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Plant Breeding Jobs in Raleigh, NC (NOW HIRING)

We do this by protecting seed, bulbs, or small plant quality from the start to enable growers to ... Strong commercial breeding, product characterisation and customer-facing experience. * Practical ...

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Plant Breeding information

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How much do plant breeding jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for plant breeding in Raleigh, NC is $21.74, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.87 and $24.52 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is plant breeding?

Plant breeding incorporates traditional methods and modern scientific methods to modify and manipulate plant species to improve crops, food, fuel, plant-based products. The modification is done through processes like genetic engineering or controlled pollination to combine traits and produce the desired phenotypes and genotypes. The process ensures food security and increases the resistance and outcome for plants. It helps plants fight pests, advance crop growth, and sturdiness, and offer a better taste in some situations. The crossing can occur with closely related plants or distantly associated species depending on the traits wanted. Plant breeding has been going on for thousands of years and is practiced worldwide.

What are some typical challenges faced by plant breeders when developing new crop varieties?

Plant breeders often encounter challenges such as balancing multiple desirable traits like yield, disease resistance, and climate adaptability within a single crop variety. They must also manage long breeding cycles, as it can take several years to see the results of their work. Collaboration with agronomists, geneticists, and farmers is essential to ensure new varieties meet market and environmental needs. Additionally, staying updated on advances in biotechnology and regulatory changes is crucial for success in this evolving field.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a plant breeder, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Plant Breeder, you need a strong background in genetics, biology, and agronomy, often supported by a degree in plant science or a related field. Familiarity with laboratory equipment, molecular marker technologies, and statistical analysis software such as SAS or R is typically required. Attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and effective collaboration are crucial soft skills in this role. These skills ensure the development of improved crop varieties, successful experimentation, and productive teamwork to meet agricultural challenges.

What is the difference between Plant Breeding vs Plant Genetics?

AspectPlant BreedingPlant Genetics
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Plant Science, Agriculture, or related fields; often includes breeding certificationsBachelor's or Master's in Genetics, Biology, or related fields; may include genetics certifications
Work EnvironmentResearch farms, laboratories, seed companies, agricultural organizationsLaboratories, research institutions, universities, biotech companies
Industry UsageDeveloping new plant varieties, improving crop traitsUnderstanding genetic mechanisms, gene mapping, and inheritance patterns

Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics are closely related fields. Plant Breeding focuses on developing new plant varieties through crossing and selection, while Plant Genetics emphasizes understanding the genetic basis of traits. Both roles often require similar educational backgrounds and work environments, but their primary goals differ: one creates improved crops, the other explores genetic mechanisms.

What is plant breeding?

Plant breeding is the science-driven process of changing the traits of plants in order to produce desired characteristics. This is achieved by selecting plants with beneficial traits and breeding them to create improved varieties, such as those with higher yield, disease resistance, or better nutritional value. Plant breeding can involve traditional cross-breeding methods as well as modern techniques like genetic engineering and marker-assisted selection. The goal is to develop plants that are more productive, resilient, and suited to specific environments or market needs.
What are the most commonly searched types of Plant Breeding jobs in Raleigh, NC? The most popular types of Plant Breeding jobs in Raleigh, NC are:
What job categories do people searching Plant Breeding jobs in Raleigh, NC look for? The top searched job categories for Plant Breeding jobs in Raleigh, NC are:
What cities near Raleigh, NC are hiring for Plant Breeding jobs? Cities near Raleigh, NC with the most Plant Breeding job openings:
Infographic showing various Plant Breeding job openings in Raleigh, NC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $45,222 per year, or $21.7 per hour.

Data Partnerships Lead

Syngenta Group

Durham, NC • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 8 days ago


Job description

Company Description
At Syngenta Vegetable Seeds, we're passionate about helping people in the vegetable industry succeed and putting growers at the heart of all that we do. Our energies are focused on creating solutions that help them get more out of their crops, now and in the future. A commitment in every seed. We do this by protecting seed, bulbs, or small plant quality from the start to enable growers to achieve the highest yield potentials in their operations; continually investing in R&D to bring cutting-edge innovations to the market; and striving to make a real-world difference through more sustainable practices on farms, in shipping, and at the grocery store.
Job Description
We are looking for a Data Partnerships Lead to help turn data into stronger product insights and technical product placement decisions across our global Vegetables & Flowers business.
As part of the Trialing and Product Placement (TPP) leadership team, you will build strategic data partnerships with growers and work across regional TPP, Marketing, Sales and Applied Data Science (ADS) teams. You will connect business needs with data, digital and analytics solutions-helping teams improve trial insights , and develop better products.
Accountabilities include but are not limited to:
  • Develop partnership strategy aligned with business goals and market strategy in close collaboration with marketing, sales and regional TPP teams
  • Work hand-in-hand with regional TPP teams to secure and manage relationships, maintain close collaborations on-the-farm, deliver milestones timely and achieve concrete business outcomes
  • Leverage product knowledge to elevate data insights gained from partnerships and achieve mutual benefits for growers
  • Ensure data quality and compliance of data shared through partnerships and across TPP data/digital initiatives
  • Partner with ADS team to develop new data/digital/analytics concepts and/or solutions with emphasis on trialing, product advancement and placement
  • Act as liason to the ADS team to strengthen deployment of new data analytics, IT tools and digital technologies in collaboration with TPP regional teams. Maximize deployment based on TPP business requirements and user feedback.
  • Lead change management globally for TPP team to maximize user experience and ensure successful global adoption of new tools, applications and/or technologies.
  • Partner with TPP regional teams to elevate insights from data captured in late-stage R&D trials for product characterization and technical placement
  • Work closely with data governance and data stewardship experts to guarantee step changes in data quality across all trial stages and regions in collaboration with TPP regional teams

Qualifications and required experience:
  • PhD in Digital/Computational Agronomy or a related discipline.
  • Solid background in the seed industry.
  • Strong commercial breeding, product characterisation and customer-facing experience.
  • Practical knowledge of data analytics and digital technologies used in trialling and product placement.
  • The ability to lead through influence, build trusted partnerships and communicate complex ideas clearly.
  • A curious, analytical and outcome-focused mindset, with confidence to drive change in a global environment.
  • Experience in partnership or project management, change management, biostatistics, coding, cloud data platforms, data visualisation or AI is an advantage.

Qualifications
Additional Information
This is a global role with international travel up to 20%. It can be based in multiple Syngenta locations across Europe and the Americas.
What We Offer
  • A culture that celebrates belonging and collaboration, promotes professional development and strives for a work-life balance that supports the team members.
  • Full Benefit Package (Medical, Dental & Vision) that starts your first day.
  • 401k plan with company match, Profit Sharing & Retirement Savings Contribution.
  • Paid Vacation, Paid Holidays, Maternity and Paternity Leave, Education Assistance, Wellness Programs, Corporate Discounts, among other benefits.

Take your chance!
Be part of a global leader in vegetable seeds, where you'll have the opportunity to shape quality standards that impact farmers and consumers worldwide. This role offers the unique challenge of transforming a global operation while maintaining excellence in quality delivery.
At Syngenta, we believe in creating an inclusive and diverse work environment where all employees are valued and given the opportunity to grow. We offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive package of secondary employment benefits.