As part of our growth strategy and our plans, we are looking for a Assistant Breeder - Cucumber (m/f/d), for KWS Vegetables. This is a full-time, permanent position based in Almeria.  

We offer a hands-on working environment and the chance to work with highly motivated and qualified colleagues.

Key duties:

• To assist and support the Breeder in optimizing the efficiency and output of the breeding program by designing and implementing new technologies and breeding methods in order to ensure a constant flow of commercially successful varieties;
• To design, evaluate and formulate with the Breeder the short term breeding plan, the work process and performance by means of drawing up trial data in filing system, preparing summary reports, give feedback, make proposals and draw conclusions about the breeding program in order to facilitate, and enable divisional and corporate decision making;
• To design and plan and after approval of the Breeder, implement, execute, evaluate, analyze, interpret and document autonomously breeding trials and their results in line with the breeding plan, guidelines and procedures, in order to optimize the efficiency and output of the breeding program;
• To manage and execute the increase and maintenance of basic stock seed in coordination with the Breeder, Stock Seed and/or Production departments in order to ensure the availability of the quantity and quality of basic stock seeds;
• To manage an accurate and detailed breeding administration and implement new ICT- systems in cooperation with the IT Application Manager, within the breeding team and conform the procedures and guidelines in the breeding department, in order to enable the running of an efficient and effective breeding program;
• To coordinate and communicate the breeding program activities to the technical assistant(s) and the crop technicians within the breeding team and provide them with technical advice in order to meet agreed standards, time planning and budgets;
• To develop and maintain updated and broad vision on the market demands and translate market demands into breeding goals in order to be able to act for the breeder as an equal discussion partner on all breeding issues and to replace the breeder for short to medium term periods (max. 1 year).

Key responsibility:

Together with the Breeder give direction to the breeding program in designing and executing the process of continuous variety creation and development in one or few crops for specific market segments allowing a short time-to-market and within the budget set for the breeding program in order to develop commercially successful varieties and to be able to replace breeder for short to medium term periods (max. 1 year) and to produce sufficient, high quality stock seed of parental lines/varieties.

Other duties:

• Ability to give direction to the breeding programme for the short term
• Willingness to work with plants in field or green house conditions;
• Quality and timelines of work preparations for the breeder, technical assistant and crop technicians;
• Team management during work execution;
• Quality and availability of basic stock seeds (stock plant material);

Your Profile

• BSc in horticulture, plant breeding, genetics or closely related field
• Language skills: English (must);
• Communication skills.
• Analytical.
• Interpersonal skills. Team player.
• Organization and planning.
• Open to improvements.
• Efficient under stress conditions.
• Operate specialized breeding and research equipment.
• Computer skills: management information systems, databases, spread sheets; statistical analysis.
• Working knowledge of horticultural practices and procedures, genetics and plant breeding.
• Few years of experience in plant breeding.

We look forward to receiving your online application via our application system SuccessFactors! Please use the "Apply" function in the online advertisement.