Operations Lead

About Us: At Eschbach Research Center, we are at the forefront of innovation, driving advancements in agrisciences. Our mission is to push the boundaries of research and development, and we are seeking an enthusiastic Operations Lead to join our dynamic team developing new hybrids and varieties for the Northern European market. If you are a strategic thinker with a knack for operational excellence, we want to hear from you!

POSITION PURPOSE

Take the lead of our dynamic Seeds Research Center, orchestrating day-to-day operations of our cutting-edge research hub. As the key liaison among process leads, you will be the cornerstone of our center’s success, driving safe, efficient and innovative management of Research Center processes at the local level. Your strategic vision will ensure we have the right resources—manpower, machinery, equipment, and facilities—needed to produce top-tier data, execute flawless field operations, and meet ambitious product advancement goals.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Provide operational excellence through strategic planning, organizing, and directing research activities at the Eschbach Research Center to maximize asset utilization while achieving research and business goals. Command the daily operations of the center, proactively identify and resolve issues, and effectively manage capacity of equipment and labor to meet research goals.
2. Manage a team of experienced research employees, fostering a culture of teamwork and collaboration while holding team members accountable for achieving our research goals. Be a strong advocate for personal development and set realistic yet inspiring individual and team performance goals that are aligned with our business strategy.
3. Promote a positive culture that achieves the highest standards for health, safety and environmental stewardship. Ensure that the Corteva quality standards are maintained throughout all research activities carried out at the Eschbach Seed Product Development team.
4. Contribute to the scientific success of our research teams through collaboration with Research Scientists and experts in breeding, phenotyping, data analysis, and seed production. Stay at the forefront of new technologies and apply state-of-the-art testing and phenotyping methodologies. Participate in selection and advancement decisions of our germplasm and communicate with internal and external collaborators with the goal of providing the best products and solutions to our customers.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Master’s degree in an agriculture-related field.

Experience: Minimum of 5-7 years of hands-on experience in research operations. Proven track record of managing complex projects and leading high-performing teams.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Forward-Thinking: Ability to anticipate labor needs, resource requirements, and space necessities several months in advance.
2. Operational Expertise: In-depth knowledge of seeds research operations combined with prior management skills. Ability to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously is critical.
3. Leadership Prowess: Strong leadership capabilities to motivate others, initiate projects, lead meetings, make decisions, and solve problems effectively.
4. Positive Attitude: A “can-do” attitude with realistic goal setting.
5. Interpersonal Skills: Excellent communication skills to foster teamwork, create a positive working environment, and build strong relationships with a diverse group of people.
6. Proactive Engagement: Open and proactive in communicating with all stakeholders (staff, peers, farmers, commercial team, etc.).
7. Change Agent: Willingness to challenge the team and implement necessary changes.
8. Resilience: Ability to maintain a positive attitude under stress.
9. Agricultural Knowledge: Expertise in corn cultivation, agronomy, and trialing is essential. If not corn, experience with other crops is required.
10. Market Insight: Knowledge of corn products and markets is ideal. If not already possessed, the candidate should be motivated to acquire this knowledge as a priority.
11. Language Skills: Proficiency in German and English is a prerequisite. French is a plus.

Physical Demands:

1. Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
2. Capability to stand or sit for extended periods.
3. Willingness to travel overnight, sometimes for extended periods.

Working Conditions: Primarily based in a Research Center with frequent visits to field locations. During seasonal peaks, a high workload with the need to work extended hours should be expected.

Corteva

As the world’s only major agriscience company completely dedicated to agriculture, we’re building a culture that stays curious, thinks differently, acts boldly and takes a stand on what’s right for our customers, our co-workers, our partners and our planet. We know we’ve got big challenges to solve – we hope you’ll be part of the solution.

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