Breeding Assistant

Mission:AS Seeds is the seed branch and the subsidiary of MAÏSADOUR Group, in the south-west of France. With more than 70-year experience in seed business, MAS Seeds is structured around three activities:

- R&D including hybrid breeding for maize and sunflower and development of diversified crops portfolio
- SEED PRODUCTION as one of Europe’s leading hybrid seed producer
- MARKETING & CUSTOMER SUPPORT in Continental Europe, Africa, Asia and America.

Our purpose is “Act together for a changing agriculture”.

Our mission is to “provide an innovative and sustainable seed portfolio for cereal and cattle growers”. Since 1949, we team up with farmers to respond to agricultural challenges and contribute to the changing agriculture that will feed the future generations.

We develop and produce high performing corn and sunflower varieties, and provide a diversified crop portfolio, seed applied solutions and digital services that contributes to sustainable agriculture.

MAS Seeds is a subsidiary of Cooperative Maïsadour which regroups more than 4800 members.

**Job description**:
MAS Seeds is looking for a **Breeding Assistant **for its R&D Department based in Queretaro, Mexico **.**

MAS Seeds has been breeding for Tropical Corn for 3 years following the purchase of a tropical corn Breeding Program in Mexico. Main targets of this breeding program are the Mexican and West-African Markets. Mexico is our fastest growing R&D country across our two sites in Queretaro and Puerto Vallarta. We believe in the power of breeding to adapt varieties to climate change and a more environmentally friendly agriculture.

**Your main mission **will be to contribute to reach our Tropical Corn breeding objectives through successful implementation and continuous improvement of effective and efficient breeding operations for our Tropical Corn Breeding Program.

The position is considered as a permanent full-time job.

You will have the responsibilities to:

- Develop breeding operations plans from breeding decisions provided by respective Breeding Program Leads, including: selfing, crossing or observation nurseries; experimental hybrid seed production; trialing; laboratory analyses.
- Communicate operations plans to relevant stakeholders in charge of respective functions (nurseries, production, trialing, laboratories). Adjust plans as needed to ensure best fit between demand, resources, and value for the breeding programs.
- Ensure proper capture and communication of breeding operations information, from plans to execution, through the breeding data management platform.
- Ensure proper execution of all breeding operations as per protocols and guidelines, and in constant coordination with relevant stakeholders (nurseries, production, trialing, laboratories).
- Ensure proper data collection, storage, curation, quality-control, and availability for data analyses and decision-making.
- Develop a germplasm knowledge through relevant fields visits (nurseries/production in summer & winter, trials) and phenotypic characterization.
- Monitor breeding operations progress, inform relevant stakeholders immediately upon significant deviation from plans or significant threat to plans, and lead the identification and implementation of mitigation measures upon significant deviation from plans or significant threat to plans.
- Coordinate seed stock management of breeding materials.
- Co-lead, with peers, the process of breeding operations continuous improvement.
- Participate, as requested by corresponding Breeding Program Leads, in data analysis and breeding decision-making activities.
- Contribute to cross-functional R&D projects
- Profil:You have a Master’s degree in Plant Breeding/Sciences with limited experience or a Bachelor’s Degree with several years of experience.
- You have a good knowledge of the physiology and the agronomy of maize.
- You are able to handle and analyze a significant number of genotypic and phenotypic data.
- You are autonomous and rigorous in your way of working.
- You are willing to work in an international context.
- You speak English.
- You have a driving license.