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Plant Breeding Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Bayer

Breeding Operations Associate

Woodland, CA · On-site

$78.64K - $117.96K/yr

Supervising the growing of plant breeding nurseries and related research trials, both in greenhouses and open fields; * Collaborate with stakeholders across strategy, operations, and data teams to ...

Bayer

$78.64K - $117.96K/yr

Supervising the growing of plant breeding nurseries and related research trials, both in greenhouses and open fields; Collaborate with stakeholders across strategy, operations, and data teams to ...

LG Seeds

Sr Regional Corn Breeding Lead

Boone, IA · Hybrid

WHO WE ARE GDM Seeds is a global leader in plant genetics, dedicated to transforming agriculture ... Establish breeding and testing strategy aligned to the product needs of the region. * Establish ...

Bayer Inc.

Breeding Operations Associate

Woodland, CA · On-site

$78.64K - $117.96K/yr

Supervising the growing of plant breeding nurseries and related research trials, both in greenhouses and open fields; * Collaborate with stakeholders across strategy, operations, and data teams to ...

KWS SAAT SE

Agricultural Warehouse Lead

Tangent, OR · On-site

$18.75 - $23.75/hr

About KWS KWS is one of the world's leading plant breeding companies. Nearly 5,000 employees in more than 70 countries generated net sales of around €1.68 billion in the fiscal year 2023/2024. A ...

KWS SAAT SE

Seed Processing Line Operator

Tangent, OR · On-site

$23.28/hr

It focuses on plant breeding and the production and sale of seed for sugarbeet, corn, cereals, vegetables, oilseed rape and sunflower. KWS uses leading-edge plant breeding methods to continuously ...

KWS SAAT SE

Mechanical Maintenance Lead

Tangent, OR · On-site

$28 - $32/hr

It focuses on plant breeding and the production and sale of seed for sugarbeet, corn, cereals, vegetables, oilseed rape and sunflower. KWS uses leading-edge plant breeding methods to continuously ...

KWS SAAT SE

Seed Processing Manager

Tangent, OR · On-site

It focuses on plant breeding and the production and sale of seed for sugarbeet, corn, cereals, vegetables, oilseed rape and sunflower. KWS uses leading-edge plant breeding methods to continuously ...

KWS SAAT SE

Warehouse Operator

Tangent, OR · On-site

$23 - $24/hr

It focuses on plant breeding and the production and sale of seed for sugarbeet, corn, cereals, vegetables, oilseed rape and sunflower. KWS uses leading-edge plant breeding methods to continuously ...

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How much do plant breeding jobs pay per hour?

As of May 28, 2026, the average hourly pay for plant breeding in the United States is $22.37, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.35 and $25.24 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 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 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 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.

More about Plant Breeding jobs
What cities are hiring for Plant Breeding jobs? Cities with the most Plant Breeding job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Plant Breeding jobs? The most popular types of Plant Breeding jobs are:
What states have the most Plant Breeding jobs? States with the most job openings for Plant Breeding jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Plant Breeding jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Plant Breeding jobs are:
Plant Breeding jobs near you
Infographic showing various Plant Breeding job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, 1% Temporary, 2% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $46,521 per year, or $22.4 per hour.
Breeding Operations Associate

Breeding Operations Associate

Bayer

Woodland, CA • On-site

$78.64K - $117.96K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 8 days ago

Bayer rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 65 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

