
Plant Science Program Manager
- Hunt Valley, MD
- $100,870-176,480 per year
- Permanent
- Full-time
- Competitive compensation
- Career growth opportunities
- Flexibility and Support for Diverse Life Stages and Choices
- Wellbeing programs including Physical, Mental and Financial wellness
- Tuition assistance
- 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.
- Provide technical support to validate agricultural innovations that could be adopted 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
- 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
- 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
- Researching and designing future Ag Transformative strategies
- Elevate internally the ag agenda
- Publication of findings if relevant
- 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 will be required to enable effective communication up, down, and across the organization
- 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.
- Graduate degree (MSc, PhD) in Horticulture, Plant Sciences, Plant Physiology, Soil Science, or a closely related discipline
- 5+ years' experience in relevant field Research (postdoctoral research counts as work experience)
- Experience in molecular biology (eg..DNA characterization, CRISPR technology adoption)
- 2+ years in the food industry preferred
- Experience in ag project management at field level
- Experience with characterization of plants, including imaging, phenotyping, chemical analysis, and/or objective measurements of taste and texture