Plant Breeder - Irrigated Region - Pongola Zululand

📌 OPPORTUNITY OVERVIEW:-Ntice Search is actively recruiting for a Plant Breeder - Irrigated Region - Pongola position in Zululand. This is an excellent opportunity for professionals in the Agriculture / Agro / Allied sector looking to advance their careers.

🎯 IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE:-We are seeking talented individuals with the following profile:• Experience Level: Not Specified • Educational Background: Others or equivalent• Industry Focus: Agriculture / Agro / Allied• Location Preference: in Zululand

💼 WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS:-The Plant Breeder - Irrigated Region - Pongola position is an important role within the Agriculture / Agro / Allied sector, offering meaningful career development and professional growth opportunities.

📈 CAREER DEVELOPMENT INSIGHTS:-This role in Agriculture / Agro / Allied offers valuable career progression opportunities aligned with your experience level and professional aspirations.

📋 APPLICATION GUIDANCE:-When applying for this Plant Breeder - Irrigated Region - Pongola position, ensure your CV highlights:• Relevant experience matching the Not Specified requirement• Educational qualifications in line with Others• Specific achievements in the Agriculture / Agro / Allied field• Any certifications or specialized training

🌍 SOUTH AFRICA JOB MARKET CONTEXT:-The Agriculture / Agro / Allied sector in South Africa continues to show strong demand for skilled professionals. This position represents a valuable opportunity in the current job market.

Title: Plant Breeder Position - Irrigated Region - Pongola Company: Ntice Search

Vacancy Information Employer: Ntice Search Reference: 73116

Company Background The South African Sugarcane Research Institute (SASRI), a division of the South African Sugar Association (SASA), is seeking a permanent Plant Breeder for their Pongola Research Station. SASRI develops high-yielding, pest- and disease-resistant sugarcane varieties for various growing regions, including irrigated areas. The Breeding and Field Resource Unit plays a crucial role in the industry by combining field selection with complementary research.

Key Responsibilities 1. Lead the irrigated breeding programme at the Pongola Research Station and collaborate with colleagues across the irrigated region and Eswatini sugar estates. 2. Plan, execute, and evaluate selection trials, ensuring reliable data collection and analysis. 3. Analyze trial results, document genotype performance, and recommend suitable varieties to advance and release. 4. Manage seedcane and seedcane bulking for the programme. 5. Supervise, mentor, and support the Selection Officer and selection staff at Pongola, setting clear standards for trial planning, implementation, and data quality. 6. Coordinate the trial network with Research Station Managers and engage with Extension specialists and growers to ensure breed recommendations align with growers' needs. 7. Collaborate with the breeding team at Mount Edgecombe to contribute to SASRI's wider breeding programme. 8. Identify and adopt new technologies and methods to enhance the programme's efficiency. 9. Manage project budgets and allocate resources to meet programme goals. 10. Share results through reports, peer-reviewed publications, conferences, and connections with the global sugarcane breeding community.

Qualifications and Skills Essential: - PhD in Plant Breeding and Genetics, Quantitative Genetics, or a related field. - Practical experience in a plant breeding programme, including field trials management. - Proficiency in field breeding methods, experimental design, and statistical analysis of trial data. - Experience with databases, spreadsheets, and statistical software. - Supervisory or leadership experience. - Project management skills and a proven track record of meeting milestones. - Excellent written and verbal communication, with strong interpersonal skills suitable for both scientists and growers. - Valid driver's license and willingness to travel regularly across the irrigated region and Eswatini.

Advantage: - Knowledge of sugarcane, particularly breeding or production under irrigation. - Experience in commercial breeding programmes. - Familiarity with multi-environment trials and genotype-by-environment analysis. - Understanding of quantitative and statistical genetics, selection theory, and family, parent, and breeding-value evaluation. - Familiarity with molecular markers, genomic tools, or introgression breeding.

Personality and Work Style - Self-motivated, organized, and detail-oriented. - Comfortable with fieldwork and practical problem-solving. - Independent working style while maintaining close connections to a larger team. - Excellent relationship-building skills with staff, colleagues, and growers.

Benefits Join a research institute with a long history of sugarcane breeding and benefit from the expertise of colleagues. SASRI offers a market-related salary package and provides relocation support to the selected applicant.