Global Research Lead - Entomology & Weed Science

Job

City:
Cary, North Carolina, United States

Function:
Field Research & Technical Development

Employee Type:
Permanent Full Time

Seniority Level: Mid-Senior level

Description:

UPL Limited (NSE: UPL & BSE: 512070, LSE: UPLL) is a global provider of sustainable agriculture products and solutions, with annual revenue exceeding $6bn. We are a purpose‑led company. Through Open Ag®, UPL is focused on accelerating progress for the food system. We are building a network that is reimagining sustainability, redefining the way an entire industry thinks and works - open to fresh ideas, innovation, and new answers as we strive towards our mission to make every single food product more sustainable.

As one of the largest agriculture solutions companies worldwide, our robust portfolio consists of biologicals and traditional crop protection solutions with more than 14,000 registrations. We are present in more than 130 countries, represented by more than 10,000 colleagues globally. For more information about our integrated portfolio of solutions across the food value chain including seeds, post‑harvest, as well as physical and digital services, please visit  and follow us on Linked In, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Job Summary

The Global Research Lead, Entomology and Weed Science provides scientific and people leadership for UPL's Late‑Stage Discovery and Early Development Program across insecticides and herbicides, spanning conventional and biological technologies. The role sets global research strategy, builds fit‑for‑purpose laboratory, insectary, greenhouse, and field screening programs, and converts biological evidence into clear advancement, optimization, partnership, or stop decisions. A central responsibility within the Open Ag model is to scientifically evaluate and validate external technologies, define their technical differentiation, development potential, risks, and evidence gaps, and help the business articulate a credible agronomic and commercial value proposition.

This leader manages and develops multidisciplinary teams, connects global category priorities with regional agronomic needs, and ensures high‑quality, reproducible data packages that support product concepts from late‑stage discovery through field proof of concept.

Key Responsibilities

Lead global late‑stage discovery, early‑development, and portfolio decisions

• Translate business, grower, resistance‑management, and portfolio needs into a balanced entomology and weed science roadmap spanning late‑stage discovery and early development.

• Define stage‑appropriate evidence requirements and recommend advance, refine, partner, or stop decisions based on scientific quality, technical differentiation, development feasibility, risk, and potential value.

• Provide technical leadership across conventional chemistry, biologicals, combinations, formulations, seed treatments, and enabling technologies, including externally sourced concepts evaluated through Open Ag.

• Direct development, validation, standardization, and continuous improvement of insect, mite, weed, crop‑safety, dose‑response, spectrum, residual, rain fastness, resistance, and environmental‑condition screens.

• Ensure laboratory, insectary, controlled‑environment, greenhouse, and field methods are biologically relevant, reproducible, statistically sound, and transferable across sites and partners.

• Establish quality, stewardship, biosafety, permit, recordkeeping, and data‑integrity expectations for internal and external studies.

• Coach and develop scientists and technical staff; set clear priorities, strengthen experimental judgment, and…