McCormick & Company

Plant Science Program Manager

McCormick & Company

full-time

Posted on:

Origin:  • 🇺🇸 United States

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Salary

💰 $100,870 - $176,480 per year

Job Level

SeniorLead

Tech Stack

IoT

About the role

  • Lead the global agricultural innovation initiatives by advancing McCormick’s plant science, enabling value chain transformation, and supporting regenerative growth in compliant farming systems.
  • Drive and define the plant innovation strategy including, leading to radical innovation strategies for growth.
  • Coordinate regional Agricultural projects and own a global strategy for ag support.
  • Provide technical support to McCormick strategic Ag portfolio transformation including alternate growing strategies, Grow-Your-Own initiatives…etc.
  • Validate agricultural innovations adoptable in McCormick’s supply chains including Regenerative Agriculture, Climate and Pest resilience.
  • Leverage technology to drive optimization and transformation (big data, internet of things, Artificial Intelligence).
  • Champion seed selection, plant breeding and physiology initiatives for advantage.
  • Identify and mobilize research partners (universities, science institutes, etc.).
  • Seek external funds.
  • Coordinate Technical support to growing partners to enable successful and sustainable production.
  • Own a global approach on Regenerative agriculture, leverage internal and external network to deliver.
  • Analyze and make recommendations for improved farm models e.g. quality improvement, farm efficiency, yield improvement and Foster Precision agriculture, mechanization, use of technology.
  • Provide Agronomic support and advise McCormick’s teams, Farmer Support Programs and Business partners.
  • Define processes for pesticides’ recommendations and Maximum Residues Limits (MRL) management.
  • Develop MRLs management and avoidance strategies.
  • Analyze farm Data and Vendor Questionnaires to determine which problematic crop protection chemicals are used and why.
  • Researching alternative products or natural agricultural methods e.g. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and designing programs to improve compliance.
  • Provide scientific support to McCormick Regulatory teams efforts to lobby for MRLs for herbs and spices.
  • Communication Researching and designing future Ag Transformative strategies.
  • Elevate internally the ag agenda.
  • Publication of findings if relevant.

Requirements

  • Graduate degree (Bsc) in Horticulture, Plant Sciences, Plant Physiology, Soil Science, or a closely related discipline is required.
  • 10 years’(half in private sector) experience articulating vision, creating strategies and managing enterprise projects, data analysis.
  • A passion for plants with experience in plant genealogy, breeding, controlled environment agriculture, horticulture or plant science
  • Hands-on experience in mainstream agricultural production
  • Experience of improving crop production methods in a developing region of the world required
  • Experience in developing backward integration/contract farming programs as well as the ability to identify and start up new growing regions/origins in developing countries required
  • Experience in leading major innovative agricultural projects with market outreach
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
  • Solid organizational skills, including attention to detail and multi-tasking skills.
  • Good knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Microsoft Project.
  • Project administration and management skills.
  • Excellent communication skills.
  • Preferred: Graduate degree (MSc, PhD)
  • Preferred: 5+ years’ experience in relevant field
  • Preferred: Research (postdoctoral research counts as work experience)
  • Preferred: Experience in molecular biology (eg..DNA characterization, CRISPR technology adoption)
  • Preferred: 2+ years in the food industry preferred
  • Preferred: Experience in ag project management at field level
  • Preferred: Experience with characterization of plants, including imaging, phenotyping, chemical analysis, and/or objective measurements of taste and texture