About Limagrain Field Seeds

Limagrain Field Seeds is the field seeds division of Limagrain, a farmer‑owned cooperative and a global seed company with a strong European footprint.
We breed, develop, produce and market maize, wheat, sunflower, oilseed rape and other crops to help farmers be more productive and sustainable in a context of climate and market volatility.

About the role

We are looking for an experienced research leader to head our European maize breeding activities and shape the future of our maize portfolio in key EU markets.
Based in Chappes (France) or at one of our major EU maize breeding stations, you will  lead a European wide portfolio of breeding programs and R&D projects across all Europe.

You will also manage the maize breeding operation team in charge of research seed production (mostly for EU) and plant production (DH & rapid Cycling)

You will report to the Head of LFS Research, be a member of the Research Management Team (RDMT) and play a central role at the interface between R&D, BSA’s and strategic marketing.

This is an executive position with a high level of autonomy, visibility and impact across LFS.

What you will achieve

You will be expected to:

• Define and deliver a clear European maize breeding strategy, aligned with LFS Research, Europe BSA’s and Strategic Marketing.
• Strengthen the competitiveness of our maize product portfolio in key silage and grain market segments, with a measurable increase in genetic gain & commercial success
• Develop and engage an international team of breeders and scientists, reinforcing a culture of excellence, safety, innovation, accountability and collaboration.
• Build a highly collaborative way of working between breeders, Traits & Technologies, production, marketing and sales to accelerate product impact.
• Increase the use of modern breeding technologies and data‑driven decision‑making across EU maize programs.
• Develop and engage an international team of breeders and scientists, reinforcing a culture of safety, innovation, accountability and cross‑site collaboration.

Your main responsibilities

Set direction and drive impact

• Define, together with LFS Research management, BSA’s & strategic marketing, the short‑, medium‑ and long‑term objectives for European maize breeding and the target product portfolio.
• Design the right organization (teams,  breeding strategy, resources allocation, network of stations…) to deliver these objectives efficiently.
• Within the Maize Research Management Team (MRDMT) contribute to the global  LFS maize breeding strategy and ensure strong alignment between European and global priorities.
• Within the RDMT contribute to the overall LFS research strategy (arbitration between breeding and traits & technologies, major technology inflections, future needed skills …)

Lead EU maize breeding programs

• Oversee the design and execution of EU maize breeding activities to deliver commercially successful varieties that meet farmer needs and market trends.
• Optimize germplasm usage and flows across programs, ensuring proper Freedom to Operate and IP protection
• Promote rapid  adoption of enabling technologies (genomic selection, molecular markers, rapid cycling, digital tools, high‑throughput phenotyping) across programs
• Ensure operational excellence for all key activities
• Define, report and monitor and key performance indicators (genetic gain, program efficiency, germplasm usage, network quality, seed productivity of inbreds, etc.) to Research and Business management.

Connect programs and functions

• Foster strong cross‑functional cooperation between breeding, traits & technologies, production, marketing and sales & management teams to secure successful variety launches.
• Act as a key interface between R&D, BA’s, marketing, ensuring alignment between research priorities and market expectations.
• Cooperate with other crops & functions to optimize resources uses, share tools and leverage best practices.
• Strongly contribute to global cooperation and optimization of the LFS worldwide maize breeding programs andrepresent Limagrain in external collaborations related to EU maize breeding  activities.

Lead and develop people

• Attract, hire and retain key talents, building a diverse and inclusive team and clear expert and leadership career paths.
• Lead, coach and develop an international network of breeders and scientists,  located across several EU sites.
• Contribute to people reviews, succession planning and development plans, in partnership with HR and Heads of Program.

Own your budget and ensure compliance

• Prepare, manage, follow and optimize operating and capital budgets for EU maize breeding, in collaboration with Research Finance and Research management.
• Ensure full compliance with health, safety, environmental, ethical and regulatory standards across all activities and teams under your responsibility.

What we expect of you

What you bring

• PhD or equivalent in Plant Breeding and Genetics, Agronomy or a related discipline, with at least 10 years of relevant experience in plant breeding or applied crop research.
• Strong expertise in breeding preferably in Maize, and strong understanding of quantitative genetics and seed industry practices.
• Proven track‑record in leading breeding programs or complex R&D portfolios, ideally in an international and matrix environment.
• Experience in integrating modern breeding technologies (genomics, molecular markers, digital tools, rapid cycling, data‑driven decision‑making) into operational programs.
• Demonstrated leadership, communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders across research, business and external partners.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking, with a pragmatic, results-oriented mindset.
• Fluency in English is required; French or another European language is an asset.

Skills

Your benefits and working environment

Why join Limagrain Field Seeds Research in this role

• A strategic role at the heart of a farmer-owned company and a leading player in  European field seeds,  with leading position in maize silage and ambitious growth in grain maize.
• The opportunity to shape long‑term research and product strategy, from lab to field, and to have a direct impact on farmers’ resilience and food systems through innovation in seeds.
• An international, science‑driven environment, combining advanced technologies and strong field expertise, with short decision‑making lines and real autonomy to innovate.
• A collaborative culture and a global network of research centers and stations, offering rich opportunities for learning, mobility and career development.

Recruitment process

We will review your application carefully in relation to the needs of this role. If your profile is selected, our process includes:

• Pre-qualification interview with the Talent Acquisition team.
• Interviews with the Hiring Manager and HR Director.
• Assessment process (tests and/or assessment centre).
• Final interviews with key stakeholders.