Senior Plant Pathologist

Location: California

Senior Plant Pathologist|POM Wonderful# Senior Plant Pathologist

POM Wonderful | Del Rey, CA | Research/science/R&D | Mid-Senior Level | Full-time | Job e
* Email## Company Description From tree to table, POM Wonderful delivers a whole lot of health. Known for our iconic double-bubble bottle, we grow, harvest, package, and market fresh pomegranates, pomegranate arils, and a selection of delicious pomegranate-blended juices and teas. With over 9,000 acres in California’s Central Valley, POM Wonderful is committed to unleashing the antioxidant power of our handpicked pomegranates.

The Senior Plant Pathologist is a scientific and strategic leader responsible for extending the commercial availability, quality, and marketability of fresh fruit through advanced plant pathology, postharvest biology, and integrated disease management solutions. This role drives innovation across pre-harvest and post-harvest systems to minimize losses, mitigate disease pressure, and optimize storage and distribution processes

Pay Range: $130,000 - $150,000 and may include a discretionary bonus. Final compensation will be dependent upon skills & experience.##

Job Description
** What our
* Senior Plant Pathologist
* will do:
**** Strategic Leadership
*** Develop and execute a multi-year scientific strategy to extend the fresh fruit season across priority commodities.
* Lead disease management and postharvest preservation initiatives aligned with commercial and operational goals.
* Identify emerging risks (pathogens, resistance, climate-related stressors) and proactively develop mitigation plans.
* Serve as the technical authority on plant pathology and postharvest disease management.
** Research & Innovation
*** Design and oversee experimental programs focused on:  + Pre-harvest disease control strategies  + Postharvest decay prevention  + Storage optimization (CA, MAP, cold chain integrity)  + Shelf-life extension technologies
* Evaluate biological, chemical, and physical interventions to improve fruit quality retention.
* Analyze complex datasets and translate findings into actionable business recommendations.
* Drive innovation through new technologies, predictive modeling, and applied research.
** Cross-Functional Collaboration
*** Partner with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Regulatory, and Commercial teams to implement scalable solutions.
* Support Planning decisions based on disease risk and storage performance.
* Provide technical guidance to growers, such as special pick techniques to improve storage life, and production partners.
* Collaborate with external research institutions and industry organizations.
* Evaluate and advise third-party onsite partners and Outside Storage sites on the best practices for disease prevention
** Operational Impact
*** Reduce postharvest losses and shrinkage.
* Improve storage performance and distribution resilience.
* Extend commercial availability windows.
* Enhance product quality consistency across regions and seasons.
** Regulatory & Compliance
*** Ensure compliance with relevant agricultural, environmental, and food safety regulations.
* Support registration and validation of disease control technologies where applicable.
* Maintain documentation and scientific rigor aligned with industry standards.## Qualifications
** Skills & experience that are necessary as our*
* *** Senior Plant Pathologist
* will include, but not limited to:
*** Ph.D. in Plant Pathology, Postharvest Biology, Horticulture, or related field (preferred)
* 8+ years of progressive experience in plant pathology, postharvest science, or fresh produce R&D
* Proven track record of applied research impacting commercial outcomes
* Experience working with fresh fruit commodities and storage systems
* Demonstrated leadership in cross-functional environments
* Plant disease epidemiology and diagnostics
* Postharvest pathology and decay management
* Controlled atmosphere storage and cold chain systems
* Experimental design and statistical analysis
* Knowledge of regulatory frameworks affecting crop protection and postharvest treatments

POM Wonderful is the largest grower and producer of fresh pomegranates and pomegranate juice in the United States as…