Pathology Team Lead

Syngenta is one of the world’s largest developers and producers of seed for farmers, commercial growers, retailers and small seed companies. Syngenta seeds improve the quality and yields of crops. High-quality seeds ensure better and more productive crops, which is why farmers invest in them. Advanced seeds help mitigate risks such as disease and drought and allow farmers to grow food using less land, less water and fewer inputs. Syngenta Seeds brings farmers more vigorous, stronger, resistant plants, including innovative hybrid varieties and biotech crops that can thrive even in challenging growing conditions.

Job Description

Syngenta seeds is looking for a passionate candidate for a full-time position of:

Pathology Team Lead

Type: Permanent

Department: R&D

Location: Enkhuizen

Into Action

Are you passionate about advancing agriculture through cutting-edge research? As Pathology Lead, you will play a pivotal role in delivering high-performing, disease-resistant varieties that shape the future of sustainable agriculture. You will be leading a team of experts providing phenotypic evaluations and analyses for pest and disease resistance across a variety of vegetable crops. In this position, you will supervise a team of experts responsible for phenotypic evaluation and analysis of pest and disease resistance across a wide range of vegetable crops. Your leadership will be crucial in overseeing both routine and discovery trials conducted in modern infrastructure, and field environments. This position provides an opportunity to shape the future of agriculture by leveraging your scientific expertise and leadership skills in an innovative research setting.

The Challenge

As our Pathology Team Lead, you will:

• You will manage and mentor a diverse team of Scientists, Research Associates and Technicians dedicated to pathology activities. Your role will involve fostering a collaborative environment that encourages innovation and professional growth, providing guidance for learning and development opportunities to enhance your team's skills and knowledge. Additionally, you will ensure strict adherence to Syngenta's compliance, quality, and safety standards, maintaining the highest level of integrity in all research activities.
• Your technical prowess will be crucial in designing and overseeing bioassays for evaluating pest and disease resistance traits across various crops. As the subject matter expert for pathology and entomology assessments, you will provide invaluable insights to support critical decision-making in the development of disease resistance traits.
• In this role, you will be at the forefront of identifying opportunities to enhance our pathology platform and methodologies. You will implement new technologies and best practices to improve data quality and efficiency, ensuring that Syngenta remains at the vanguard of horticultural research. Collaboration with cross-functional teams will be essential as you work to align capabilities and secure successful trials, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and scientific excellence.
• Effective communication and relationship-building will be key aspects of your role. You will engage with internal stakeholders, such as biological teams and requestors, to ensure alignment of research objectives and resource allocation. You will facilitate knowledge sharing across crops and locations, promoting continuous improvement throughout the organization. Furthermore, you will build and maintain relationships with external experts and research collaborators

Qualifications

Your Profile

To success in this highly challenging job you’ll bring:

• A Ph.D. or Master’s degree in plant Pathology, Entomology, or a related field, with 5+ years of experience in bioassay development for pest and disease resistance
• Proven track record in leading and developing high-performing technical teams.
• Strong expertise in experimental design, data analysis, and quantitative data management.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills to foster collaboration and influence decision-making.
• Dutch & English.

It would be a plus if you:

• Are familiar with horticultural practices in controlled conditions.
• have knowledge of plant breeding approaches and regulatory frameworks.
• have experience implementing advanced technologies to enhance research methodologies.

Your Chance!

Syngenta is proud of its unique culture and the values that are at the heart of it. We also foster a strong learning culture with plenty of opportunities for personal development. Why? Because our work matters! We offer a competitive salary package, flexible working hours and excellent benefits.

Are you ready to grow your career with us?