Agronomy Team Lead

Location

Astene

Working hours

Full-time

Contract Type

Permanent

Working area

R&D

Join the team

Agriculture plays a fundamental role in fulfilling many of humanity’s basic needs: food, feed, energy. To support growers and those who take care of our environment, BASF develops innovative solutions for farming, pest-, disease- and weed control so that we can effectively contribute to improving people’s lives and business’ demands. Come join us on our journey to create solutions for sustainable agriculture at the Innovation Center of BASF Belgium Coordination Center CommV in Astene, Belgium.

The European Oilseed Rape Breeding department develops winter and spring oilseed rape hybrids for the EMEA business region.

As a Agronomy Team Lead, your position involves managing the group of Breeding Agronomists, executing yield trials in Germany, France, and Poland, and hybrid productions in Belgium by developing trial protocols as well as establishing and maintaining breeding trials for the purpose of evaluation, statistical analysis, and selection with the goal of developing hybrids that provide the highest return to growers.

Responsibilities

You will provide leadership and management to a team of Breeding Agronomists in Belgium in all areas of human resources which includes coaching, employee development, performance management and day to day supervision and administration. You will be functionally responsible for agronomists abroad providing feedback on job performance and ensuring trialing is completed effectively and efficiently.
You maintain technical competency in agronomy and field trial equipment and will be a leader from innovation point of view.
You manage resources with the goal of achieving all breeding goals and effective operation of the program which involves equipment maintenance, inventory and management of contract and casual employees.
You will conduct and manage field trials ensuring high quality standards are maintained with the goal of producing seed and data for local and global breeding programs through trial and location planning, creating field trial protocols, field plans, randomizations and field books, management and agronomy of in season seed to harvesting activities, accurate record keeping and labeling, and statistical analysis of agronomic and quality data for trial reports.

Qualifications

You have a Master’s degree with at least 5 years of successful experience, in a relevant field of Crop Science.
You have knowledge and experience in fields relevant for plant breeding, genetics, oilseed rape agronomy, oilseed rape botany, pollen flow and genetic purity.
You have a strong background in oilseed rape agronomy, statistical design, machinery operation, experimental techniques as well as genetics and plant breeding.
Your experience in digital phenotyping is an asset.
You have hands-on experience as Field Trial Agronomist.
Your agriculture mindset and your passion for agronomy processes enables you to think out of the box.
Your ability to work independently as well as in a team either as a member or supervising employees is required in fulfilling job responsibilities.
You have ability to modify plans as required to minimize impact on field trials.

Benefits

A permanent contract within an attractive working environment in a professional and motivated team.
A role with challenging assignments and responsibilities.
An attractive base salary in relation to your diploma and competencies, an annual bonus, and extra-legal benefits.

Come join us in bringing the lab to the field

About BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division

Everything we do, we do for the love of farming. Farming is fundamental to provide enough healthy and affordable food for a rapidly growing population, while reducing environmental impacts. That’s why we are working with partners and experts to integrate sustainability criteria into all business decisions. We invest in a strong R&D pipeline, combining innovative thinking with practical action in the field. Our solutions are purpose-designed for different crop systems. Connecting seeds and traits, crop protection products, digital tools and sustainability approaches, to help deliver the best possible outcomes for farmers, growers and our other stakeholders along the value chain. With teams in the lab, field, office and in production, we do everything in our power to build a sustainable future for agriculture. In 2023, our division generated sales of €10.1 billion.

For more information, please visit www.agriculture.basf.com or our social media channels.

Application process

1. Application

You found the job you like on our website. Time to hit that ‘apply’-button and let us know who you are through the application form.

2. First encounter

We are intrigued by your application and call you immediately. At this point you can expect questions like: What motivates you? And what are your skills?

3. Interview

The call went great! So here you are, ready for your interview with HR and a hiring manager. We want to know more of your story and of course, you can ask about our story as well.

4. Contract

Welcome to our team. When can you start? So we can everything ready for your first day. You know, computer, paperwork, cake, balloons …

5. Onboarding

We welcome you with open arms and get you up and running. Including our eye-opening bootscamp, from the lab to the field.