Principal Scientist- Disease Traits

Syngenta Seeds is one of the world’s largest developers and producers of seed for farmers, commercial growers, retailers and small seed companies. Syngenta seeds improve the quality and yield of crops. High-quality seeds ensure better and more productive crops, which is why farmers invest in them. Advanced seeds help mitigate risks such as disease and drought and allow farmers to grow food using less land, less water and fewer inputs.

Syngenta Seeds brings farmers more vigorous, stronger, resistant plants, including innovative hybrid varieties and biotech crops that can thrive even in challenging growing conditions.

Role purpose

• Defines Disease control trait strategy, technical strategies, directs multiple projects at high level by providing scientific steers to team members and DC project leads. By taking high level view, the incumbent delivers on over-arching business goals.

Accountabilities

• Develop vision and strategy for China biotech crop disease traits
• Engage with Crops and align business priorities of high value disease traits
• Connect and align with Global trait RD and China Biotech Research Architect and scale research and development fitting strategies and business
• Critical review of internal and external scientific discovery and capitalize learnings critically
• Develop a balanced build-buy-borrow model to deliver business priorities
• Holds self and the direct reports of high standards and scientific rigor
• Communicate impactful RD progress in globally settings in Chinese and English.

Critical success factors & key challenges

• Focus on delivering key business targets and impactful in the organization
• Pioneering new research directions matching business opportunities and priorities
• Innovative and critical mind-sets
• Effective influencer
• Disciplined and rigorous approach to hypothesis-driven research, process improvement and change management
• Well-connected and updated with leading academics by reviewing their publications and professionally socializing with top scientists in conferences or workshops
• Willing to accept and embrace priority shifts and adjust to focus on the most critical tasks set by the business and managers
• Comply with global and local health, safety and environment requirements
• Effective communication skills in English.
• Ability to communicate and influence key stakeholders
• Be able to flex working hours in global setting

Knowledge, experience & capabilities

Critical knowledge

• Ph.D.in plant pathology, plant molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics or related fields
• 20+ years professional experience working in understanding plant pathogens and improving plant resistance
• Renown experts in the field of plant pathology, molecular pathology and crop genetics (corn and rice)
• Strong scientific acumen, self-motivated and striving for continuous improvement

Critical experience

• 15+ years of hands-on experience applying general and modern pathology sills in dissecting genetic resistance/tolerance in crops.
• Demonstrated deliveries in various forms on time
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex problems through innovative pathology approaches
• Advanced expertise of principles and activities in genetic and biochemical experimental setup
• Strong record in communication and fluent in English.

Critical leadership capabilities

• Lead by influencing others with solid science and strong sense of ownership
• Collaborate and work effectively with others within and outside of the organization to achieve goals.
• Clear understanding of personal strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and limits
• Seek feedbacks on ways of working, personal and professional development

Note: Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

To learn more visit: www.syngenta.com