Research Specialist Vertical Farming / Technology Agronomy Full Time

Are you the Scientist who is highly interested in the latest innovations in HighTech indoor / vertical farming? Do you want to be part of a global team of experts? Do you already have some experience in implementing the latest technologies in the seed- or agricultural industry and do you also have a network in this field?  If you recognize yourself in this, then the position of Scientist Technology/Agronomy within BASF Vegetable Seeds / Nunhems opens the challenging world of Seed Business for you!

Main purpose of the job

In this position as a Scientist Technology/Agronomy your focus will be on ‘HighTech- Indoor Farming’ research projects. You will be a member of the ‘agronomy team’ while working closely in close collaboration with R&D.

The Agronomy Team is a global team coordinated from headquarters in The Netherlands. It is expected that all team members collaborate as a global team whilst maintaining their own specialization.

Challenges in production research include shortening of crop cycles and productivity (seed quality and yield). Furthermore, you are responsible for the associated long-running experiments and the continuous alignment with colleagues in Production and R&D, but also with managing the diverse set of stakeholders.

Major tasks and responsibilities

• In close collaboration with production, execute research projects to contribute scientifically to the development of innovative competitive products
• Initiate and participate in external research projects with other companies and universities and monitor activities of competitors to ensure a good competitive position
• Ensure having new key state of the art technologies, procedures and products available as well as keep up-to-date with respect to fast changing scientific developments. Analyze potential impacts and implement new technologies and procedures to realize up-to-date, efficient and effective research methods and techniques to create added value and enable the sound translation to operation
• Scope and plan new research projects in collaboration with head of Agronomy, Crop Technology Lead, Production/Seed Supply team and R&D
• Design the operational plan for the research team and prepare, check and control the approved research budgets, analyze discrepancies in realization and budget
• Serve as a subject matter expert for all stakeholders, e.g. in Production, Seed Supply teams, Marketing & Sales
• Engaging in all QHSE activities and effective implementation of all the QHSE Specific Key requirements to ensure all safety measures are maintained.

Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in agronomy or plant physiology
• Work experience in related area (>3 years for PhD applicants), (>5 years for MSc applicants
• Project management skills and experience is a plus
• Extensive knowledge of own research field
• Statistics and trial set-up and execution

   Functional Competencies

• Interpersonal skills
• Analytical thinking
• Entrepreneurship
• Innovative, solving problems
• Communication skills, team player

The scientist will be expected to be very autonomous, being part of a global team. They will design their own experiments and be expected to gain support for the initiation of new projects with relevant stakeholders. Day-to-day decisions are the responsibility of the scientist, strategic decisions are made in consultation with the Head of Agronomy and/or the OTEC Leadership Team, who approve project proposals.

What’s in it for you?

You will be working in a challenging and international working environment with enthusiastic, professional and passionate colleagues. We pay a lot of attention to personal development and career development. We offer a variable remuneration in addition to an attractive salary and excellent benefits like a good pension, collective health insurance, training opportunities, etc.

Interested?

Are you curious about the job, and do you want to know more about why it’s so great or what are the biggest challenges in your role? If you have any questions you can reach out to Michiel Weijters (Senior Global Talent Acquisition Specialist)

Email: [email protected]. Mobile:+31 6 3983 6461

If you are interested and meet our profile, please upload your motivation and CV via the “Apply” button, before August 24th 2020

Welcome to BASF Vegetable Seeds – Nunhems

It is our ambition to make healthy eating enjoyable and sustainable by offering vegetable solutions that are more in line with consumer demands. Our breeders and researchers are constantly working on the development of improved varieties in our laboratories, greenhouses and fields. We look at the needs of vegetable growers and the vegetable chain as well as consumer trends and social developments. By working together with partners in the vegetable value chain, we actively contribute to improve vegetable consumption with innovations that are attractive, healthy, tasty and sustainable.

BASF VS is one of the largest vegetable seed companies in the world, with its Nunhems® brand. Under this brand, BASF VS offers specialized advice and 1,200 vegetable varieties in 24 crops to the professional horticulture and vegetable chain. The company is present in all major vegetable producing markets and has more than 2,000 employees worldwide.
More than 600 employees work at the main location in Nunhem; in the laboratory to support the worldwide breeding activities, and in modern greenhouses and trial fields for the breeding programs of a.o. leek, cucumbers, spinach, tomatoes and carrot, as well as in the seed cleaning and processing activities and quality assurance. The high-quality seeds are exported to customers in over 100 countries.

BASF Vegetable Seeds (Nunhems) is present in all major vegetable production areas around the globe. We are dedicated to producing market-oriented varieties and seed products and more than just that. We are oriented towards customers, and towards sharing value-added genetics, services and expertise to help them succeed.