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Plant Breeding Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Bayer Inc.

Operations Associate II

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$616/wk

In this role, you help develop new or improved products and hybrids by implementing traditional and advanced plant breeding techniques, conducting greenhouse operation that support key objectives in ...

KWS SAAT SE

Seed Processing Line Operator

Tangent, OR · On-site

$23.28/hr

About KWS KWS is one of the world's leading plant breeding companies and employs around 5,000 employees in more than 70 countries. With the tradition of family ownership, KWS has operated ...

Bayer

Operations Associate II

Tucson, AZ

$61K - $92K/yr

In this role, you help develop new or improved products and hybrids by implementing traditional and advanced plant breeding techniques, conducting greenhouse operation that support key objectives in ...

Bayer

Operations Associate II

Tucson, AZ · On-site

In this role, you help develop new or improved products and hybrids by implementing traditional and advanced plant breeding techniques, conducting greenhouse operation that support key objectives in ...

Bayer Inc.

Breeding Operations Associate

Woodland, CA

$78K - $117K/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

Seed Production Manager Ogden

Ogden, UT · On-site

About KWS KWS is one of the world's leading plant breeding companies and employs around 5,000 employees in more than 70 countries. With the tradition of family ownership, KWS has operated ...

KWS SAAT SE

Farming Technician Moorhead

Moorhead, MN · On-site

$21 - $26/hr

It focuses on plant breeding and the production and sale of seeds for sugarbeet, corn, cereals, vegetables, oilseed rape and sunflowers. KWS uses leading-edge plant breeding methods and invests a ...

Limagrain

Research Assistant

Immokalee, FL · On-site

$17.25 - $23.75/hr

... plant pathologists, geneticists, and other departments to support breeding projects • Manage tissue sampling and submission of genotyping and pathology projects • Travel to domestic and ...

KWS SAAT SE

Quality Control Technician

Tangent, OR · On-site

$24 - $25/hr

About KWS KWS is one of the world's leading plant breeding companies and employs around 5,000 employees in more than 70 countries. With the tradition of family ownership, KWS has operated ...

Uasys

Post Doctorate Fellow

Stuttgart, AR · On-site

$43K - $59K/yr

D. degree in plant breeding and genetics or closely related fields. Ph.D degree must be conferred by the date of hire. * Familiar with genomic selection concepts and applications * Experience in ...

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All JobsPlant Breeding Jobs

Plant Breeding information

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How much do plant breeding jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 12, 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 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.
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Plant Breeding jobs near you
Global Director of Product Development

Global Director of Product Development

Ball Horticultural Company

West Chicago, IL • On-site

$140K - $190K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 4 days ago

Job description

Job Type
Full-time
Description
The Global Director of Product Development provides strategic leadership for Ball FloraPlant's Product Development organization, overseeing the development, evaluation, and commercialization of innovative vegetative annual genetics. This role collaborates closely with global breeding, product management, supply chain, sales, and commercial teams to bring new products to market, strengthen Ball FloraPlant's product portfolio, and drive long-term business growth.
Job Responsibilities and Duties
  • Foster a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and professional development through coaching, succession planning, and employee engagement within product management team.
  • Develop and execute the long-term product development strategy in alignment with Ball FloraPlant's global business objectives.
  • Establish priorities across multiple development initiatives, balancing resources, timelines and commercial opportunities
  • Define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for the Product Development organization and drive continuous improvement initiatives
  • Lead best-in-class greenhouse and outdoor trialing programs, applying strategic mindset and decision quality to evaluate and select new introductions that align with global product specifications and market needs.
  • Identify and implement advanced research techniques for new variety development, cultivating innovation and leveraging internal advanced technology capabilities (Ball Helix) to create differentiated genetics for the product portfolio.
  • Partner with global breeding partners to identify and prioritize breeding objectives, balance stakeholders, and deliver project goals in a timely manner by leveraging internal and external breeding and trialing resources.
  • Oversee the annual operating budget for all Ball FloraPlant R &D cost centers, ensuring accountability, strong resource allocation, and alignment with business priorities.
  • Serve as the liaison among breeding, Ball Helix, supply chain, and the product development team, using organizational savvy and effective collaboration to align cross-functional priorities and drive execution.

Requirements
  • Minimum of B.S. in horticultural or agricultural science with demonstrated experience in plant breeding across traditional and advanced methods.
  • 10+ Years of progressive experience in plant breeding, product development, or horticultural research, including significant leadership experience managing technical teams
  • Experience managing complex research portfolios, budgets and strategic initiatives.
  • Deep understanding of plant breeding and the global horticulture market, including customer needs, market trends, and competitive dynamics, with the ability to manage complexity, assess tradeoffs, and make sound decisions.
  • Proven ability to lead and inspire breeders and product managers, build strong and engaged teams, develop talent, and collaborate effectively with business leaders across the organization.
  • Experience leading global or cross-functional teams in a matrixed organization preferred.

Salary Range: $140k-$190k
Physical Requirements
  • Ability to sit and/or stand for up to 75% of the workday.
  • Ability to walk for up to 20% of the workday.
  • Ability to use hands and fingers for up to 100% of the workday.
  • Ability to reach up to 10% of the workday.
  • Ability to lift and carry up to 25 lbs. for up to 10% of the workday.
  • Ability to Domestically and international travel up to 35 to 40% of the time.

Our promise to you
We create excitement in the world of flowers and are the first choice for service. We deliver all the best and nothing else! To you, we deliver a work environment and a culture where building long-lasting relationships internally and externally is important. We believe that good communication, sharing ideas and collaborating on projects will set us up for success. We keep both our feet on the ground and are approachable.
In addition to this we provide a comprehensive Total Rewards package that includes:
  • Medical, dental, life and long-term disability insurance
  • 401k/Profit Sharing Retirement Plan
  • Paid time off benefits including vacation and holidays
  • Tuition assistance
  • An onsite subsidized café overlooking 30 acres of renowned display gardens and restored natural areas
  • Employee Assistance Program and Positive Health programs

Apply