Junior Plant Breeder Wheat Expertise
We are seeking an exceptional Junior Plant Breeder to lead our wheat breeding program in Western Australia.
The ideal candidate will be responsible for developing and implementing a breeding strategy to deliver high-quality wheat varieties in Australia.
* Breeding Program Management: Conduct the wheat breeding program under the guidance of a Senior Plant Breeder, including daily breeding tasks such as crossing, seed preparation, trial planting, scoring, harvesting, data processing, and line selection.
* Molecular Marker Toolkit: Implement and execute a molecular marker toolkit to enable marker-assisted selection, supporting efficient trait selection and variety candidate identification.
* Database Management: Manage the breeding database, including storage backups, under direction.
* Product Advancement: Contribute actively to the product advancement process.
* Field Support: Support product launch and field day activities, providing technical information to the commercial team.
* Collaboration: Work with international wheat breeders to leverage germplasm diversity and breeding tools.
* MTA Execution: Execute and record all material transfer agreements (MTAs) and agreements related to wheat seed shipments and germplasm movements.
* Eastern Breeding Programme: Contribute to the conduction of the Eastern Breeding Programme.
* Travel: Travel to Western Australia for field scoring and oversee providers for breeding platform establishment, based in Esperance.
Qualifications & Competencies
* A degree qualification in Agricultural Science or equivalent is required.
* Postgraduate qualifications in plant breeding or genetics are desirable.
* Familiarity with wheat breeding theory, including pathology, grain quality, and agronomy, is essential.
* Ability to develop and implement plans with a drive for continuous improvement and optimization.
* High-level organizational skills and attention to detail are necessary.
* Excellent analytical skills, with strong critical thinking and decision-making abilities in high-pressure environments, are required.
* Full professional English competency is essential; Spanish is an asset.