Head of Sr. Protein Engineer

About the organization

About Genective
Genective is a 50/50 joint venture established between Limagrain and KWS, two of the world’s
largest seed companies. With entities and activities in North America, South America, Europe,
and Asia, Genective is currently dedicated to the research, development, and commercialization
of insecticidal transgenic traits for maize.
About Limagrain
As the fourth largest seed company worldwide, Limagrain’s mission is to move agriculture forward to
meet global food related challenges. Limagrain is a cooperative group founded and managed by French
farmers. Its parent company, Cooperative Limagrain, brings together nearly 2,000 farmers located in
the center of France. The Limagrain Group creates, produces, and distributes field seeds, vegetable
seeds and cereal products. Limagrain is present in 56 countries and has more than 10,000 employees.
Limagrain also owns several well-known companies worldwide such as: LG, Vilmorin, Hazera, Harris
Moran, Jacquet, and Brossard.
About KWS
KWS is one of the world’s leading plant breeding companies. A company with a tradition of family
ownership, KWS has operated independently for more than 160 years. It focuses on plant breeding and
the production and sale of seed for sugarbeet, cereals, rapeseed, sunflower and numerous vegetables.
KWS uses leading-edge plant breeding methods to increase farmers’ yields and to improve resistance
to diseases, pests and abiotic stress.

About the Role

Genective, a JV between two leading global seed companies, Limagrain and KWS, is seeking a
results-oriented and collaborative Sr. Protein Engineer/Scientist. The successful candidate will
deliver novel engineered insecticidal proteins utilizing modern and state of the art methodologies
and collaboration to achieve these important discoveries. This position reports to the VP of
Research & CSO of Genective and will be a member of the Research Leadership Team (RLT). The
primary work location is at Genective’s Global Headquarters in Champaign, IL.

Competitive base salary, bonus, 401(K), medical, dental, PTO, long-term disability, and life
insurance plans, as well as support programs for fitness, education, and employee referrals.
Find your career and make an impact in a dynamic and informal discovery research
environment that is highly collaborative, trusting, and entrepreneurial.

Responsibilities

This Protein Engineering position will play a critical role as part of Genective’s Research and
Development Team ensuring the discovery, development, and execution of research initiatives
that deliver novel insecticidal proteins. Furthermore, this position is key toward the development
and delivery Genective’s overarching corporate and research strategies. The successful candidate
will lead by both direct and indirect influence by working collaboratively and responsibly across
multiple research teams. The focus will be on scientific excellence, results delivery, and people
development. The incumbent will be a working scientist with hands-on research to ensure
delivery of new insecticidal proteins with novel Modes of Action (MOA). This position will either
hired as a Department Head (see below) or a Sr. Research Scientist. In addition to technical
expertise in standard biochemical lab techniques, the main responsibilities of this position include
but are not limited to:

• Invention and development of novel insecticidal proteins.
• Utilization of established and new technologies to optimize and streamline novel protein
  discovery.
• Application of appropriate computational techniques to guide structure-based design that
  improves insecticidal protein developability.
• Work across diverse research teams to design, express, purify, and characterize
  recombinant insecticidal proteins.
• Independently plan, design, execute, record, and analyze studies. Write and review
  technical protocols and reports.
• Be open minded and capable of integrating business aspects, scientific aspects, nonscientific aspects (R&D, related legal, IP, regulatory, quality management) and infrastructure / operational aspects into decision processes.
• Participate and contribute to research project planning, updates, and completion.
• Effectively communicate experimental results across multiple teams by distilling complex information to readily interpreted conclusions.
• Utilize knowledge and expertise to proactively engage members of Genective’s R&D team to promote an energetic culture of science, inclusivity, and community.
• Demonstrate a high degree of leadership proficiency by both direct and indirect influence within and across research teams in an international company comprised of diverse cultures and multiple global partnerships.
• Have excellent communication skills and be able to adjust communication style to highly diverse audiences.
• Demonstrate a core desire for continuous improvement through exchange of constructive dialogue with other scientists regardless of seniority level.
• Direct leadership of other scientists (if applying as a Department Head)
• The position requires significant time working on a computer that may entail stationary activity. Meanwhile, significant time working within in the laboratory is also required.

Qualifications

• Candidates will hold a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Synthetic Biology or
  related field with a minimum of 8 years of experience with at least 3 in the agricultural
  biotechnology industry.
• Experience will have a focus on protein engineering, structural biology, assay
  development, and lead candidate profiling. Proven track record of progressing lead
  candidates in a pipeline is preferred.
• Hands-on experience with recombinant DNA technologies toward functional protein
  improvement using chimeric recombinant sequences, sire-directed/random
  mutagenesis, alanine/cysteine scans, DNA shuffling, site directed mutagenesis, and
  saturated mutagenesis.
• Strong knowledge of protein structure modeling and computational design. Including
  3D-structure aided design in combination with molecular dynamics and quantum
  mechanics predictions.
• Proficiency in Pymol, experience with MOE, Schrodinger, Rosetta or equivalent programs
  is a preferred.
• Excellent English oral, written, presentation, and time management skills as
  demonstrated through peer-reviewed scientific publications, patents, and/or
  equivalents.
• Ability to work, think critically, analyze, and interpret data independently as well as
  collaboratively in a fast-paced and agile environment.
• Experience in agricultural biotechnology with industry experience is highly preferred.
• Experience managing teams of PhD-level scientists and/or research associates is
  required to be considered as a Department Head.
• Demonstrated interpersonal communication and leadership skills (direct and by
  influence) including conflict management and trust building is required.

If interested, please send your cover letter and CV to resumes.pe@genective.com with the subject
line Application for Protein Engineer