Product and Genome Design Lead Bayer Vegetable Seeds

What will you do?

A Product and Genome Design Lead in Bayer's Vegetable Seeds R&D organisation leads a globally distributed team of design breeders, geneticists, genomics scientists, and specialists. The role focuses on building foundational capabilities that drive seed innovations across crops, technologies, and time zones.

• Lead resource planning, prioritisation, and talent management for the team, including recruiting, hiring, coaching, and developing people at every level.
• Drive the development and application of foundational genomics and quantitative genetics technology across key vegetable crops, enabling genome‑wide analysis, predictive breeding, and strategic trait integration.
• Own the strategic identification and development of molecular capabilities, including SNP and sequencing technology, genome editing, and quantitative genetics methods, aligned with Product Development targets.
• Deploy molecular and predictive breeding capabilities in prioritised pipelines to enable allele tracking and genetic prediction modelling.
• Partner with Product and Technical Unit Leads to co‑design and test new breeding technologies, integrating them into enterprise data analytics and product advancement pipelines.
• Coach, mentor, and influence technical teams to align on strategic vision in line with Vegetable Seeds and Veg R&D long‑term goals, and drive DSO ways of working for career development and dynamic resource flow.
• Contribute to identifying and developing research partnerships with service providers and academic collaborators.
• Communicate and educate stakeholders on new genetics and genomics breeding technologies together with technical experts.
• Shape organisational and operational vision as an active member of the Vegetables R&D Leadership Community.

• University degree in Breeding, Genetics, Genomics, or a related field, with one of the following experience profiles:
  • Bachelor's + 12 years
  • Master's + 10 years
  • PhD
  • PhD + 6 years
• Proven people‑management experience in complex, international research environments.
• Deep technical expertise in genomics and quantitative genetics combined with a strategic mindset.
• A natural connector who builds bridges across teams, influences without authority, and aligns diverse stakeholders around a shared direction.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity in a globally matrixed organisation.

A role with real impact where decisions shape product pipelines and breeding strategies across multiple vegetable crops globally. You will work in a diverse, high‑calibre R&D community with access to cutting‑edge technology and meaningful cross‑functional partnerships. Bayer offers a competitive package, flexible working arrangements, and opportunities for technical and leadership growth.