Global Director of R&D Operations

Limagrain is a global company with deep local roots. Our parent company is an agricultural cooperative based in the Limagne-Val d’Allier plain, in the heart of Central France’s Auvergne region, while we are an international seed and agri-food group with some 9,600 employees working in 53 countries. As the 4th largest seed company in the world, we achieved sales of 2.522 billion euros in 2023‑2024, with additional sales of 729 million euros from activities carried out in collaboration with our strategic partners. Purpose of the job As the Global Director of R&D Operations (M/F), you oversee the strategic and operational execution of HM.CLAUSE’s R&D activities across AMPA, ASIA, and EMEA. You ensure consistent delivery of high-quality and reliable results that drive crop development and testing, while safeguarding safety, phytosanitary compliance, and environmental stewardship. This position can be based either in one of our sites in France (La Bohalle, Portes‑lès‑Valences or St Rémy de Provence) or in US (our HQ in Davis, CA). Job Missions In this role, you lead and develop a diverse global team and manage the global R&D Operations budget, including CAPEX and maintenance. As a core member of both the HM.CLAUSE R&D Global Management Team and the Limagrain Vegetable Seeds (LVS) R&D Operations Leadership Team, you contribute to global strategy and cross‑functional collaboration, build inclusive teams, and champion a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement. Your Key Missions Include Leading the coordination, organization, and management of R&D activities and facilities across global sites Ensuring consistent execution of crop protocols and procedures Promoting best practices and facilitating knowledge sharing between regions Developing future leaders and inspiring high‑performing teams Defining site‑specific objectives; implementing and monitoring KPIs to improve operational performance Collaborating with LVS R&D Operations leaders to design and implement synergies across stations Acting as a liaison with corporate support functions (HR, Finance, QSE) Overseeing budget planning, financial control, and CAPEX alignment with strategic objectives Ensuring adherence to QSE standards; monitoring incidents, conducting audits, and driving corrective actions Staying informed on regional regulatory requirements and promoting compliance Leading continuous improvement initiatives to enhance operational efficiency This role involves business travels (30%) and thus, you must be able to travel accordingly. You are an experienced and influential leader who brings structure, clarity, and a strong transformation mindset. Collaborative and globally minded, you know how to align diverse teams, drive change with purpose, and install a performance‑oriented culture. You thrive in complex, multicultural, and matrixed environments, where your ability to engage, communicate, and bring people together makes a real difference. Impact‑driven, structured, and people‑focused, you contribute to shaping the long‑term success of the organization. You Also Bring Background in Seeds Business & Agronomy Extensive experience in Operations International exposure across multiple regions Experience managing large multicultural teams Budget management knowledge Experience in change management and transformation would be a plus Fluent English; French or Spanish as a plus Recruitment process Once your application has been submitted, an acknowledgement of receipt will confirm its receipt. We will study your profile in relation to the needs of the position and the company. If your application is selected, the following steps are part of our process: After a prequalification interview, we will ask you to complete personality inventories and reasoning tests that will serve as a basis for an interview with the Group's Talent Management. Then you will meet your manager and your dotter line manager. Groupe Limagrain is an employer that respects diversity and encourages applications from all backgrounds. #J-18808-Ljbffr