Function
Cabbage Assistant Breeder
Main Goal
Summary: Under the general direction of the Breeder, the Assistant Breeder takes the lead and manages operationally 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 Cabbage breeding program based at Otaki 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. This position will be allocated 0.2 FTE to support Business Process Engineering (BPE), focusing on IT-related support for breeding teams in Asia, primarily in Japan and China. the remaining 0.8 FTE will be focused on the Cabbage breeding.
Job location : Otaki, Japan
Job description
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following
Other duties may be assigned.
Key Responsibilities:
•Execute breeding activities independently in alignment with the managing breeder’s objectives, including crossing blocks, inbred and hybrid evaluations, field and greenhouse data collection, disease screening, seed processing, off-site coordination, and database updates.
•Design and implement field and greenhouse trials using experimental designs.
•Guide and train field and greenhouse crews in sowing, transplanting, pollination, harvesting, and seed processing and handling.
•Support marker-assisted breeding by coordinating with genotyping labs, operations, and the trait and technology teams.
•Oversee daily program operations, including inventory control, seed list preparation, marker sampling, phytosanitary documentation, domestic and international seed shipment, and seed/plot harvesting.
•Manage data entry and administration using proprietary databases (BOS and LVS), ensuring data integrity and operational efficiency.
•Coordinate seed production of advanced breeding lines in collaboration with parent seed supply teams.
•Collaborate with plant pathologists, geneticists, and molecular biology teams on project planning, result tracking, and data management.
•Work closely with Trial Specialists, Product Development, and Sales teams to establish and evaluate trials both domestically and internationally.
•Lead and support data collection from on-station and remote trials, ensuring quality control and contributing to advancement decisions.
•Serve as a backup to the breeder when delegated.
Business Process Engineering (BPE) Support (0.2 FTE)
•0.2 FTE of this position will be allocated to BPE activities, supporting IT-related breeding operations across Asia, with a focus on Japan and China.
Key Responsibilities:
•Act as the regional link for IT-related breeding process improvements, digital tools, and project support.
•Support the integration and effective use of breeding data systems across Asian breeding teams.
•Identify and communicate regional needs to central BPE and IT teams to improve system usability and performance.
•Assist in training and change management for breeding teams adopting new digital tools and workflows.
What we expect of you
Required knowledge & Skills
•Solid understanding of plant breeding processes, including breeding schemes, trial design, data collection, and evaluation in both field and greenhouse settings.
•Experience in managing breeding operations: crossing, seed processing, inventory, and trial logistics.
•Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and data collection tools for field and greenhouse use.
•Communication skills in both English and Japanese (written and verbal).
•Ability to manage multiple tasks independently and deliver high-quality outcomes within deadlines.
•Experience with IT systems in breeding or agriculture; and understanding in data management and basic statistical analysis.
•Ability to support process improvements and system integration across teams.
•Analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to turn data into actionable insights.
•Comfortable working with global teams.
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.
•Exposure to IT system use or process improvement in breeding or research environments is a plus.
•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.