Head of Physiology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry

Our client is a leading tropical vegetable seed company headquartered in Thailand, seeking an accomplished Head of Physiology, Cell Biology, & Biochemistry to drive innovative R&D strategies that enhance breeding programs and deliver impactful outcomes for smallholder farmers. In this role, you will lead a multidisciplinary team in developing and scaling cutting-edge protocols for plant life-cycle manipulation, biochemical trait analysis, and tissue culture-based solutions. Working in close collaboration with breeders, researchers, and technical teams, your leadership will enable faster, data-driven product development through innovations like speed breeding, double haploidy, and nutrient and flavor profiling. This position offers a unique opportunity to translate scientific advances into practical, scalable tools that support global food security and empower the next generation of sustainable agriculture.


Responsibilities :

Purposeful R&D Leadership

• Develop a 5-year strategic plan for the Cell Biology, Plant Physiology, and Biochemistry research team aligned with the Company’s R&D goals
• Build and lead capabilities to support breeding programs through advanced methods such as speed breeding, double haploidy, embryo rescue, tetraploidy induction, chromosome engineering, somatic hybridization, protoplast fusion, and tissue culture
• Develop innovative tools and assays to quantitatively evaluate biochemical traits in key vegetable crops

Trustworthy Networking and Collaboration

• Collaborate with Technical Services, Operations, and Breeding to scale up and optimize new protocols
• Coordinate with Research Managers and Breeding Managers to implement research priorities and provide expert input on proposals
• Establish strategic partnerships with public and private institutions to strengthen research capabilities
• Stay updated on the latest advancements in cell biology, plant physiology, speed breeding, and biochemistry through literature review, professional networks, and scientific events

Nurturing Project Management and Team Development

• Lead technical direction, project execution, and budget oversight to ensure timely, efficient delivery or redirection of innovation projects
• Review, synthesize, and communicate research outcomes to relevant stakeholders
• Manage team and collaboration performance through KPI setting, tracking, and corrective action as needed
• Oversee staff training and development, and contribute to creating technical learning resources for the Company Academy

 

Requirements :

Leadership & People Management Skills

• Demonstrated leadership ability with experience in assembling and leading high-performing teams
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work independently as well as in a collaborative team environment
• Strong English communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to convey complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences

Technical Competencies

• PhD preferred in plant physiology, cell biology, biotechnology, horticulture, or biochemistry
• Alternatively, a Master’s degree with 7 years of relevant experience in cell biology, tissue culture, or applied biotechnology
• Proven experience in team leadership and research project management.Demonstrated success in developing double haploid methods and optimizing speed breeding protocols
• Proficient in biochemical and spectral analysis for plant trait evaluation
• Skilled in preparing scientific publications for international peer-reviewed journals
• Strong focus on digitalization, with effective data capture and utilization practices
• Process-oriented mindset, continuously seeking improvements from small optimizations to complete process reengineering