About Sakata: Our mission is to quickly and efficiently meet industry expectations for quality seed, strong performance and excellent yields, as well as retail and consumer demand for delicious fruit and vegetables. Sakata Seed America was established in 1977 as a research, production and sales division of Sakata Seed Corporation. Our mission is to quickly and efficiently meet industry expectations for quality seed, strong performance and excellent yields, as well as retail and consumer demand for delicious fruit and vegetables. Sakata Seed America is headquartered in Woodland, CA. Our research facilities include stations in Salinas, California; Yuma, Arizona; Burlington, Washington; and Fort Myers, Florida. These facilities focus on vegetable breeding and trialing. Today, we continue to challenge ourselves to be the industry leader for innovation, quality, reliability and service. 

LOCATION: Woodland, California

JOB SUMMARY:  The Regional Pathology Manager provides leadership and managerial supervision to the managers and scientists performing breeder support disease resistance screening, seed health testing, seed health risk management, as well as Operations and Production support such as disinfection treatment guidelines and disease prevention, control, and diagnosis. Also involved in corporate and industry initiatives in areas such as phytosanitary and importation problems, disease resistance and pathogen nomenclature standardization and seed health testing verification.  The role will be responsible for managing pathology-related projects and efficient use of available resources to ensure on-time completion within budgeted costs.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES*:

Pathology Management:

• Oversee all pathology activities within the region, including disease diagnostics, screening, resistance breeding, and seed disinfection methods.
• Develop and implement disease management strategies tailored to regional &climatic conditions.
• Monitor and manage disease outbreaks, providing timely and effective responses.
• Define phytosanitary initiatives or processes and assist in the diagnosis and prevention of pest problems in commercial seed production fields.

Team Leadership and Development:

• Lead and mentor a team of pathologists and technical staff, fostering collaboration and innovation.
• Provide training and development opportunities to enhance team skills and knowledge.
• Conduct performance evaluations, provide constructive feedback, and manage performance.
• Develop and monitor budgets and capital projects for Seed Health and Pathology cost centers.

Research and Development:

• Design and execute research projects aimed at understanding and combating plant diseases.
• Collaborate with breeding teams to integrate disease resistance into new vegetable seed varieties.
• Strive to discover/develop new technologies to improve breeding projects and testing efficiency.
• Maintain contacts with public and private researchers, as well as overseas Sakata colleagues, involved in developing new technologies for important crops.

Collaboration and Communication:

• Keeps QA Director informed of developing issues and critical tasks not done.
• Work with regional breeding, production, and QA to align pathology efforts with Sakata goals.
• Communicate research findings, disease forecasts, and management recommendations to QA Dir.
• Represent the company at industry conferences, seminars, and professional meetings to monitor advancements in relevant sciences and develop technical skills and expertise.
• Support the Production Department and Supply Chain Pathology Manager through visits to international production sites as needed and approved.

Data Management and Reporting:

• Maintain accurate records of pathology activities, research results, and disease occurrences.
• Prepare and present status on regional pathology status, research progress, and disease management outcomes.
• Utilize data analysis tools to interpret results and inform decision-making.
• Complete internal and external reports as required by the QA Director.

Regulatory Compliance:

• Ensure all pathology activities comply with local, national, and international regulations.
• Support the team with necessary laboratory accreditation, documentation, and certification programs to meet or exceed industry seed health standards.
• Maintain knowledge of regulatory changes and implement adjustments to protocols and practices.
• Work closely with the QA Director to establish department goals and objectives for the pathology team in line with company goals.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE/KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience managing pathology teams.
• A minimum of 10 years of Pathology Program Management experience.
• Must possess leadership skills such as strategic thinking, team motivation and conflict resolution and managerial abilities such as budgeting and cost control.
• Ability to recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate the performance of subordinates.
• Must possess laboratory, greenhouse, and field skills in plant pathology, with emphasis on applied disease resistance screening and evaluation protocols, and new pathogen detection and disease diagnosis employing microbiological and serological methods for bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
• Must have excellent oral and written communication skills, well-developed interpersonal skills, and the ability to work independently, yet cooperatively, in a team effort.  Strong analytical and reasoning abilities.
• Ability to handle stress especially when encountering necessary projects, deadlines and/or high workload.
• Must be able to work under strict time constraints and requirements.
• Strong character traits required including emotional stability, adaptability, ability to handle stress, cultural and gender sensitivity, and honesty.

EDUCATION REQUIRED:

• MS degree in plant pathology, plant science or related field of biological sciences.
• PHD degree preferred

LICENSES/DEGREES/TRAINING:

• Must maintain a valid California State Driver’s License.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Must be able to work with laboratory chemicals, pesticides, and other possible irritating substances.
• Must be willing to work overtime hours, including some weekends and holidays, as requested.
• Must be able to work under different weather conditions such as extremes in temperature and must be able to work in dusty conditions.
• Must be able to wear protective equipment when necessary and/or required (e.g., gloves, respirator, safety glasses, hearing protection).
• Must be able to drive for long periods of time.
• Must be able to travel occasionally throughout the year on company related business, including international travel.
• This is a full-time, onsite position.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

• Salary: $135,000 - $142,000 per year
• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance coverage for employees and their families
• Basic Life & AD&D Insurance
• 401k program with company match
• Profit Sharing program (via 401k)
• Holiday & Performance Incentive Bonus program
• Paid Vacation: 10 days per year to start, increases with tenure
• Sick Leave: 1 hour accrued per 30 hours worked for first 30 days, 6.67 hours per month after.
• 14 paid company holidays, 2 floating holidays & birthday off
• Paid Family Leave: 15 days after 12 months of service for FMLA qualifying events
• Company provided EAP
• Company provided subsidy for health/fitness clubs & apps

APPLICATION

To apply, send resume to HR@sakata.com

* To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty (as described above) satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable Individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.