CAREER

FOREWORD

Esasem S.p.A. is an Italian company specialized in the development, production and business of horticultural seeds.

With a long tradition, the company improves food crops to satisfy the needs of growers, processors and consumers bringing significant experience in plant breeding to deliver successful solutions for the agricultural challenges.

Within the frame of corporate investments towards support the R&D dept. we‘re looking for a PEPPER ASSISTANT BREEDER (M/F) based at our headquarters facilities in Casaleone (VR), Italy.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Assistant Breeder reports to the Breeder Lead in the overall goal of creating new successful varieties for target market segments, organizing the genetic improvement process. In this position you will plan, monitor, implement and provide input relating to the operational breeding process to ensure the long-term profitability and success of the breeding program. Your main responsibilities will be assisting, organizing and optimizing the breeding program operations, collecting data, and helping to develop elite germplasm.

Giving direction to the breeding program in designing and executing the process of continuous variety creation in pepper, you will support all research pipeline allowing a short time-to-market within the budget set to develop commercially successful varieties.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist the breeding program concerning operative activities as field trial design, sowing, transplanting, nursery and germplasm curation as well seed harvest.

• Support the breeding activities related crossing blocks: organization, crossing, harvesting and packaging.

• Handling seed shipments for multiple domestic and international trials locations.

• Collaborate closely with other employees including Area Manager, Product Promoters and Sale representatives on-and-off-station.
• Support the breeder in the plants selection towards inbred lines development, hybrid varieties evaluation for targeted markets and data collection derived from germplasm evaluation trials.

• Manage and manipulate breeding database, including new lot creation updating seed inventory.

• Assist in parent basic seed production, quality assurance, varietal purity and health testing procedures as required by internal phytosanitary standards.

• Identify, develop, pilot and implement new technologies and innovative breeding methods that would be applied across any stages of our germplasm development process with the objective to increase the rate of genetic gain and improve the efficiency of whole breeding program.
• Supporting updating of innovation technologies that maximize the efficiency of the breeding program, including genomic selection, precision phenotyping and prediction methodologies.

• Assist the evaluation of parental combining ability.

• Participate actively to discovery projects, novel partnership as well international conference.
• Supporting the breeder in the initiation and execution of long term integrated projects, with involvement of biotechnology, accelerate breeding methods, pre-breeding activities and phytopathology.

YOUR PROFILE: QUALIFICATIONS  REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or necessary abilities.

• B.Sc. / M.Sc. Degree in Plant Breeding/Genetics, Horticulture, Agronomy, Plant Sciences, Biotechnology or closing related area is required (Ph.D. as well proven experience in seed industry will be preferred).

• Knowledge and experience in classical and modern plant breeding techniques, germplasm management, diversity analysis, experimental design, marker assisted breeding approaches, quantitative genetics and traits introgression including prediction theory.

• Interested in a dynamic work environment where daily activity changes according to planting cycle. Able to handle multiple projects simultaneously. Adapt to unexpected delays and changes in workflows to maintain overall productivity.
• Exhibit sound and accurate judgment. Accept personal responsibility for task fulfillment and job performance.
• Able to work independently and in a team to deliver key objectives.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint;
• Experience with database applications helpful.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally (10 – 15%).

• Driving licence class B valid in Italy is required.
• Good English level (spoken-written).

OFFER TO YOU

• As a family business, we are guided by the values of closeness, reliability, vision and independence; this culture lived in practice and ensures an open and friendly working atmosphere.
• Opportunities to gain valuable knowledge experience towards future professional grown (Jr.Breeder).
• Collaboration across different working teams and breeding stations.
• Responsibility for handling specific projects relating own research attitude (pre-breeding/biotech field).
• A probationary period is foreseen with a salary classification commensurate to the effective professional skills.

APPLICATIONS

If you recognize yourself in the profile and would like to apply for this position, please upload your resume and motivation letter at info@esasem.com or fill out the following form.