Senior Crop Scientist and Business Unit Head at Leverage Seeds Limited

Job Description:

The successful candidate will be responsible for leading the crop science team and the business unit to achieve the company's goals. The job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Crop Science:

• Lead the research and development of new crop varieties, improve crop productivity, and explore new crop development opportunities.
• Prepare work plans, planting programs, and budgets for crop science activities, including field trials, seed production, and organic farming activities.
• Manage the design and implementation of breeding nurseries, trials, and validation, and seed production fields.
• Provide technical guidance for data collection, analysis, and project evaluation.
• Develop and implement a production guide for crops in the profile of the organization such as maize, soybean, rice, cowpea, yam, and cassava.
• Conduct field trials to assess germplasm for genetic diversity and characterization of germplasm for tolerance to stresses.
• Identify desirable traits for seed improvement through genetic variation.
• Advance knowledge of plant breeding techniques.
• Develop stress-tolerant maize, soybean, cowpea, and rice varieties.
• Select parent lines for crossbreeding.
• Liaison with research institutes for varietal release process.
• Liaison with commercial plant breeders, scientists, and funding bodies.
• Monitor competitors' activities and set product profiles in the market.
• Supervise the establishment of demos and high-way seed drops.
• Prepare technical reports and publications.

Business Unit Head:

• Develop and implement strategies to achieve the company's business goals.
• Develop and implement annual budgets and financial plans for the business unit.
• Identify and develop new business opportunities in the seed sector.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including suppliers, customers, and regulatory bodies.
• Monitor market trends and identify opportunities for growth.
• Develop and implement marketing strategies for the company's products and services.
• Lead and motivate the business unit team to achieve their targets.
• Prepare reports on the business unit's performance for the management team.

Qualifications:

• A PhD in crop science with a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience, or an MSc in crop science with a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience.
• Excellent knowledge of crop science, breeding, and agronomy.
• Strong leadership skills and ability to motivate teams.
• Good business acumen and understanding of the seed sector.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent computer skills.