Breeding Specialist, Lettuce

Applicants must be legally eligible to work in the country where the position is located.

Location
:
Acampo, California, USA

Job

We are looking for a Breeding Specialist to join our Agricultural Solutions team for our BASF | Nunhems Vegetable Seeds business in Acampo, CA or Salinas, CA.

BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division connects innovation, customers, partners and agricultural experts and integrates sustainability criteria into all business decisions. We help farmers deliver the best possible outcomes, working to achieve the balance between economic, environmental and social value creation for sustainable and efficient agriculture.

The Breeding Specialist will assist the Breeder in the development of a commercial lettuce pipeline by conducting screening trials for evaluation, gathering data, selecting plants, and producing seed with the objective of developing superior varieties with desired performance.

• Planning, organizing, coordinating, and executing selection, collection, and transportation of screening material, including selecting from screening trials per breeding direction
• Physically collecting plant material and overseeing transport for grow‑out after field evaluation and selection
• Coordinating and communicating selection and material movement schedules with the Farm Manager and providing technical guidance to meet production standards, timelines, and budgets
• Using breeding software to organize, enter, and validate trial data; analyzing results and preparing summary reports for stakeholders
• Ensuring data capture and storage meet guidelines and company protocols, including trial preparation, data entry, analysis, and report distribution
• Making proposals and drawing conclusions to support breeding program decisions at divisional and corporate levels
• Presenting data, conclusions, and recommendations at elevation meetings and ensuring timely reporting to stakeholders for decision making
• Planning, designing, organizing, and coordinating planting, evaluation/harvest, and post‑harvest activities for PD and screening trials as defined by the breeder
• Collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and documenting trait data from all trials and communicating findings to stakeholders
• Performing other duties as assigned to support business objectives

• Hold a BSc in horticulture, plant breeding, genetics, or a closely related field (MSc preferred)
• Have 1+ years’ experience in plant breeding or a related discipline (3+ years preferred)
• Possess hands‑on experience in field data collection and working in outdoor field conditions
• Have experience reviewing and interpreting trial data and preparing clear reports for stakeholders
• Demonstrate professional agronomic skills (crop-specific and general agronomy, pathology, crop management, nutrition, automation)
• Understand horticultural practices, genetics, experimental design, and basic statistical analysis
• Drive results and take personal ownership of decisions and outcomes
• Exhibit excellent organization, time management, accurate record-keeping, and attention to detail
• Thrive in a fast‑paced environment and manage competing tasks independently
• Handle complexity by integrating data from diverse sources and weighing risks, benefits, and trade‑offs
• Communicate effectively and collaborate across multiple teams and stakeholders
• Hold a valid driver’s license and be able to travel as required
• Are proficient with data management tools (data collection, uploading, processing) and Microsoft Office
• Speak English fluently (bilingual English/Spanish preferred)
• Are able to travel up 20%, domestically and internationally, and regularly travel during the day to Salinas, CA.

At BASF, you will have the chance to do meaningful work towards building a more sustainable future. In addition to competitive compensation and benefits, BASF provides you with access to a wide range of elements to help you be your best. It’s what we call you are committed to providing benefits, programs, and opportunities that support our employees’ overall well‑being, personal growth, and a safe, collaborative, and inclusive…