Breeding Operations Manager

As a member of the Beck's Family of employees, all full-time employees are eligible for a generous benefits package:

Health benefits including two medical plan options and company HSA contributions, dental, vision, employer paid life/AD&D for you and your dependents, disability insurance, and access to an onsite Nurse Practitioner
401k plan match & company sponsored pension plan and access to a Financial Advisor to help you manage your retirement savings
Paid time off, Paid Holidays, Wellness Programs, & Corporate Discounts
Company Christmas Party, Free Lunch, $200 Merchandise Allowance, & Much More
Purpose and Scope
Under the direction of the Corn Breeder and within a highly team-oriented environment, the Breeding Operations Manager will aid in implementation of an aggressive, modern dent corn breeding program. This may include the use of plant breeding techniques including doubled haploid breeding, molecular markers, statistics, and implementation of predictive analytics.
Responsibilities

Interact cooperatively with corn breeding team and other research staff to create an efficient and successful corn breeding and testing program.
Manage nursery efforts to develop adapted, elite inbreds. Duties will include overseeing nursery shelling, packaging, planting, tissue sampling, pollinating, harvest and other activities deemed necessary to manage a breeding program. This will include working with the Seed Lab, Operations Management and Human Resources to secure necessary labor.
Lead breeding projects to exploit new strategies and germplasm development. Analyze breeding strategies within the program and provide statistical support and recommendations on implementation of optimal mix for improving genetic gain. This may include early generation performance prediction, marker assisted breeding strategies, trait evaluation and exploitation, identification and selection of yield stability, hybrid prediction, breeding cross predictions, and use of GCA/SCA estimates.
Provide support and recommendations on inbred line finishing. This will include line increase, purity assessment, and traited version evaluation.
Assist in the evaluation of hybrid combinations for agronomic characteristics and performance. This will include data collection, analysis and reporting.
Support information and data management efforts in relation to the application of predictive analytics and of molecular markers to the breeding program.
Manage shipments including to and from counter season nursery sites and other Beck's facilities.
Interact cooperatively with other personnel from external firms in which Beck's has a relationship.
Perform other related duties as may be required by the Breeder and/or Research Manager.
Job Requirements
Education, training and experience:

Bachelors Degree in plant breeding or highly related crop science discipline.
Corn breeding experience and knowledge of U.S. dent-corn germplasm is highly desirable, but not necessary.
Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license and insurable driving record as determined by Beck's automobile insurance policy.
Technical knowledge:

Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Excellent computer and current software skills. A working knowledge of how to use R, SAS, Excel, etc. is required.
Good understanding of molecular and quantitative genetics as well as the statistics necessary to apply marker information to a breeding program.
Physical working conditions:

Must be able to safely lift up to 70 pounds unassisted.
Exposure to inclement outdoor weather conditions which may include heat, cold, rain and sun.
Ability to stand and sit for several hours at a time.
Travel and hours of work:

Occasional overnight travel is required for note taking and travel to counter season nursery locations.
Ability to work extended hours during planting, pollination and harvest seasons.
Other critical skills:

Excellent people management and teamwork skills.
Possess positive attitude
Ability to establish priorities, work independently, work as a team member, and proceed with objectives without supervision.
• In an effort to provide a safer, drug-free workplace for employees, all full-time applicants to whom offers of employment are made must submit to a drug test and background check, subject to applicable local, state, or federal laws or regulations. Employment at Beck's is contingent upon passing these pre-employment screenings.