Cotton Germplasm Unit Lead

At Bayer we’re visionaries, driven to solve the world’s toughest challenges and striving for a world where 'Health for all Hunger for none’ is no longer a dream, but a real possibility. We’re doing it with energy, curiosity and sheer dedication, always learning from unique perspectives of those around us, expanding our thinking, growing our capabilities and redefining ‘impossible’. There are so many reasons to join us.

If you’re hungry to build a varied and meaningful career in a community of brilliant and diverse minds to make a real difference, there’s only one choice.

As Head of Cotton Germplasm, you are part of the Product Design Capability Center and lead a cohesive unit focused on providing improved germplasm, driven by customer needs, to all regional pipelines;
You constantly innovate and enhance the early pipeline germplasm engine, ensuring that cotton germplasm is advanced to meet evolving market, sustainability, and customer demands;
Your unit brings together colleagues from Product Design, Product Development, ARI, DSE, Seed Production, Product Supply, Market Development, and other key functions, with a strong focus on germplasm improvement, customer needs, genomic selection, advanced analytics, and advanced breeding methods;
In this role, you help shape the future of cotton portfolios and create significant value across global commercial markets.

The incumbent for this position may be based in the United States (US) or Canada. Bayer Talent Acquisition is accepting applications for these locations under one global job posting which follows each country's individual employment laws. As such, applicants should expect to experience differences in the application process which are unique from a single country posting.

The primary responsibilities of this role, Head of Cotton Germplasm, are to:

• Deliver improved cotton germplasm to all product pipelines, ensuring alignment with customer needs and long-term portfolio strategy;
• Develop and implement technology and design strategies that accelerate and enhance cotton germplasm improvement, ensuring breeding targets and resource needs are met and aligned with the needs of the global business;
• Work with leaders of similar units to strategically set a vision for the unit and orchestrate teams to identify priorities, allocate resources, and execute against that vision;
• Establish decision-making and accountability parameters, ensuring teams within the unit regularly evaluate progress, set time-bound targets, and adjust plans based on data-driven insights;
• Work closely with other unit and capability hub leaders to understand talent needs and availability, maintaining a constant focus on strengthening and developing the unit’s talent base;
• Demonstrate and embrace VACC leadership attributes within the unit and with peers and colleagues across Bayer Crop Science, acting as a visible role model for inclusive, courageous, and collaborative leadership;
• Strategically drive a focus on Safety, Health & Environment (SHE), Compliance, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), Business Conduct, and Human Rights across the unit, serving as a catalyst for a culture that emphasizes ethical practices, compliance, and environmental responsibility;
• Collaborate strategically with peers across Bayer Crop Science to enhance technical strategies for cotton, corn, and other crops, ensuring cross-crop learning and technology leverage;
• Lead and support approximately 15 FTEs and 4–6 product teams within the unit, ensuring clarity of objectives, strong engagement, and high-performance ways of working;
• Build and sustain tight linkages and partnerships with HR, other breeding enabling functions, all breeding regions, and…