Join Vylor—Powering the Future of Agriculture
At Vylor, we’re advancing agriculture through breakthrough science—combining elite germplasm, cutting-edge biotech, and next-generation expertise in gene editing and molecular breeding. Our portfolio includes trusted industry brands like Pioneer®, Brevant®, and Hoegemeyer®, delivering performance farmers rely on.
Join us to help scale innovation globally and shape what’s next in crop science.
We’re hiring in Delmas for a Breeding Specialist (Sunflower / Oilseeds).
Learn how you can be our voice in the conversation about the future of agriculture.
The Breeding Specialist plays a pivotal role in translating global and local genetic gain into market-ready products for Africa. Working at the interface of breeding, operations, and the wider research network, this role ensures that the newest genetics move quickly and reliably from concept to field, with rigorous execution at every step.
It is a broad, cross-functional position with exposure across multiple breeding programs and research centers, offering the opportunity to develop, broaden and influence at scale how breeding is delivered.
This role MAY lead activities, teams, or projects at or across research centers - such projects may include seed handling and/or logistics, double-haploid delivery, trait integration activities, marker development, regional experiment planning, regional seed production planning, and phenotyping projects. While anchored in Sunflower and Oilseeds, the role may contribute across all focal crops as program needs evolve.
You Will Be Part of Growing Team
Reports to the Site Operations Lead and works closely with all breeders, molecular biologists, plant pathologists, data analysts, operational teams and systems specialists.
Be part of smooth, continuous and timely planning of research activities driving on-time execution of research operations, data turn-around times, experimental accuracy and safety compliance.
Your Challenge:
- Collaborate with global Sunflower and Oilseeds breeding colleagues to develop and deliver products for the African market.
- Ensure on-time and high-quality execution of breeding program nurseries and phenotyping activities across all research centers and teams involved.
- Facilitate interactions and global seed logistics between breeding programs, trait integration, genotyping, and rapid-cycling nursery teams, ensuring the newest genetics are delivered fast.
- Prepare data analysis jobs and participate in operational and product advancement meetings.
- Hold accountability for the full experimental plan and operational task management, in conjunction with Breeding and Operations Leads.
- Supervise projects including breeding germplasm inventory management: coordinating global seed exchange, non-routine seed discards, and systems data updates.
- Pursue continuous learning of Sunflower germplasm, new breeding tools and technologies, and the optimization of work processes (continuous improvement).
- Ensure global best practice in sunflower operations at all relevant research centers, and contribute to operating procedures in planting, seed handling, pollination, seed processing, conditioning, and storage.
- Engage in the Safety Program, meeting legal requirements and the company's internal policies, while motivating colleagues in the same direction.
Field Work and Travel
This role will involve extensive in-season field work and the ability to validate and confirm that field experimentation represents the intended system design, and that the data generated through these experiments are accurate. The job will involve significant field time and a reasonable amount of local travel. The ability to drive a vehicle is an essential requirement.)
Location:
Delmas, Mpumalanga, SA.
To Grow What Matters, You Will Need
- PhD in Genetics / Plant Breeding, or M.Sc. supported by a minimum of 3 years' of relevant experience.
- Sunflower field experience is beneficial.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to work under seasonal tight deadlines with fast data turn-around.
- Knowledge of statistical software (R or Python).
- Ability to drive a vehicle is an essential requirement; a valid driver's license is required and experience driving on rural/gravel roads is beneficial.
- Travel is required, particularly in-season; international travel may be required for hands-on training.
- Behavioural competencies: Curiosity; analytical and accurate in nature; collaborative; ownership; adaptability; ability to influence without authority; bold and innovative thinker; data-driven decision maker.
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