Manager Research & Development

Position Title:Manager Research & Development

Position Type: Regular - Full-Time ​

Requisition ID: 44459 

In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and passionate about creating exceptional work experiences - together. With a customer-first mindset, we make doing business with McCain easy.

About the role.

The position is responsible for new variety shortlisting, variety evaluation, and agronomic trials to support new variety establishment. The role develops recommendations to maximize yield while maintaining quality, transfers insights to internal and external stakeholders, and supports both seed and ware potato programs. The incumbent will also evaluate future technologies across farms, cold stores, and commercial operations while collaborating with global teams and ensuring timely communication with key stakeholders.

What you’ll be doing.

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of Agribusiness operations, supplier contracts, and raw material quality impacts.


• Provide training and technical guidance to regional grower groups using multiple communication and demonstration methods.


• Support growers in improving crop yield and quality through enhanced Package of Practices based on historical data and field insights.


• Drive compliance with sustainability reporting requirements through AgPortal, GMS, and related systems, while maintaining McCain GAP records.


• Conduct variety evaluation trials, address seed-related challenges, and identify practical solutions through research and field testing.


• Collaborate with growers, research institutions, and the agriculture community to investigate disease, pest, and crop productivity issues.


• Provide technical recommendations on crop nutrition, crop protection, storage management, and plant health optimization.


• Promote sustainable agricultural practices, including IPM adoption, sustainability audits, and decision-support systems for disease management.


• Build strong partnerships with research institutions, private-sector organizations, operations teams, and supply chain stakeholders to develop and implement new technologies and solutions.


• Lead knowledge sharing initiatives and train team members to effectively manage responsibilities independently.

What you’ll need to be successful.

• Master’s or Ph.D. degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, or Applied Science.


• 8-10 years of relevant professional experience.


• Experience in variety trials, breeding, crop production, or related agricultural research, preferably within potato crops.

About the team.

This role reports directly to the Director - Agriculture and plays a key role in supporting agronomic excellence, variety development, grower engagement, and sustainable agricultural practices across the business.

About McCain.

Click Here to learn more about McCain and how we provide opportunities to make an impact that matters.

Leadership principles.

At McCain, our leadership principles guide how we engage with customers, collaborate as a team, and achieve success. We focus on understanding customer needs, driving innovation, empowering people, and taking ownership to clear obstacles and deliver results.

AI & Digital Capabilities.

At McCain, AI and digital capabilities are part of how we work and innovate. We value curiosity toward emerging technologies and the thoughtful, responsible use of AI-enabled tools to improve outcomes as part of our future-ready culture.

The McCain experience.

We are McCain. This statement is a testament to our collective strength and our individual value. Your contributions play a vital role in our success. Our winning culture is rooted in authenticity and trust, empowering us to bring out the best in one another. Here, you’ll find opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Join us and experience why we’re better together.

Our purpose is grounded in building meaningful relationships. We’re big believers in the power of working together in person. It helps us stay connected, collaborate more effectively, and grow as a team. At the same time, we recognize the importance of flexibility. Most office-based roles follow a hybrid model, with the option to work remotely two days a week. There may be exceptions depending on the role and location, so we encourage you to speak with your recruiter for more details.

McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company, we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know  and we will work with you to find appropriate solutions. 

Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with McCain’s Global Privacy Policy and Global Employee Privacy Policy, as applicable. McCain leverages AI in the hiring process, though all final decisions are made by humans. You can understand our approach to AI and how your personal information is being handled here.