Berry Technical Manager - Americas (Breeding Manager)

Role Overview

This role leads the technical planning, execution, and governance of VentureFruit’s berry testing, evaluation, breeding interface and early-stage commercialization programs across North, Central, and South America.

The role combines strong technical expertise in commercial Blueberry and Rubus production with disciplined program and trial management to design evaluations, interpret data, and deliver consistent, high-quality recommendations that support breeding priorities and commercialization decisions.

This role reports directly to the Head of Operations – Americas, with a dotted line to the Global Variety Development Manager – Berries (GVDM), and partners closely with cross-functional teams across breeding, quality, operations, and commercial functions.

Job Description

• Own the end-to-end technical and operational program plan for berry testing, evaluation and early-stage commercialization across the Americas.

• Translate global berry and breeding strategy into clear regional plans, milestones, and deliverables that support progression from trials into commercial readiness.

• Carefully coordinate operations of multi-site, multi-partner programs, including early commercialization pilots, aligned to VentureFruit objectives, operational requirements and timelines.

• Design and oversee field trials for new and advanced berry selections, including agronomic performance, quality attributes, and post-harvest evaluation.

• Manage plant material for trials, including planning, allocation, tracking, and coordination of propagation, movement, and compliance across internal and partner sites.

• Ensure consistent data collection protocols across internal and partner sites.

• Review trial data and deliver clear, actionable technical recommendations to commercialization and breeding stakeholders.

• Serve as the regional technical interface with berry breeding partners, ensuring alignment between breeding objectives, selection advancement, and regional testing priorities.

• Support breeding-relevant workstreams, including material intake, trial progression, advancement criteria, with a focus on operational feasibility and regional performance validation.

• Ensure consistent application of evaluation criteria and data requirements from early selections through advanced trials and pre-commercial pilots.

• Coordinate movement, establishment, and evaluation of breeding material in line with biosecurity, IP, and material transfer requirements.

• Provide structured technical feedback and support annual and multi-year breeding program reviews and go/no-go decisions.

• Accountable for project management of regional breeding activities, with responsibility for coordinating and aligning Americas input into global breeding programs.

• Own technical reporting, including seasonal summaries, comparative analyses, and advancement recommendations.

• Ensure data integrity, traceability, and timely delivery of insights.

• Support bi-annual and ad hoc decision forums with evidence-based recommendations.

• Act as the primary technical contact for growers, trial partners, QC teams, and service providers.

• Build strong industry relationships to support trial execution and future commercialization.

• Support IP protection through accurate documentation, compliance, and contribution to technical standards, SOPs and operational best practices.

• Lead by example on all safety matters

• Ensure all appropriate actions are taken to assist with the implementation of the company’s H&S Policy and Procedures and given action

• Reduction of accidents, incidents, hazards, near misses, and injuries including property damage

• Ensure all incidents, accidents, hazards, near misses and injuries including property damage are recorded through the company Health & Safety tool

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Agriculture, Horticulture, Food Science, Food Technology, Biotechnology or related field (or equivalent experience).

• 3+ years’ experience in berry production, technical agronomy, variety testing or breeding adjacent programs

• Demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-site programs with multiple stakeholders.

• Excellent analytical and communication skills; comfortable working across regions and cultures.

• Strong background in commercial berry production and the disciplined application of scientific method, including designing trials, data interpretation and evidence based technical decision-making.

• Comfortable operating in a matrixed, fast moving environment with competing priorities and evolving program needs.

• Understanding of the impact of post-harvest activities on fruit quality

• Sound understanding of export industry and international trade

• High degree of computer literacy including proficiency with Microsoft Office programs

• Strong commercial understanding

• Technical skills in propagation and best growing practices of selected PVR varieties

Preferred

• Experience managing plant material logistics, including planning, tracking, movement, and compliance across multiple locations

Salary Range

Yearly salary: $100,000 - $150,000

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

• FSA eligibility

• 401K eligibility with 3% company contributions

• Four (4) weeks of paid vacation time per year

• Five (5) days of paid sick leave each year