Plant Sciences Department Manager (Site Director)

About the role

The Plant Sciences Department Manager will provide strategic guidance and leadership for research initiatives in plant sciences, supporting sustainable supply, product differentiation and addressing global and regional agricultural challenges.

Key responsibilities

• Lead, coach and empower employees across the NIAS institute.
• Develop scientific expertise in plant sciences, agricultural production systems and ingredient supply, including cross‑department translational research proposals.
• Establish and strengthen external collaborations with leading scientists, industry partners and public organisations.
• Monitor emerging plant‑science technologies and assess their application within Nestlé supply chains.
• Drive cross‑unit multidisciplinary collaboration to build a competitive Plant Science portfolio.
• Ensure projects are delivered on scope, schedule and budget, with proper documentation, publication and IP management.
• Maintain legal conformity and align departmental resources with Nestlé R&D priorities.

Required profile

• PhD or equivalent in Plant Sciences, Agronomy or related field.
• Proven leadership and people‑management experience in multidisciplinary teams.
• Senior‑level experience in matrix organisations with strong stakeholder management.
• In‑depth knowledge of plant breeding technology platforms and regenerative agriculture.
• Experience leveraging data science and new technologies in research operations.
• Fluent English; French is a plus.

Required skills

• Plant breeding technology platforms
• Regenerative agriculture practices
• Data science applied to agricultural research

What we offer

• Fixed salary over 13.75 months plus a 25 % performance bonus.
• Flexible working hours and remote‑work options.
• Career development opportunities in a modern smart‑office environment.