on the most suitable germplasm choices to maximise efficient use of the public collections, enhance output delivery, and ensure cost‑effectiveness.

The post holder manages seed import and export to support smooth genebank operations and enables JIC scientists to exchange seed with international collaborators. This includes liaising with users to secure correct documentation and coordinating with the Animal and Plant Health Agency to obtain phytosanitary certificates, plant passports, and other required permits for a diverse international user base (the GRU supports users in 52 countries, including plant scientists, breeders, educators, and farmers). They will oversee GRU cost‑recovery charges, maintain service documentation and records through internal management systems, and supervise the curation of germplasm‑associated data, including legacy and newly generated datasets.

The role requires an innovative leader who delivers high‑quality service while driving continuous improvement in seed conservation, distribution, and use. Priorities include implementing molecular barcoding for quality control and assurance, improving user training through clear guidance and short videos, increasing efficiency via standardised templates and automated communications, strengthening or developing SOPs, and enhancing the use of phenotypic and genetic/genomic data to support informed germplasm selection.

As a member of the GRU, the Head of Service is encouraged to plan, conduct, and publish applied research that improves service delivery, either directly or by supervising MSc or BSc (Year in Industry) projects. They will also promote the service at meetings, field demonstrations, and GRU visits for diverse user communities.

The ideal candidate: The candidate should have a PhD in crop sciences or in closely related fields or alternatively have significant experience in crop gene‑banking/ seed production industry in a senior position. Genebanking requires a broad set of skills and expertise and it is not expected that the candidate will master all the necessary aspects of seed conservation and germplasm utilisation when they join the team. Training will be provided to close necessary gaps and for continuous personal development.

However, experience or profound understanding of some of the following will be advantageous: crop seed production, seed longevity, plant pathology, crop genetics, genomics and field phenotyping. Experience in working with biosciences data and operating a database resource is also desired.

This role meets the criteria for a visa application, and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply. Please contact the Human Resources Team if you have any questions regarding your application or visa options.

We are an equal opportunities employer, actively supporting inclusivity and diversity. As a Disability Confident organisation, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy. We are proud to hold a prestigious Gold Athena SWAN award in recognition of our inclusive culture, commitment and good practices towards advancing of gender equality. We offer an exciting, stimulating, diverse research environment and actively promote a family friendly workplace. The Institute is also a member of Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme.