Function
Job Profile: Onion Breeder / Breeding Specialist – Allium
Research & Development – Plant Breeding | International Program
Location: Made, NL
Crop focus: Onion, including the Long-Day onion program, within the wider Allium breeding context.
Level: Jr Breeder / Breeder / Senior Breeder, depending on experience.
Reporting to: Global Onion Breeding Manager / Senior Onion Breeder.
Travel: Approximately 15–25%, including regular travel for field trials and breeding activities, mainly within Europe and to other program locations as required.
Position Summary
We are looking for a motivated, scientifically curious and practically oriented Onion Breeder to contribute to the development of high-quality, competitive onion varieties within Hazera’s global Research & Development organization.
The role combines hands-on breeding and field-trial activities with data analysis, scientific research and international collaboration. The successful candidate will contribute to the development and execution of onion breeding programs, including the Long-Day onion program, while working closely with breeders, R&D Operations, pathology, molecular breeding, product development, seed production and commercial teams.
Depending on experience, the breeder will progressively take ownership of defined breeding populations, projects, trials and advancement decisions. The position offers a structured development path toward greater independence, with the potential to progress into a Senior Breeder or Onion Breeding Program Lead role.
This position offers the opportunity to develop as a commercial vegetable breeder within a global R&D organisation. The successful candidate will combine classical breeding, field phenotyping, quantitative genetics, molecular tools, data-driven selection and commercial product development.
Through increasing ownership of breeding populations, trials and projects, the role can provide a clear pathway toward becoming an independent Onion Breeder and, for the right individual, progressing to a Senior Breeder or Onion Breeding Program Lead.
Responsibilities
1. Breeding Program Support and Strategy
- Contribute to the development and execution of onion breeding strategies and breeding objectives.
- Understand grower, market and customer requirements and translate them into practical breeding priorities.
- Participate in defining selection criteria, evaluating breeding material and making advancement decisions.
- Progressively take ownership of assigned breeding populations, projects and program activities.
- Work with colleagues across breeding, research, product development and commercial functions to translate scientific insights and trial results into practical breeding decisions.
2. Breeding Cycle and Field-Trial Execution
- Plan, coordinate and support field trials in the Netherlands and abroad, ensuring that trials are organised efficiently and conducted according to agreed protocols.
- Contribute to key activities across the breeding cycle, including:
- Germplasm evaluation and parent selection
- Crossing and population development
- Nursery management and early-generation selection
- Field selection and phenotyping
- Bulb and harvest evaluation
- Yield and quality assessment
- Disease screening
- Advanced breeding trials and multi-location testing
- Selection and advancement of promising lines
- Collect, document and analyse trial data, observations and breeding selections.
- Develop strong practical breeding judgment and understand the genetic rationale behind selection and advancement decisions.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of breeding, trial and data-management processes.
3. Onion and Long-Day Program Activities
- Contribute to the development of competitive onion varieties, including Long-Day onion types where relevant.
- Support the evaluation of breeding populations and promising lines under real-world production conditions.
- Participate in selection, phenotyping, trial evaluation and the implementation of breeding strategies.
- Work closely with experienced breeders and local R&D teams to strengthen breeding outcomes and program continuity.
- Build increasing responsibility for defined components of the onion breeding program.
4. Research, Technology and Genetic Quality
- Contribute to research projects involving phytopathology, disease resistance and molecular markers.
- Support the monitoring and safeguarding of genetic integrity and quality, including the preservation of species and genetic resources.
- Use field observations together with quantitative data to support evidence-based breeding decisions.
- Contribute to the application of molecular breeding, statistical analysis, digital breeding tools and other relevant technologies as appropriate.
- Collaborate with research colleagues on experimental design, data interpretation and scientific problem-solving.
5. Coordination and Collaboration
- Coordinate and support the work of a Breeding Assistant, providing guidance and ensuring effective day-to-day collaboration.
- Work effectively with breeders, scientists, technicians, field teams, trial partners and commercial colleagues.
- Coordinate activities across different locations and functions in an international environment.
- Communicate trial results, observations, progress and recommendations in a clear and structured way.
Candidate Profile
- PhD in Plant Breeding, Genetics, Horticulture, Agronomy, Plant Science or a related discipline; or an MSc/higher education degree in a relevant discipline combined with appropriate commercial vegetable breeding experience.
- For an early-career profile: approximately 1–5 years of commercial vegetable breeding experience where applicable; candidates with broader relevant experience may be considered at a more senior level.
- Strong understanding of plant breeding principles and, preferably, quantitative genetics.
- Experience with, or a demonstrated ability to develop skills in, experimental design, statistical analysis and biological data interpretation.
- Strong scientific problem-solving, organisational and communication skills.
- Willingness and ability to work extensively in the field and under real-world production conditions.
- Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary and international environment.
- Fluency in English; knowledge of Dutch, Spanish and/or French is an advantage.
- Experience with Microsoft Office and statistical software or applications.
Preferred Experience and Technical Knowledge (Nice to have)
- Experience in commercial vegetable breeding.
- Onion breeding experience, particularly with Long-Day onion types or similar production environments.
- Experience with field-trial design, evaluation, phenotyping and multi-location testing.
- Experience with molecular markers, molecular breeding or related breeding technologies.
- Knowledge of disease-resistance breeding and/or phytopathology.
- Experience with R, Python or other statistical and data-analysis tools.
- Experience with breeding databases or digital breeding platforms.
- Knowledge of seed production or male-sterility systems.
- Experience working in California or comparable production environments.
Your benefits and working environment
- 25 days paid holidays (by full time employment)
- 13 days paid ATV (by full time employment)
- Vitality leave to facilitate sustainable employability (number of days depending on age)
- Holiday allowance of 8,33%
- Hybrid working policy (depending on the job)
- Flexible working hours (depending on the job)
- Lease-a-bike to promote sustainable employability
- Discount on collective health insurances with CZ and Nationale Nederlanden
- Commuting allowance according to the CLA for Horticultural Seed Companies
- Free fresh fruits
- Free fresh vegetables to take home in the growing season
- CLA for Horticultural Seed Companies
- Career opportunities within Limagrain Group (access to all vacancies, locally & abroad)
- Leaning & Development opportunities (Limagrain Group)
- Working with passionate colleagues
- Active Employee Association (regular events, e.g BBQ & Padel)
Recruitment process
Our recruitment process consists of two interviews (we may deviate from this process in particular cases, in which you will be informed in advance.)
The first interview focuses on understanding the candidate’s background, experience, and motivation for the role, as well as assessing overall fit.
The second interview is more in-depth and explores role-specific skills, competencies, and alignment with the team and company culture. A final decision is made following this stage.
Candidates may be asked to complete an assessment designed to evaluate role-specific skills.