Trials Excellence Manager

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Business Unit: DLF Research & Development

Location:

West Salem, WI, US, 54669

DLF North America is currently recruiting for a Trials Excellence Manager for our operations located in West Salem, Wisconsin.

DLF Group is the world leader in the development and sale of high-quality grass seeds for the agricultural forage and (professional) lawn markets. By continuously developing new innovative varieties and products, and with a strong focus on quality and reliability, DLF Group offers demonstrable value to the business of their customers and other relationships.

DLF North America SBU, is one of our four Strategic Business Units. DLF employees are characterized by a high level of competency, passion, and commitment. I n everything we do we act with respect, trust and integrity.

Come grow with DLF!

Check us out  (Global) &  (USA) &  (CA) & visit our careers page at

The Trials Excellence Manager at DLF West Salem plays a critical role in supporting DLF’s global breeding and research programs by ensuring world‑class execution of field trials, trial seed production, seed processing, and overall site operations. This position is responsible for integrating individual trial plans from breeders and researchers into a cohesive, optimized annual site plan that balances crop rotation, resource availability, and operational efficiency.

Through strong planning, prioritization, and an eye for continuous improvement, the Trials Excellence Manager ensures the delivery of high‑quality trials and reliable data across multiple species.

As a key leader on site, this role oversees a dedicated trials excellence team and fosters a culture of safety, accountability, and teamwork. The Trials Excellence Manager ensures effective daily coordination, manages site budgets and investments, and upholds a high standard of site maintenance and operational performance. They collaborate closely with internal teams, local landowners, and global stakeholders, ensuring timely delivery of trial seeds, high-quality trial execution, and clear alignment on priorities.

This role is also a core member of the North America R&D Management Team and an active participant in both the North America and global TEM networks. Through knowledge sharing, process standardization, and cross‑site collaboration, the Trials Excellence Manager contributes to elevating trials excellence across DLF’s global network. The position is instrumental in shaping the culture, fostering continuous improvement, and supporting strategic priorities for R&D operations in North America in alignment with DLF values.

• Plan, coordinate, and optimize the annual field trial program in alignment with breeding objectives, protocols, and regulatory requirements.
• Integrate individual trial plans from breeders and researchers into a cohesive, site‑wide operational plan that considers crop rotation, field capacity, timelines, and resource constraints.
• Ensure balanced resource allocation across multiple species undergoing breeding and trialing at West Salem.
• Oversee field preparation, sowing, maintenance, phenotyping activities, and harvesting to ensure high‑quality, consistent data generation.
• Maintain proper crop rotations to preserve trial integrity, soil health, and long‑term site sustainability.
• Collaborate with local farmers and landowners to secure land access and support rotation planning.

• Plan, prioritize, and oversee the cleaning, processing, quality assurance, and packaging of trial seed.
• Ensure timely delivery of trial seed to internal breeding teams, research partners, and external DLF stakeholders.

• Manage farm crops and rotations to support trial quality and maximize efficient use of available land.
• Identify, apply for, and administer applicable grants that support trial execution, farm activities, or site improvements.

• Lead, develop, and motivate the trials excellence team to foster a culture of safety, quality, accountability, and collaboration.
• Organize and lead weekly…