Plant Breeding Manager – Pharmaceutical Applications
Location: Confidential | Competitive Salary + Benefits
Walker Cole International are supporting in the pharmaceutical sector is seeking a Plant Breeding Manager to lead and evolve its specialist breeding program. This is a unique opportunity to drive innovation at the intersection of plant science and pharmaceutical development, focusing on the enhancement of medicinal plant varieties.
Key Responsibilities:
* Lead the design and execution of plant breeding strategies targeting key traits such as alkaloid content, yield, and disease resistance.
* Development and maintenance of plant clones; ongoing clone strategy, viability and assessment
* Coordinate field and greenhouse trials to assess breeding line performance.
* Apply classical and molecular breeding techniques, including marker-assisted selection and tissue culture.
* Ensure alignment with pharmaceutical quality standards and maintain full compliance with regulatory and documentation requirements.
* Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across R&D and regulatory affairs.
* Communicate results and strategic updates to internal stakeholders and external bodies.
About You:
* MSc or PhD in Plant Breeding, Genetics, Agronomy, or related discipline.
* 5+ years of hands-on plant breeding experience, including at least 2 in a leadership capacity.
* Strong knowledge of medicinal plant species and phytochemistry.
* Familiarity with GMP, GACP, and international pharmaceutical/agricultural regulations.
* Skilled in data analysis, project management, and cross-functional collaboration.
Desirable:
* Experience with medicinal crops.
* Background in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
* Knowledge of EMA, FDA, or WHO frameworks for botanical ingredients