Protein Science and Analytical Technologies Lead

Corteva Agriscience • Johnston, IA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Corteva Agriscience is seeking a Protein Sciences & Analytical Core Technologies (PSACT) leader to provide strategic, technical, and operational leadership for protein expression, engineering and analytical platforms that enable biotechnology and gene edited seed product development. This role is accountable for ensuring that protein expression, optimization, characterization, analytics, and supporting technologies are scientifically rigorous, scalable, and aligned with long‑term R&D and business strategy. The PSACT leader serves as a core‑technology owner, integrating innovation across disciplines, setting reproducibility, quality and performance standards, and ensuring that protein sciences and analytical capabilities accelerate trait pipelines, meet regulatory requirements and timelines while enabling informed technical and governance decisions. The role will be part of a functional leadership team in Biotechnology contributing to trait discovery, optimization, and development strategies, operational excellence, and people development. This role will be on-site at our Corteva Seed Global Business Center located in Johnston, IA.

Requirements

• Ph.D. (or equivalent experience) in biochemistry/protein science/protein engineering/protein analysis or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in R&D and enabling a trait discovery and development pipeline
• Demonstrated success leading protein-based core technology or platform-based teams in industrial biotechnology or life sciences environments
• Strong track record of enabling data-driven decisions in R&D pipelines through high-quality analytics.
• Familiarity with regulatory expectations and documentation requirements related to protein production, characterization and compositional analysis.
• Understanding of GLPs is a plus.
• Familiarity with LC/MS, HPLC, ELISA, recombinant protein expression and structural biology
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and a proven ability to work well in a team environment.
• Strong organizational and personal interaction skills to effectively manage a diverse team, develop strong internal and external partnerships, and develop talent.

Nice To Haves

• Understanding of GLPs is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor and develop a highly performing multidisciplinary team of scientists responsible for protein optimization, protein production and protein characterization, including protein detection, quantification and compositional analysis.
• Anticipate future scientific and state-of-the art technology needs to proactively modernize platforms, workflows and processes needed to enable transgenic and gene-edited pipelines.
• Deliver key protein, expression and composition reagents and data packages to support research advancements and regulatory timelines.
• Drive protein engineering/optimization platforms and projects through internal and external partnerships.
• Establish and maintain consistent standards for scientific rigor and data quality while promoting excellence in collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Partner closely with discovery research, field and portfolio teams to help drive alignment across strategic priorities, tactical planning and execution that balance speed, rigor, and resources.
• Function as a Test Facility Management (TFM) for Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs) labs.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, inclusion and safety.

Benefits

• Numerous development opportunities offered to build your skills
• Be part of a company with a higher purpose and contribute to making the world a better place
• Health benefits for you and your family on your first day of employment
• Four weeks of paid time off and two weeks of well-being pay per year, plus paid holidays
• Excellent parental leave which includes a minimum of 16 weeks for mother and father
• Future planning with our competitive retirement savings plan and tuition reimbursement program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree