Senior Researcher

FGV Holdings Berhad is Malaysia’s leading global agri-business and the world’s largest producer of Crude Palm Oil (CPO). FGV’s operations stretch across more than 10 countries in Asia, the Middle East, North America and Europe, and are focused on three main business sectors namely Plantation Sector, Logistics & Support Business (LSB) Sector and Sugar Sector. FGV is the world’s third biggest oil palm plantation operator, has the world’s largest bulking and storage facilities for vegetable oil and is Malaysia’s top refined sugar producer.

Job Description

1.       Strategic Research Planning

• Lead the planning and alignment of water uptake efficiency (WUE) and nutrient uptake efficiency (NUE) breeding trials with long-term breeding program objectives and organisational sustainability goals.

• Identify research gaps and design multi-location trials to capture genotype × environment interactions.

2.       Project Leadership & Supervision

• Mentor and supervise junior researchers, executive, and technical staff in experimental design, data collection, and analysis.

• Coordinate with molecular breeding and agronomy teams to integrate conventional and molecular approaches.

3.       Innovation & Technology Adoption

• Introduce advanced phenotyping tools for accurate assessment of WUE and NUE.

• Drive innovation by linking breeding research with digital platforms, data analytics, and precision agriculture.

4.       Stakeholder Engagement

• Provide expert advice to management, plantation operations, and external collaborators on WUE and NUE-related breeding strategies.

• Strengthen collaborations with universities, research institutions, and industry to leverage external expertise and resources.

5.       Scientific Leadership & Publications

• Lead the preparation of high-impact publications, patents, and technical bulletins.

• Represent the organisation in international conferences, policy forums, and industry platforms to position FGV as a global leader in sustainable oil palm breeding.

6.       Resource & Risk Management

• Oversee research budgets, resources, and timelines to ensure efficient project execution.

• Anticipate and mitigate risks such as climate variability, nursery/field trial failures, or data loss through robust contingency planning.