Project Lead Plant Physiology

Project Lead Plant Physiology

Flowers and plants have a strong emotional value for the people who buy them. Their potential to inspire is endless – They can make our day, brighten up the house, or turn the garden into a paradise.

Dümmen Orange is a leading breeder and propagator of flowers and plants. Our goal is to inspire people and create a better, more beautiful world. We offer an impressive portfolio of crops and varieties to growers, wholesalers and retailers around the world. 

We are looking for a Project Lead Plant Physiology for our Research department in De Lier, The Netherlands.

Why is this your job? 

Our organization grows and flourishes. This results in a fast-changing and, therefore, challenging environment.

For our Cell Biology team, we are looking for a driven and results-oriented Project Lead. With your background in Plant Physiology, you contribute to improve Dümmen Orange breeding programs worldwide. You do this by developing, testing, large-scale validation and implementing new techniques. Besides, you are proactive, possess good leadership skills and have strong communication skills. Daily activities are dynamic, ranging from office-based tasks to hands-on activities both in lab and in the field. You work both independently and as a part of multidisciplinary teams (including stakeholders from Cell Biology, Trait Genetics and Breeding).

You manage a network of stakeholders within the Research department but also breeders of different ornamental crops as well as Production and Supply Chain. In this role, you report to the Research Manager Plant Process Innovation and are based in De Lier, The Netherlands.

Your tasks and responsibilities:

• Perform scouting activities for novel tools and technologies to support breeding or production;
• Write research proposals aligned within R&D strategy;
• Initiate, coordinate and execute research projects for creating and introducing novel products, processes and services to the market;
• Identify opportunities for production research; rooting, productivity etc.;
• Develop screening method for abiotic stress, transport resilience etc.; 
• Design experiments and perform hands on activities in the lab;
• Communicate effectively, interpret the results of experiments, make recommendations for next steps and write detailed protocols;
• Present progress to internal and external stakeholders;
• Keep good track of information, project reports and data;
• Provide leadership and support to your direct reports as well as to other researchers in the team.

Who are you? 

• PhD degree preferably in Plant Physiology, Cell Biology or other plant sciences including Biotechnology, Molecular Biology; 
• Advanced project management skills;
• Experience with experimental design, data collection, visualization and statistical analysis;
• Knowledge on fertility barriers, abiotic stresses and priming for higher tolerance toward them is a pre;
• Knowledge on crop production system e.g. sensing technologies and remote greenhouse management to improving production, product quality and resource use efficiency;
• Able to manage a diversity of activities and communication with stakeholders;
• Able to work independently and in collaboration with other colleagues inside and outside the Plant Physiology team;
• Analytical and critical mindset with strong problem solving, practical and pro-active attitude;
• Excellent communication skills within multidisciplinary and multicultural environment;
• Excellent command of the English language, both verbal and written.

What do you get in return?

Dümmen Orange has major international ambitions with innovation technology and quality high on the agenda. There is plenty of room for autonomy, personal growth and you are part of an expert team. This allows you to optimally develop as a driven professional in your field. There is a supportive and open working environment where sharing knowledge, collaboration and achieving common goals are very important.

We also offer:

• An attractive salary depending on your knowledge and experience;
• Full-time employment (based on 38 hours);
• 25,5 vacation days on a full-time basis;
• Hybrid working (including allowances for working from home and for the home workplace;
• Working hours are flexible and can be determined in consultation;
• A personal development plan based on continuous learning and our core values of commitment, focus, passion and responsibility.
• An international working environment;
• Collective Labour Agreement for the Greenhouse Horticulture Sector with, among other things, good leave arrangements and a good pension scheme (BPL Pension). We invest in your future by paying 2/3 of the pension premium.

Who are we?  

We are a leading international breeder and propagator of flowers and plants. Our breeders enhance characteristics such as colour, fragrance, and shape, as well as less visible traits like disease resistance, higher yield per square meter, and extended vase life. In production locations across Africa, South and Central America we have 330+ hectares of production space at our disposal. Here we set up our mother stock plants and propagate the starting material. Our extensive range of crops and varieties finds its way to growers, wholesalers, and retailers around the world.

With a leading R&D team, a diverse network of our own propagation sites, and over a century of experience in floriculture, we are the trusted source for industry expertise and innovation in floriculture breeding.

The products our industry produces have a strong emotional value for the consumers who buy them. Our purpose is to inspire people and create a better, more beautiful world. Our team of 6,600 dedicated, focused, and passionate professionals works across the globe. Our head office is located in De Lier, the Netherlands.