PhD vacatures

Field of Work: Breeding

Location: Andijk, North Holland, NL

Legal Entity: BU Vegetables (501)

Contract Type:

Is Full Time?: Yes

Onsite/ Remote:

Job ID: 16499

Ready to boost the future of spinach? We are looking for an experienced and forward-thinking Senior Spinach Breeder who combines scientific excellence with leadership, market awareness and a clear long-term vision.

In this role, you operate at the core of our spinach breeding activities. From ideotype definition to commercial introduction, you take ownership of building competitive, high-performing varieties that create value for growers and customers worldwide.

Impact

This is a key role within the global spinach strategy of KWS Vegetables. As Senior Spinach Breeder, you play a decisive role in shaping the long-term success and direction of our spinach portfolio.

Join us and be part of a team that values creativity, teamwork and a proactive approach. Together, we’ll explore the boundaries of what’s possible in seed breeding and lead the way in sustainable practices. At KWS Vegetables, we are not here to follow, but to pioneer.

Your responsibilities:

Lead and continuously optimize the spinach breeding program, delivering innovative and commercially successful varieties for defined market segments.

Translate market requirements and future trends into clear breeding goals and ideotypes, in close collaboration with Product Management, Marketing and Sales.

Contribute to defining the long-term breeding strategy and ensure its successful execution, from vision through to variety introduction.

Act as a hands-on breeder for one market segment, while coordinating and supervising activities across multiple segments.

Lead, coach and develop breeders and assistant breeders, building a strong, high-performing and future-proof breeding team.

Drive progress through data-driven decision making and the effective use of modern breeding tools, technologies and methodologies.

Engage actively in research and pre-breeding projects and contribute to the continuous improvement of breeding processes and efficiency.

Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders across R&D, plant pathology, product management, supply chain, business development and sales.

You are based in Andijk (NL) and report to the head of breeding Netherlands.

To seed your future, you’ve got the following skills:

At least 5 years of experience leading a breeding team, combined with hands-on breeding responsibilities.

An MSc or PhD in Plant Breeding, Genetics or a related discipline.

Experience coordinating breeding activities across multiple segments or programs is an advantage.

Strong expertise in horticulture, agronomy and genetics, with solid knowledge of pathology, physiology and molecular breeding tools.

Experience with data management systems, databases and modern breeding analytics.

Excellent planning, organizational and people-management skills.

A proactive, innovative mindset with strong communication and stakeholder-management abilities.

Fluency in English; Dutch is an advantage.

Reasons to develop your talents within KWS Vegetables:

You will be part of a fast-evolving, international company striving to become a leader in the vegetable seed industry.

Your working environment is very diverse and you will collaborate with a team of experienced gurus and fresh talents.

You’ll receive a competitive salary and attractive benefits package.

You get to work with fantastic colleagues and will be part of our Vegetable Squad.

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