Head of Crop Product Development

Head of Crop Product Development

We are looking for a visionary leader who can turn breakthrough gene editing science into market ready crop products, drive a multi crop pipeline, and power Tropic’s next phase of growth.

Seniority level: Within Tropic this role is at Vice President level which forms part of the Senior Leadership Team. The role reports into the Chief Development Officer. We understand job titles can vary and so we’re open to speaking with candidates working in Head of, Department Lead, Director and VP level roles currently.

Job Purpose

The Head of Crop Product Development will manage Tropic’s crop product pipeline across existing (banana, rice) and future crop platforms, with accountability for delivering commercially relevant, gene-edited crop products from concept through to launch, in close partnership with commercial, regulatory, and operational teams. This leader ensures Tropic’s technology translates into impactful, market ready products and builds the organisational capability needed to support multi crop growth.

Responsibilities

• Pipeline Strategy & Portfolio Leadership: Define and execute crop product strategy in close partnership with the commercial organisation, onboarding new crops, prioritising the pipeline and allocating resources for maximum commercial and strategic impact.


• Product Development & Delivery: Lead end-to-end product development from trait discovery through regulatory progression to launch readiness, driving milestone based plans and rigorous stage gate discipline, ultimately ensuring on-time product delivery.

• R&D Activities: Oversee R&D activities, optimising workflows, infrastructure, and resource allocation while upholding biosafety, data integrity, and compliance (Plant Breeding Innovation/Excellence Through Stewardship).

• Cross Functional & Executive Leadership: Partner with internal teams including Commercial, Regulatory, Project Management, and Senior Leadership to align product development with business priorities, and represent crop development at executive and board levels.

• Team Leadership & Organisational Capability: Lead and develop high performing multidisciplinary teams and mentor future leaders, strengthening organisational capability and readying for further crop expansion.

• Market, Grower & Value Chain Insight: Integrate deep market, grower, value chain, sustainability, and climate insights into product and pipeline strategy.

A more comprehensive job description can be provided upon request.

Requirements 

Qualifications and Experience

• PhD or advanced degree in Plant Sciences, Agronomy, Biotechnology, Genetics, or related (MBA a plus).

• 12+ years’ experience in agricultural biotechnology, seeds, crop R&D, or related sectors.


• Demonstrated success launching plant varieties or biotech crop products.


• Proven leadership of sizable, multi‑disciplinary development teams.


• Experience building and advancing multi‑year crop pipelines.


• Strong commercial acumen with a track record of effective cross functional collaboration.


• Ability to navigate complex trade-offs and make effective portfolio decisions.


• Experience onboarding new crops into a product development pipeline is desirable.

Leadership Profile

• Strategic, disciplined, and execution driven.


• Decisive and comfortable leading through ambiguity.


• A strong communicator and stakeholder manager.


• Commercially aware while maintaining scientific rigor.


• Effective in a fast paced, scaling biotech environment.

About Us

Tropic is a pioneering tropical seeds company dedicated to the development of healthier, more robust, high-performing varieties of tropical crops. The company’s current core crop portfolio focusses on banana and rice, which together provide a source of livelihood to billions of people worldwide. Tropic utilises its proprietary GEiGS® platform and other cutting-edge gene editing technologies to develop improved crops with increased disease resistance, higher yields, and environmentally sustainable traits. By harnessing the power of advanced genetic engineering, Tropic is committed to addressing global agricultural challenges and providing innovative solutions that benefit farmers, consumers, and the environment.

Why Join Tropic?

• Diverse workforce operating in a dynamic working environment
  


• Excellent learning and career development opportunities


• Social events throughout the year


• Competitive compensation and benefits including: Private Medical Care, Medical Cash Plan, 25 days annual leave, and Life Assurance

Further Information 

• Job Location – Norwich UK


• Time Requirement – Full Time


• Contract – Permanent 


• Closing date  - 07/04/2026