Senior Scientist – Seed Production & Traits Job Listing at Kelly Services in St. Louis, MO (Job ID 10081739)

Description

Senior Scientist – Seed Production & Trait Integration (Contract)
Location: St. Louis, MO
Schedule: Monday – Friday | Hybrid (minimum 3 days onsite; many consultants work onsite 5 days/week)
Job Type: Contract (12 months, potential extension) with full benefits
Target Pay Rate: $58–78/hour (~$120,000–$160,000/year)

Position Summary
Kelly Science & Clinical is seeking a skilled and dedicated Senior Scientist – Seed Production & Trait Integration for a 12-month contract role. This position offers an exciting opportunity to be a key contributor in supporting product development and field readiness in a high-impact, hands-on capacity. The role was created to consolidate responsibilities previously distributed across multiple team members, and your expertise will be instrumental in preparing for the upcoming field season. In this position, you will serve as a technical lead within the Product Development team, overseeing seed production planning, molecular quality control, trait integration, and CRO coordination. Working closely with internal partners, you will manage critical workflows essential to both greenhouse and field programs, ensuring development milestones are met efficiently.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and oversee seed production activities for field and greenhouse programs.
• Manage molecular assay-based quality control testing to ensure seed purity and trait integrity.
• Coordinate plant crossing and seed production activities with Contract Research Organizations (CROs).
• Lead trait integration efforts across multiple crop platforms.
• Ensure compliance with biotech trait requirements and applicable regulatory standards.
• Utilize project management and data systems to track progress, timelines, and results.
• Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders while operating independently on assigned projects.
• Support readiness efforts for upcoming field seasons.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Biology, Molecular Biology, Plant Science, or related scientific discipline.
• 5–7 years of relevant industry experience, preferably in agricultural biotech.
• Strong working knowledge of biotech traits and regulatory considerations.
• Proficiency in molecular biology techniques.
• Understanding of basic plant genetics.
• Demonstrated experience working with CROs for field and greenhouse seed production.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred / Additional Experience

• Experience supporting multiple crop systems such as soybean, cowpea, and corn.
• Exposure to clonally propagated crops like cassava.
• Hands-on experience with LIMS platforms (e.g., Benchling, Phenome).
• Familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Smartsheet).

Key Interactions

• Product Development Team
• Stewardship
• Quality Assurance
• Regulatory Affairs
• External partners including CROs and consultants

This is an excellent opportunity for a passionate scientist to lead innovative seed and trait projects in a collaborative environment. If you have the expertise and enthusiasm to make a meaningful impact, we encourage you to apply and become a vital part of our team.

As part of our promise to talent, Kelly supports those who work with us through a variety of benefits, perks, and work-related resources. Kelly offers eligible employees voluntary benefit plans including medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, term life, whole life, accident insurance, critical illness, a legal plan, and short-term disability. As a Kelly employee, you will have access to a retirement savings plan, service bonus and holiday pay plans (earn up to eight paid holidays per benefit year), and a transit spending account. In addition, employees are entitled to earn paid sick leave under the applicable state or local plan. Click here for more information on benefits and perks that may be available to you as a member of the Kelly Talent Community.

Why Kelly® Science & Clinical?

Kelly Science & Clinical is your connection to premier scientific and clinical companies looking to hire industry experts just like you. Our team creates expert talent solutions to solve the world's most critical challenges. Every day, we match science professionals with dream jobs that fit their skills, interests, and career goals—it's the way we think job searching should be. Nearly 100 percent of our science recruiters have a professional background and education in science, so we know a thing or two about the science market and how to get your expertise noticed.

About Kelly

Work changes everything. And at Kelly, we're obsessed with where it can take you. To us, it's about more than simply accepting your next job opportunity. It's the fuel that powers every next step of your life. It's the ripple effect that changes and improves everything for your family, your community, and the world. Which is why, here at Kelly, we are dedicated to providing you with limitless opportunities to enrich your life—just ask the 300,000 people we employ each year.

Kelly is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and we take affirmative action to recruit, employ, and advance qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in the workforce. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to the Kelly Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California's state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment. Kelly participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

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