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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative crop product development and drive a multi-crop pipeline.
- Company: Join Tropic, a pioneering tropical seeds company transforming agriculture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, private medical care, and 25 days annual leave.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on global agriculture with cutting-edge gene editing technology.
- Qualifications: PhD in relevant field and 12+ years in agricultural biotechnology required.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with excellent career growth and diverse workforce.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
We are looking for a visionary leader who can turn breakthrough gene editing science into market ready crop products, drive a multi crop pipeline, and power Tropic’s next phase of growth.
Responsibilities
- Pipeline Strategy & Portfolio Leadership: Define and execute crop product strategy in close partnership with the commercial organisation, onboarding new crops, prioritising the pipeline and allocating resources for maximum commercial and strategic impact.
- Product Development & Delivery: Lead end-to-end product development from trait discovery through regulatory progression to launch readiness, driving milestone based plans and rigorous stage gate discipline, ultimately ensuring on-time product delivery.
- R&D Activities: Oversee R&D activities, optimising workflows, infrastructure, and resource allocation while upholding biosafety, data integrity, and compliance (Plant Breeding Innovation/Excellence Through Stewardship).
- Cross Functional & Executive Leadership: Partner with internal teams including Commercial, Regulatory, Project Management, and Senior Leadership to align product development with business priorities, and represent crop development at executive and board levels.
- Team Leadership & Organisational Capability: Lead and develop high performing multidisciplinary teams and mentor future leaders, strengthening organisational capability and readying for further crop expansion.
- Market, Grower & Value Chain Insight: Integrate deep market, grower, value chain, sustainability, and climate insights into product and pipeline strategy.
Requirements
- PhD or advanced degree in Plant Sciences, Agronomy, Biotechnology, Genetics, or related (MBA a plus).
- 12+ years’ experience in agricultural biotechnology, seeds, crop R&D, or related sectors.
- Demonstrated success launching plant varieties or biotech crop products.
- Proven leadership of sizable, multi‑disciplinary development teams.
- Experience building and advancing multi‑year crop pipelines.
- Strong commercial acumen with a track record of effective cross functional collaboration.
- Ability to navigate complex trade-offs and make effective portfolio decisions.
- Experience onboarding new crops into a product development pipeline is desirable.
Leadership Profile
- Strategic, disciplined, and execution driven.
- Decisive and comfortable leading through ambiguity.
- A strong communicator and stakeholder manager.
- Commercially aware while maintaining scientific rigor.
- Effective in a fast paced, scaling biotech environment.
About Us
Tropic is a pioneering tropical seeds company dedicated to the development of healthier, more robust, high-performing varieties of tropical crops. The company’s current core crop portfolio focusses on banana and rice, which together provide a source of livelihood to billions of people worldwide. Tropic utilises its proprietary GEiGS® platform and other cutting-edge gene editing technologies to develop improved crops with increased disease resistance, higher yields, and environmentally sustainable traits. By harnessing the power of advanced genetic engineering, Tropic is committed to addressing global agricultural challenges and providing innovative solutions that benefit farmers, consumers, and the environment.
Why Join Tropic?
- Diverse workforce operating in a dynamic working environment
- Excellent learning and career development opportunities
- Social events throughout the year
- Competitive compensation and benefits including: Private Medical Care, Medical Cash Plan, 25 days annual leave, and Life Assurance
Further Information
- Job Location – Norwich UK
- Time Requirement – Full Time
- Contract – Permanent
- Closing date – 07/04/2026
Head of Crop Research and Development in Norwich employer: Tropic Biosciences
Contact Detail:
Tropic Biosciences Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Crop Research and Development in Norwich
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, attend relevant events, and engage on platforms like LinkedIn. We can’t stress enough how personal connections can open doors that applications alone can’t.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Understand their pipeline and recent developments in crop research. We want you to show that you’re not just interested in the role, but also passionate about what they do!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to articulate your vision for crop product development and how your experience aligns with their goals. We believe that confidence and clarity can make a huge difference in how you come across.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A simple thank you email can keep you top of mind. We recommend mentioning something specific from your conversation to show you were engaged and are genuinely interested in the position.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Crop Research and Development in Norwich
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Crop Research and Development role. Highlight your experience in agricultural biotechnology and any successful product launches you've been part of. We want to see how your background aligns with our mission at Tropic!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about crop development and how your leadership style can drive our multi-crop pipeline. Be sure to mention specific examples that showcase your strategic thinking and cross-functional collaboration.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: As a leader, we want to know how you've developed high-performing teams in the past. Share stories that demonstrate your ability to mentor others and navigate complex challenges. This will help us see how you can strengthen our organisational capability at Tropic.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a seamless application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Tropic Biosciences
✨Know Your Science
Make sure you brush up on the latest advancements in gene editing and crop biotechnology. Be ready to discuss how these innovations can be applied to product development, as this role demands a strong grasp of both scientific principles and practical applications.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading multidisciplinary teams. Think about specific challenges you've faced and how you navigated them, as well as how you mentored others. This will demonstrate your capability to lead and develop high-performing teams.
✨Align with Business Goals
Understand Tropic's mission and how the crop product strategy aligns with their commercial objectives. Be ready to discuss how you would integrate market insights into product development and how you can drive strategic impact through effective portfolio decisions.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration
Since this role involves working closely with various internal teams, think of examples where you've successfully collaborated across functions. Highlight your communication skills and how you've managed stakeholder relationships to achieve common goals.