Job Description
Posting Start Date:  5/20/26
Offer ID:  2186
Unit:  Limagrain Vegetable Seeds Traits and Technology
Job Title:  Pre- Breeding Research Assistant
Job Location:  Davis, Davis, Davis
Contract type:  Permanent
Job Description: 

Company Introduction

“WE BUILD TRUST WITH FARMERS AROUND THE WORLD BY SUPPORTING THEM TO SUSTAINABLY IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND FLAVOR OF THEIR PRODUCTION.”

HM.CLAUSE is a Business Unit of Limagrain, an international agricultural co-operative founded and managed by farmers. HM.CLAUSE specializes in the breeding, production, and sale of vegetable seeds. From the world market to the farmer's market, we collaborate with our customers to deliver successful solutions for the agricultural challenges of today and produce the highest quality vegetable seeds for the future. Our global team of experts and state-of-the-art research facilities enable us to work side-by-side with growers to provide the most regionally relevant and reliable vegetable seeds available.

If our mission resonates with your passion, we look forward to your application. 

Job description

You will be a great fit if you have experience similar to: 

•    Organize trials operations (sowing, planting, labeling, sampling, crossing, harvesting, seeds storage, …) with local R&D operations, under the management of the pre-breeder 
•    Participate to operations activities when needed 
•    Organize leaf sampling and shipment for genotyping 
•    Organize plant selection following markers screening 
•    Participate to the management of seed stocks in the seed vault and in BOS 
•    Organize and participate to standardized image capture following protocols 
•    Participate to trials evaluations following protocols 
•    Propose improvement of protocols and contribute to the drafting of new protocols 
•    Run basic data handling and capture data in BOS 
•    Participate to the curation of data in BOS 
•    Participate to data analysis 
•    Participate to the writing of reports 
•    Organize seeds shipment following BU guidelines 
•    Act in compliance with local phytosanitary and prophylaxis BU rules • Act in compliance with legislation within the countries where the company operates, and in accordance with the company’s values related to environmental sustainability, employee safety & well-being, and with its CSR 
•    Provide periodic local support to other breeding programs, as needed
•    Other related activities assigned.

What we expect of you

To be considered, you will need:

Position requires a minimum BS in plant biology, plant science, horticulture, or related discipline 
1-2 years experience working in the area of agricultural research
Prior experience in plant breeding, seed industry, or field/greenhouse research preferred

The rewards of working here: You join an expert team of innovators and creators that collaborate with farmers around the world to sustainably enhance the taste and quality of healthy food. Our goal is to form teams that inspire and learn from each other as they work to elevate our products from seed to table. We recognize our employees as our most valued resource and work to create an atmosphere that is supportive, healthy, and progressive. We promote an environment of wellness and well-being and hybrid schedules when it is appropriate for the position. It is an important and expanding piece of our local and global mission for Diversity & Inclusion programs and support groups in the corporate world.  

HM.CLAUSE offers a strong compensation and benefits package to its employees:

  • Competitive salary
    • This position’s range is $70,304 - $71,500

Our total compensation and pay ranges reflect our market pay structures.  As such, individual salaries or hourly rates are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: local geographical market conditions, internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as job related skills, education, and experience.

  • Comprehensive Benefits Choices
    • Medical, Dental, Vision
  • Work/Life Balance
    • 12 Paid Holidays per year
    • +1 Floating Holiday per year
    • Paid shutdown holidays
    •  Progressive time off starting at 80-vacation hours
  • Company Covered Benefits
    • Company paid Life Insurance, Long and Short-Term Disability
  • Wellness Benefits
    • Family EAP, Telehealth and Mental Wellness Services
  • Internal Career Progression
    • Learning Environment
    • Promotions from within
    • Paid Annual Training
    • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Welcoming Environment
    • Business casual attire; open door policy
  • Financial Wellness
    • 401(k) dollar for dollar Employer matching
    • Supplemental Employer Contribution Plan
    • Traditional and Roth (401k) plans options
    • Company Profit sharing in December
  • Family Benefits
    • Maternity and Paternity paid time off
    • Low family medical deductibles
    • Family Planning Resources

We are a company with a supportive culture and leadership.  We encourage you to be part of our journey to enhance the world’s food supply and support the farmers that grow them.

To view all U.S. based privacy rights and how to exercise them, click here: Privacy policy - HM Clause.

Your benefits and working environment

Physical Demands   

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment   

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, this position will be exposed to adverse weather conditions.  The employee may need to walk on uneven ground, work near equipment or machinery.  The noise level that is typical of this work environment is moderate. 

Information at a Glance

Limagrain is the global leader in vegetable seeds and operates in the market with three Business Units: HM.CLAUSE, Vilmorin-Mikado, and Hazera. Limagrain Vegetable Seeds has developed a product portfolio comprising more than 40 species and operates on all continents. The significant investment in technologies and development, coupled with close customer relationships and a culture of partnerships, enables Limagrain Vegetable Seeds to provide vegetable growers worldwide with efficient seeds adapted to the needs of each region.

Limagrain is a global company with deep local roots. Our parent company is an agricultural cooperative based in the Limagne-Val d’Allier plain, in the heart of Central France’s Auvergne region, while we are an international seed and agri-food group with some 9,600 employees working in 53 countries. As the 4th largest seed company in the world, we achieved sales of 2.522 billion euros in 2023-2024, with additional sales of 729 million euros from activities carried out in collaboration with our strategic partners.