Function
Bunch Onion Assistant Breeder
Main Goal
Summary: Under the general direction of the Breeder, the Assistant Breeder takes the lead and manages a designated portion of the breeding program, executing tasks, processes, and projects critical to its success. This role requires a strong understanding of the operational and logistical aspects of breeding program management, as well as a solid knowledge of plant breeding principles and methodologies.
Details: The successful candidate will manage a designated segment of the Bunch Onion breeding program based at Sodegaura Station, Japan. Key responsibilities include project oversight, program logistics, and technical support in plant breeding. Logistics management covers trial design, sowing, transplanting, evaluation, seed harvest, shipment, and data upload to the proprietary database. The Assistant Breeder will coordinate with the Operations Manager, guide farm and greenhouse crews, and collaborate with supporting teams, including station operations, pathology, breeding, genotyping, labor, product development, and sales.
Job location : Sodegaura, Japan
Job description
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following
Other duties may be assigned.
Breeding Activities Support:
•Lead and independently implement breeding objectives and processes under guidance of the managing breeder: crossing blocks, variety and inbred evaluations, field and greenhouse data collection, disease screening, basic seed operation, results analysis, coordination of off-site activity, seed harvesting and cleaning, seed storage, and database management.
•Oversee the day-to-day operations and activities: inventory management, Seed list preparation, guidance of sowing marker sampling, planting, pollination, seed and plot harvest guidance to operation team, evaluation, domestic and international seed shipment, and phytosanitary management.
•Manage the administration of the Bunch Onion breeding program into the company’s proprietary breeding database and utilize it to drive program efficiency.
•Coordinate seed productions of advanced breeding lines with parent seed supply managers.
•Execute greenhouse and field trials, employing statistically valid design tools as necessary.
•Instruction training to field and greenhouse crews in seeding, transplanting, crossing blocks, and seed or fruit harvest.
•Collaborate with plant pathologists, geneticists, and molecular marker teams for project submission, result tracking, and data entry in IT system
•Collaborate with Trial Specialists, Product Development Specialists, and Sales teams on field trial establishment and data collection, domestically and internationally.
•Lead and contribute to trial data collection for on-station and remote trials to support hybrid advancement decisions, including data quality control and analytics.
•Assume additional responsibilities and act in the Breeder’s place, as necessary.
What we expect of you
Required knowledge & Skills
•Understanding of breeding schemes, lab processes, statistics, and experimental design.
•Strong communication skills, both orally and written.
•Proficient in Japanese and English, with the ability to communicate effectively in both languages.
•Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
•Expertise in database management and statistical analysis tools
•Ability to manage multiple projects, with the end result in mind.
•Ability to analyze and synthesize program data and translate them into actionable insights.
•Ability to bring new ideas to the table and make proposals for breeding program improvement.
•Experience with operational IT Breeding system and experience using field and greenhouse data collection tools.
•Good project management skills, including initiation, planning, execution, closure, and monitoring.
•Ability to interact effectively with a global team (travel may be required).
•Act as advocate for program with internal and external stakeholders.
Education & work experience required:
•Master’s degree minimum (M.Sc.) in Plant Breeding, Plant Biology, Agronomy, or a closely related field.
•Practical experience in an applied plant breeding program (academic or commercial) is preferred.
•Solid understanding of plant breeding principles, including Mendelian genetics, trial design, and selection strategies.
•Familiarity with statistical analysis tools and software commonly used in breeding programs.
•Experience with breeding data systems or digital tools is a strong advantage.
•Ability to work in a multidisciplinary, collaborative setting with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
•English speaking is mandatory.
Skills
Your benefits and working environment
Recruitment process
2~3 times by online or offline