Breeding Technician Hybrid Wheat USA
About The Position
KWS Seeds LLC is hiring a permanent, full-time Breeding Technician for its Spring Wheat breeding operations in Moorhead, Minnesota. The technician actively assists with and independently organizes daily wheat breeding operations, providing accurate and efficient support for yield trials, maintenance activities, and early-generation breeding. The role works closely with breeders, the Station Manager, station team members, seasonal staff, and summer interns. It also involves greenhouse and seed-management work, field data collection, shipment coordination, supplies and purchasing, and handling breeding machinery. The position may include work in other crops handled at the station as assigned by the supervisor. The work takes place indoors and outdoors in varied conditions, including loud, hot, cold, dusty, or damp environments. Required PPE must be worn as needed. The role may require rotating shifts, including weekends, night shifts, and holidays, and driving for extended periods. Physical duties include regularly talking or hearing; frequently standing, walking, sitting, handling items, and reaching; occasional climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling; and lifting or moving items up to 50 pounds.
Requirements
- High school degree.
- Interest in breeding, agronomy, genetics, or related fields.
- Basic computer skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Valid driver’s license.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor’s degree in breeding, agronomy, genetics, horticulture, or a related field, or comparable work experience in crop improvement and variety development.
- Forklift license or ability to obtain one.
- People management skills.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills.
- Demonstrated critical, logical, and innovative thinking.
- Willingness to travel to other breeding stations and learn breeding workflows and activities.
- High learning attitude and growth mindset.
Responsibilities
- Support breeders and the Station Manager in executing and evaluating wheat yield trials and screening nurseries at all locations.
- Collect data in the Maintenance Nursery and assist breeders with PVP documents.
- Work with station team members to plan and carry out breeding activities.
- Assist breeders with crosses and independently manage the greenhouse when the breeder is absent.
- Train and work with seasonal staff and summer interns.
- Coordinate and technically supervise seed turnaround activities between harvest and sowing.
- Create field plans and generate field books; record data using technical equipment and specialty software.
- Facilitate shipments of breeding materials to partners and collaborators inside and outside the USA while complying with requirements.
- Maintain adequate stocks of breeding supplies and materials.
- Provide technical expertise in handling breeding machinery.
- Keep purchasing within budget and authorized spending levels.
- Travel, drive, and/or operate a forklift on behalf of the business as needed.
- Meet attendance requirements.
- Follow company handbooks, rules, guidelines, procedures, and safety policies, and use PPE correctly.
- Perform other duties or work in other crops handled at the station as assigned by the supervisor.
Benefits
- Annual bonus eligibility.
- Health, dental, and vision benefits.
- Pension plan and 401(k) with employer match.
- Flexible paid time off (PTO).
- Professional training and development opportunities.
- International and diverse team.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
