Duda Farm Fresh Foods is a world leader in celery production, innovation and celery research. A subsidiary of A. Duda & Sons, a family owned company with a rich heritage in celery for 93 years. Duda Farm Fresh Foods has a research center devoted to celery research, a state of the art celery processing facility, a world leading breeding program with approximately 100 celery varieties to its credit including numerous preeminent developments and a team of scientists committed to maintaining its esteemed position.

Duda is currently seeking a qualified candidate as Plant Breeder (Open Pollinated) to join this team.

The Plant Breeder (OP) will play a critical role in providing assistance to two celery breeders and will train to take over the leadership responsibilities for the multi-state intricate open pollinated celery program. This position is responsible for the development of new OP celery varieties, cooperation in the coordination of the production of OP seed (commercial and cages), development and protection of celery Intellectual Property including patent development and celery trial preparation, evaluation, selection and data management for the OP program throughout the multi state program.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Train to take over the responsibility for development/creation of new OP celery varieties with objectives of improving production and processing efficiencies, marketing advantages and potential opportunities of special notoriety for Duda.
• Lead and participate in the execution of several operations involving the OP celery breeding program including; seed production and caging operations (planning, planting and harvest), preparation, evaluation and reporting of trials, selection and program advancement, maintenance and development of screening programs for numerous, diseases and physiological traits, coordination and evaluation of advanced scaled trials to evaluate variety commercial worthiness and provide support information to the Duda production teams.
• Assist in the development of special screening programs/protocols as needed and not yet currently performed in the celery breeding programs (i.e. development of a new special screening programs for salt stress, drought tolerance, flavor, etc.), as well as utilize, screen and evaluate celery materials from these new and existing screening programs (i.e. cercospora, septoria, fusarium, bolting, etc,). Keep abreast of new genetic technologies and be prepared to evaluate potential return on investment, potential for success, risk and appropriateness for Duda's long and short range objectives.
• Keep current with knowledge of the latest technologies including but not limited to; DNA breeding protocols, various GMO and non-GMO systems, and be prepared to analyze and report any potential values or risks to Duda. Continuously assess potential advancements that may benefit Duda, develop return on investment, risk assessment and potential profit analysis and develop protocols as they may be required for implementation while ensuring the maintenance of the traditional and scaled base for our breeding programs ensuring Duda has the a program that is top in its field.
• Develop and maintain programs to ensure seed crops are pure and true to variety including rouging of seed crop plant stocks produced in Yuma. Evaluate seed crops to ensure purity and authenticity to variety with priority consideration of OP's, including male parents of hybrids. Work with the team to develop and ensure protocols not only maintain or improve purity but produce seed of the highest potential quality.
• Responsible for maintenance, utilization, coordination and development of the open pollinated portion of the Microsoft Access Celery Breeding Database. The job also has requirements of full knowledge of Microsoft Office and statistics
• Development, coordination and creation of patents for OP varieties and evaluation, development, promotion of activities to promote and protect intellectual property. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Masters of Science or PhD in Plant Breeding or equivalent science required.
• 5 years of hand on experience in plant breeding (post grad) or 2 years of celery breeding program experience.
• Strong knowledge of databases and data science.
• Individual must possess the ability to develop strong trust in all working relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully work in a cross-functional team environment.
• Excellent communication skills, including written, verbal, and presentation.
• A California driver’s license and the ability to be covered under company-sponsored vehicle insurance program are also required.
• Required to travel to our various celery production locations in the United States; Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Georgia, North & South Carolina, and California.

Apply here: http://www.duda.com/jobs/