Agriculture is essential for meeting humanity's fundamental needs: food, feed, and energy. At BASF, we develop innovative solutions for farming, pest control, and landscape management to support growers and protect our environment. Our mission is to improve people's lives and meet business demands through sustainable agricultural practices. Join us at the Innovation Center in Ghent, Belgium, and be part of our journey to create impactful solutions for sustainable agriculture.
We are looking for individuals who thrive in a culture of creativity, openness, responsibility, and entrepreneurial spirit. In our organization, we celebrate innovative thinking where ideas flow freely and are nurtured. We value team members who take ownership of their work and hold themselves accountable for their actions. An entrepreneurial mindset is encouraged, allowing for calculated risks and opportunities that drive growth and success.
As part of BASF Seed and Traits R&D, our Trait Research team focuses on designing, creating, and testing gene-based solutions for herbicide tolerance, pest, and disease control in key crops such as soybean, oilseed rape, wheat, and cotton. We are currently seeking a talented, motivated, and inspiring Program Leader to join our Trait Research team at the R&D Innovation Center in Ghent, Belgium. In this role, you will lead programs with associated internal activities and external collaborations to ensure the timely and cost-effective delivery of commercially viable traits for pest and disease control.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT You will manage multiple programs focusing on Pest and Disease Control traits in key crops, transforming business objectives into groundbreaking research projects.You will define and communicate innovative program goals and develop a competitive research strategy to achieve high-quality trait delivery.You will collaborate with a functional team of technicians and scientists in both lab and greenhouse environments to assess program progress. You will make informed decisions to meet objectives and critical milestones while optimizing resource use.You will propose cutting-edge trait concepts and enabling technologies. You will develop and implement research strategies leveraging state-of-the-art knowledge and technology, including strategic collaborations with third parties to enhance scientific competitiveness.You will regularly update stakeholders and internal R&D governance bodies on program developments and new opportunities.You will work closely with Intellectual Property colleagues to ensure program competitiveness. You will develop a proactive patenting and licensing strategy, along with conducting thorough competitor IP analyses in the field.WHAT YOU OFFER You hold a PhD in Biotechnology, Biochemistry, or a relevant life sciences field with a focus on plant biotechnology, or possess equivalent experience, along with a minimum of 3 years of relevant program leadership experience. You understand crop business strategies and the principles of value creation for growers, enabling you to align research initiatives with market needs.You have developed scientific expertise in multiple Ag-biotechnology fields, preferably including Pest and Disease Control, enhancing the breadth of your contributions.You have a proven track record of providing scientific and functional leadership for both internal and external program work packages, effectively managing collaborations with partners.You excel in developing innovative research proposals that incorporate novel technology platforms to advance project objectives, ensuring a competitive edge.You possess strong leadership and team coaching skills, motivating and inspiring others while fostering collaboration in diverse environments with a multicultural mindset.You demonstrate proactivity and have well-developed communication and negotiation skills that facilitate effective interactions with stakeholders at all levels.You build a culture of innovation by creating an environment that supports creativity and by coaching and developing talent within your team.You are fluent in English, allowing you to communicate effectively in a global context. WHAT WE OFFER A permanent contract within an attractive working environment in a professional and motivated team. A role with challenging assignments and responsibilities. An attractive base salary in relation to your diploma and competencies, an annual bonus and extra-legal benefits.A good work-life balance where regular working from home is possible. HOW TO REACH US
If you need more information about the process or the vacancy, you can reach our recruiting team here.
ABOUT USBASF is a multinational company dedicated to revolutionizing agricultural science. We are committed to developing innovative solutions that address global challenges in food security and sustainability.
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