Team Lead - Banana Applied Genomics in Norwich

We are looking for an experienced leader, passionate about crop gene editing, to lead the Banana Applied Genomics Team within the Platform Department at Tropic. In this role, you will line manage a team of four scientists and own the genotyping pipelines underpinning Tropic’s banana portfolio, from early screening through to Regulatory, IP, Supply Chain and Commercial data packages.

Job Purpose

The Platform Department provides technical and scientific leadership across Tropic in Bioinformatics, Transcriptomics, rapid cell-based assays, Synthetic Biology and Applied Genomics. As part of this, the Applied Genomics team drives the detection and molecular characterisation of Tropic’s gene edited crops and provides key support throughout Technology Development, Regulatory, IP, Supply chain and Commercial.

Within this role, you will coordinate and oversee all banana genotyping pipelines, ensuring accurate, timely and fully traceable molecular characterisation of gene edited events at scale. You will be accountable for the data packages that our Regulatory and IP teams rely on for submissions worldwide, working in close partnership with both functions to support the technical accuracy of data, figures and technical narrative.

You will lead by intent, setting clear goals, driving resourcing decisions and developing each team member, while championing process improvement and onboarding new technologies and automation. This position is ideal for an established leader who wants to combine people and pipeline leadership with direct technical influence over a commercial gene editing portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and oversee all banana genotyping pipelines to support identification and molecular characterization of plant candidates for field trials and commercialisation.
• Manage a team of four scientists, setting clear goals and objectives, following progress against them and driving tailored development for each team member.
• Own the genotyping data packages for edited non-GMO candidate identification, Regulatory and IP filings, Supply Chain QC.
• Provide technical reviews for documentation.
• Guide experimental design, planning and technical troubleshooting across the team.
• Ensure strong QC and assurance practices including traceable records, SOP adherence and Excellence Through Stewardship (ETS) compliance.
• Drive resourcing decisions across the project portfolio and lead process improvement and automation of genotyping workflows.
• Formally report scientific findings and technical updates to diverse stakeholders, and support departmental leadership in strategic planning, recruitment and risk reporting.

Requirements

Qualifications

Minimum: PhD in Plant Sciences, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or any other related discipline, with at least 3 years’ relevant industry experience; or equivalent demonstrable experience.

Core competencies

• Proven line management experience, with a track record of developing scientists and leading delivery against clear goals and objectives for a complex, multi-project portfolio.
• Comfortable leading and motivating a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Analytical, process-oriented approach with an ability to establish, lead, troubleshoot and improve advanced high-throughput molecular biology workflows.
• Excellent attention to detail, including in consistency of language and formatting across Applied Genomics, Regulatory and IP documentation.
• Excellent team player with professional, effective communication to senior and cross-functional stakeholders.

Technical competencies

• Expertise in high-throughput DNA isolation, quality control and amplification methods (PCR, qPCR, dPCR, TaqMan, KASP), and in next-generation sequencing methods (e.g. Illumina, Nanopore, among others) and their data.
• Comprehensive understanding of gene editing approaches and their possible molecular outcomes.
• Experimental design, execution and troubleshooting for genotyping approaches.
• Proficiency in molecular biology software and online tools (e.g. SnapGene, Geneious and BLASTn).

Desirable competencies

• Experience with banana or another vegetatively propagated and/or polyploid crop.
• Experience with laboratory automation platforms.

About Us

Tropic is one of the world’s leading agricultural gene-editing companies. Our team is dedicated to the development and commercialization of high-performing varieties of tropical crops to provide significant benefits to growers, processors and consumers globally, tackling real-world problems around food security and sustainability.

Our vision is to become a leading seed business with significant ownership of its products from the laboratory to the field, while maintaining constructive relationships with growers and consumers based on transparency and trust.

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, Group Income Protection and Life Assurance

Further Information

Job Location – Norwich UK
Time Requirement – Full Time
Contract – Permanent
Closing date – 18th August 2027

If you are looking to work in a dynamic company, striving towards a real-world impact, then consider joining our team and apply here!