31st of 70 rated pharmaceutical

Job description

At Bayer we're visionaries, driven to solve the world's toughest challenges and striving for a world where 'Health for all Hunger for none' is no longer a dream, but a real possibility. We're doing it with energy, curiosity and sheer dedication, always learning from unique perspectives of those around us, expanding our thinking, growing our capabilities and redefining 'impossible'. There are so many reasons to join us. If you're hungry to build a varied and meaningful career in a community of brilliant and diverse minds to make a real difference, there's only one choice.
Breeding Operations Associate
YOUR TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As a Breeding Operations Associate, you will play a crucial role in driving prescriptive operations for Veg R&D AMPAC and planning and executing the operations of our research station. Your responsibilities will include using data to ensure the proper execution of protocols and agronomic practices to grow quality vegetable crops. This role involves collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, including breeders, agronomists, and data scientists, to develop and implement data insights and solutions that support data-driven decision-making for our operational teams across various sites
The primary responsibilities of this role, Breeding Operations Associate, are to:
  • Understand operational processes and translate them into meaningful data insights that drive transparency, identify gaps, and facilitate process improvements in seed generation and breeding operations;
  • Develop key metrics and data visualizations to support prescriptive operations and optimize pipeline processes;
  • Supervising the growing of plant breeding nurseries and related research trials, both in greenhouses and open fields;
  • Collaborate with stakeholders across strategy, operations, and data teams to achieve robust outcomes in a dynamic technical environment;
  • Schedule activities according to crop cycles, supervise contractor labor, and maintain records and supplies;
  • Coordinate with Pipeline Enablement Associates to manage labor execution for breeding operational tasks and trial plan execution;
  • Ensure adherence to data quality protocols while championing safety, quality, and compliance initiatives, including Worker Protection Standards (WPS) and Bayer safety guidelines;
  • Implement a data QA/QC strategy for seed generation in AMPAC, ensuring compliance with Bayer policies and quality standards;
  • Co-Design, support, and maintain data strategies for real-time metrics and conduct data quality checks to enable timely advancement of vegetable products;
  • Proactively identify opportunities to improve established procedures and lead troubleshooting activities through root cause analysis;
  • Position entails driving a company vehicle (pooled or assigned to the individual). This may include being required to drive greater than 5,000 business miles annually in a personal, pooled, or rented vehicle OR being expected to frequently drive a pooled car as part of your job duties - regardless of mileage.

WHO YOU ARE
Bayer seeks an incumbent who possesses the following:
Required qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree with work-related experience in agriculture, supply chain, manufacturing, or related field;
  • Proficiency in data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Spotfire);
  • Strong analytical skills with experience in data analysis and interpretation;
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively collaborate with diverse teams and stakeholders;
  • Ability to present complex data in a clear and actionable manner;
  • Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines;
  • Familiarity with database management systems (e.g., SQL, MongoDB) and programming languages (e.g., Python, R);
  • Valid Drivers License. In order to be eligible to drive a company car, your driving record must meet guidelines based on the company's Risk Screening for Hiring Drivers - MVR will be reviewed as part of pre-employment screening.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree, 5+ years' work-related experience in agriculture, supply chain, manufacturing or related field;
  • Proven experience in seed generation/production operations (3+ years) and management experience in open field or greenhouse environments (5 years);
  • Education in Horticulture, Agronomy, Business Information Systems, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field;
  • Experience in leading cross-functional initiatives;
  • Fluent in English and Spanish;
  • Passion for growing and willingness to be intellectually challenged; ability to influence and inspire others.

Employees can expect to be paid a salary between $78,640.00 and $117,960.00. Additional compensation may include a bonus or commission (if relevant). Additional benefits include health care, vision, dental, retirement, PTO, sick leave, etc. This salary range is merely an estimate and may vary based on an applicant's location, market data/ranges, an applicant's skills and prior relevant experience, certain degrees and certifications, and other relevant factors. This posting will be available for application until at least date 6/1/26.
#LI-AMSUS
Domestic relocation may be provided for this role.
YOUR APPLICATION
Bayer offers a wide variety of competitive compensation and benefits programs. If you meet the requirements of this unique opportunity, and want to impact our mission Health for all, Hunger for none, we encourage you to apply now. Be part of something bigger. Be you. Be Bayer.
To all recruitment agencies: Bayer does not accept unsolicited third party resumes.
Bayer is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans
Bayer is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations in its application process for individuals with disabilities and encourages applicants with disabilities to request any needed accommodation(s) using the contact information below.
Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: Notice for U.S. Visitors: All information on this site is subject to compliance with local rule and regulations as they may vary from time to time and across different geographies, including, without limitation, U.S. Executive Orders. Bayer is an E-Verify Employer. Location:United States : California : Woodland Division:Crop Science Reference Code:870155 Contact Us Email:hrop_usa@bayer.com

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About Bayer

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of healthcare and nutrition. We design our products and services to help people and planet thrive by supporting efforts to address the unprecedented global challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. At Bayer, we’re committed to drive sustainable development and generate a positive impact with our businesses. Through bold ideas and unprecedented insights, we’re pioneering new possibilities that advance life for all of us. That means reimagining how we care for ourselves and one another by empowering everyday health, improving approaches to patient care, and finding better ways to nourish our communities around the world.

Industry

Agriculture

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Whippany, NJ, US

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