Breeding Manager Lettuce

Your job at Rijk Zwaan  As a Breeding Manager, you are responsible for the global strategic and process‑based direction of the breeding programs. You focus on challenging, supporting, and coaching the breeding teams. You ensure the development of breeding programs and research projects and define the breeding objectives. Rijk Zwaan has a unique company culture. Two managers generally lead the departments.

This means you will jointly manage the department in the Netherlands together with your fellow Breeding Manager. Within the department, attention to personal development, coaching, and a positive working atmosphere is just as important as the content of the projects. In addition, you will be involved:
Managing the global portfolio of breeding programs and pre‑breeding projects
Encouraging the implementation of new breeding techniques within the department
Regularly visiting breeding teams worldwide and international R&D directors
Monitoring developments in the field of intellectual property
Collaborating with a wide range of departments, such as operational and research teams
Where will you be working?  Rijk Zwaan is an international family business with a people‑oriented company culture. Rijk Zwaan sits at the beginning of the food chain. We develop fruit and vegetable varieties and sell their seeds to growers and other chain partners around the world. In doing so, we make an important contribution to global food supply. As Breeding Manager, you will lead the Lettuce Breeding department.

Based in our facility in Fijnaart, we focus on developing new, tasty, and healthy lettuce varieties. The department consists of various breeding, pre‑breeding, and support teams. More than 80 colleagues worldwide work in this department.
Jair, Breeding Manager Lettuce: “It’s wonderful to work together with a diverse group of colleagues to shape the lettuce of the future.”
Your contribution  As a Breeding Manager, you have experience in people‑oriented leadership. You enjoy coaching, guiding, and helping employees develop further. You work in a structured way, communicative, and collaborative—both within and outside the organization—and you possess intercultural sensitivity. You can organize well, able to plan effectively, and have a keen sense of responsibility and strategic insight. You are also willing to travel regularly.

In addition, you can find the following on your cv:
At least a completed Master, for example in Plant Sciences
5 or more years of managerial experience in plant breeding or breeding research
Strong command of the English language
Willingly to learn Dutch
What you can expect from us  The basics are, of course, well arranged. You will work in an inspiring environment with dedicated colleagues and contribute to our mission: making healthy vegetables available to everyone. At Rijk Zwaan, responsibilities are placed as low as possible within the organization. We give breeding departments a great deal of freedom to organize their work in a way that best suits the colleagues carrying it out and the crop in question.

This results in successful varieties with global impact on food supply. Each year, Rijk Zwaan invests nearly 30% of its revenue into R&D. We are happy to offer you:
A permanent contract from the start for 38 hours per week
A good salary based on position level and experience
25 vacation days, a vitality day, and the option to purchase additional days
Training opportunities through the Rijk Zwaan Academy
At Rijk Zwaan, it’s not only about good employment conditions, but also about your development, health, and enjoyment  will find this reflected in, among other things:
Introduction lunch with management and other new colleagues
Fresh soup, fruit, and/or salads
“Rondjes Rijk Zwaan” introduction program—get to know our culture, departments, and history
Development discussions instead of appraisal interviews
Rijk Zwaan Fit, including sports activities such as running and bootcamp, plus discounts on gym memberships
Voluntary Preventive Medical Examination
Activities you can participate in, from BBQs to photography workshops
Would you like more information about this position first? Then contact Johan Schut (Breeding Manager Lettuce) at