Junior Plant Pathologist

Applicants must be legally eligible to work in the country where the position is located.

Location
:
Stockton, California, USA

The Kraft Heinz Company is the fifth largest food and beverage company in the world, with eight $1 billion+ brands and global sales of approximately $25 billion. We are a globally trusted producer of delicious foods for 150 years, and we provide high quality, great taste and nutrition for all eating occasions whether at home, in restaurants or on-the-go.

Tomato breeders at Kraft Heinz create hybrid tomato seed for the global processing industry. Guided by more than 100 years of breeding experience, Heinz Seed has established a reputation for high field and factory yields.

We’re not afraid to think differently. Embrace new ideas. Dream big. We empower our people at every level – from entry intern to senior leader -- to own their work. We believe that we share a responsibility to think like Owners – to be mindful of the collective and sustained success of Kraft Heinz – and we apply this to every situation, every day.

As part of Kraft Heinz, you’re supported to grow and achieve. You’re recognized and rewarded for outstanding performance at every level. You’re given opportunity to leave a mark and build a legacy. But you won’t do it alone. You’ll be supported by a thriving group of teammates in over 40 countries around the world, and our collective, collaborative spirit fuels our incredible progress every day.

Provide technical and process support in all aspects of seed health, plant health and plant management for the Stockton farm greenhouse and open field plantings including support for California PD trials as needed. While the role sits in the breeding team, the successful candidate will also work closely with the Lead Pathologist, the Manager of Seed Quality and Operations. The role will collaborate closely with breeders, farm management and greenhouse crews as well as molecular biologist, product development and QA/QC specialist.

Head of Seed Research and Development

• Work within the guidance of the Lead Pathologist to develop detailed, efficient and high throughput seed extraction, treatment and seed health test protocols.
• Supervising and auditing execution of seed treatment.
• Develop detailed greenhouse protocols to manage disease risks in the greenhouse.
• Execution of seed and plant health test and scouting in the greenhouse and open field operations.
• Technical support for growing tomato plants in open fields and greenhouse settings
• Track and communicate test results to breeding and farm operations team
• Work closely with farm management and greenhouse and field operations to ensure good plant health to meet desired goals.
• Support PD and dealer variety trials in plant and seed health.
• Collaborate with internal and external parties in project execution, data interpretation and reporting.
• Other specific projects and procedures related to plant and seed health
• Supporting breeding team in trial evaluation, data collection and seed harvest.

• B.S. in Plant pathology, Microbiology, Genetics, Horticulture and related biology degrees.
• Working experience in seed industry is desirable but not required
• Experience in pathogen inoculation and tomato disease diagnosis is helpful but not required
• Knowledge and/or experience in ELISA and PCR is a plus
• Experience in seed testing, high throughput protocol development is a plus
• Good working ethics and pay attention to details

Kraft Heinz is an EO employer – Minorities/Women/Vets/Disabled and other protected categories