Ready to take cutting-edge plant science beyond the laboratory and into the field?
I am recruiting a Crop Science Lead for an established international vegetable seed business with an exciting ambition: to use advanced crop science and breeding technologies to accelerate the development of the next generation of commercial vegetable varieties.
Reporting directly to the Director of R&D, you will lead a small laboratory research team and play a central role in shaping the company's future scientific capability. One of your most important challenges will be to develop and expand gene-editing capabilities across key vegetable crops, while ensuring laboratory innovation translates into meaningful outcomes for breeders, growers and ultimately the commercial market.
If you want your science to have a visible, practical impact on real-world agriculture, this is an opportunity worth exploring.
The Opportunity
This is not a role where you will simply inherit a programme and keep it running.
You will have the opportunity to help shape how advanced crop science is used within the business, introducing new methodologies, solving complex scientific challenges and connecting laboratory research directly with established breeding programmes.
Working closely with plant breeders, agronomists, seed production, seed quality, product development and commercial colleagues, you will lead research targeting traits including:
Disease resistance
Climate resilience
Yield improvement
Flavour
Nutritional qualityA particularly exciting part of your remit will be the development of gene-editing protocols and workflows across key crop species including celery, parsnip and kale.
Alongside your internal team, you will also work with universities, research organisations and industry partners, identifying opportunities to build collaborations and secure external research funding.
What Will You Be Doing?
You will act as the senior scientific lead within the laboratory, taking responsibility for the direction and delivery of crop science research programmes.
You will:
Design, develop and oversee innovative plant science research programmes.
Establish and refine gene-editing protocols, workflows and experimental platforms across key vegetable crops.
Troubleshoot complex experimental and technical challenges.
Ensure high standards of experimental design, controls, data integrity and scientific documentation.Importantly,...
Crop Science Lead in Woking employer: MorePeople
Join a leading UK food manufacturing business in Quarrington, where you will thrive in a dynamic work environment that values innovation and teamwork. With a structured shift pattern and a strong focus on employee development, this role offers excellent opportunities for continuous improvement and career growth, making it an ideal place for skilled Electrical Engineers looking to make a meaningful impact in the FMCG sector.
