Plant Breeder/Geneticist Job Description

What is the job description of a Plant Breeder/Geneticist? What are the duties and responsibilities of a Plant Breeder/Geneticist? What does a Plant Breeder/Geneticist do?

Job description of a Plant Breeder/Geneticist

Plant breeders/geneticists work to improve the quality and performance of existing agricultural and horticultural crops as well as create new varieties. They aim to develop useful traits, such as disease resistance or drought tolerance, or to improve characteristics such as appearance.

Plant geneticists have enhanced the traditional work of crossing existing plants and selecting new strains. Their expertise allows quicker, more accurate work by selecting the plants containing the genes of interest.

This Plant Breeder/Geneticist job description example includes the list of most important Plant Breeder/Geneticist duties and responsibilities as shown below. It can be modified to fit the specific Plant Breeder/Geneticist profile you're trying to fill as a recruiter or job seeker.

Plant Breeder/Geneticist Duties and Responsibilities

Plant Breeder/Geneticist job description should contain a variety of functions and roles including:

  • Analysing and scientifically assessing plant breeding in laboratory and field trials and selecting the best varieties;
  • Conducting scientific projects, which may be laboratory-based, especially in the winter months;
  • Multiplying up and producing virus-free plants;
  • Maintaining detailed records throughout the research and development cycle;
  • Managing, supporting and training technical and field staff;
  • Producing research aims and objectives, and predicting the costing of the work;
  • Researching methods and techniques for improving plant breeding;
  • Writing and presenting work to other scientists and publishing scientific findings;
  • Liaising with and visiting other scientists, commercial breeders and funding bodies.
  • Identifying and selecting plants exhibiting desirable traits based on natural genetic variation;
  • Crossing plants to produce new breeding material for field and glasshouse trials;
  • Keeping up to date in the fast-moving area of science and translating ideas from scientific literature into new approaches to breeding problems;
  • Monitoring the activities of competitors (in commercial settings) and developing a product market profile;
  • Responding to enquiries from farmers, agronomists and other professionals;

Plant Breeder/Geneticist Requirements / Skills / Qualifications

Plant Breeder/Geneticist job description should include these common skills and qualifications:

  • A degree in a relevant life science. Example plant science, botany.
  • Analytical skills
  • The ability to understand complex concepts
  • Teamwork and communication skills
  • Innovative
  • Attention to detail
  • Problem solving
  • Critical thinking
  • IT skills

As a hiring manager, recruiting an ideal Plant Breeder/Geneticist starts with crafting a good job description. Use this Plant Breeder/Geneticist job description template to save yourself time and help you attract the most qualified candidates. Feel free to revise it to meet your specific needs.

Job seekers interviewing for the role of a Plant Breeder/Geneticist may also reference it in preparation for the interview.