Principal Scientist

At Bayer, we believe work should matter. Every day, our teams push toward a future where "Health for all, Hunger for none" is within reach, and every role, from the lab to the field to the boardroom, helps us get there. We give people the ownership to shape outcomes, the support to grow through new skills and experiences, and a global community where different perspectives are valued. If you want your work to count and the room to become your best, you'll find it here.

Principal Scientist

Senior Principal Scientist

As a Senior Principal Scientist at Bayer, you are a research leader and scientific influencer driving plant biology innovations that deliver novel concepts and solve critical challenges for row crop plant breeding. In this role, you align technical leadership with business strategies, lead cross-functional project teams, and implement global solutions for a crop. You sit within Crop Science R&D, collaborating closely with plant breeding, precision genomics, trait delivery, and other functions to shape the scientific and strategic direction of the division.

YOUR TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

•Lead and influence the strategic direction of plant biology innovations, solving critical challenges in the areas of genome and reproductive systems;

•Design, execute, and analyze research to enable high-quality, data-driven decisions;

•Collaborate with cross-functional teams across the organization to develop new concepts and implement research outcomes globally for a crop;

•Align technical leadership with business strategies, taking into consideration inter-departmental factors, and provide project leadership through matrix relationships;

•Partner with patent science to capture IP and secure freedom to operate (FTO) for novel concepts;

•Drive progress toward key project milestones while communicating timely status updates and any challenges or revisions to planned next steps;

•Actively troubleshoot and problem-solve to optimize research procedures;

•Organize, document, and report research outcomes in a timely manner;

•Travel as needed to regional sites, business meetings, and external conferences to develop business relationships and stay current with leading-edge technologies.

WHO YOU ARE

Bayer seeks an incumbent who possesses the following:

Required Qualifications:

•Advanced degree (PhD, MS, or BS) in plant biology, genetics, or a closely related scientific discipline;

•Demonstrated ability to conduct research and contribute to research projects, technologies, publications, intellectual property, or trade secrets;

•Creativity, novelty of outlook, and vision, with the ability to identify leading-edge technology early enough to establish a proprietary position or competitive lead time;

•Ability to influence business strategy by providing technical input to planning and decision-making processes;

•Proven capability to direct or lead inter-departmental research projects and take on project or technology leadership responsibilities;

•Widely recognized as a leading authority in your field, with a substantially expanded sphere of scientific and managerial influence both within the division and beyond;

•Strong ability to critically evaluate a research and technology portfolio and make recommendations to senior research management;

•Excellent communication skills, with the ability to effectively convey goals and objectives to all relevant stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications:

•PhD with 6+ years of relevant experience, MS with 10+ years of relevant experience, or BS with 12+ years of relevant experience.

Compensation and Benefits

Employees can expect to be paid a salary between $155,000 – $232,600 per year. Additional compensation may include a bonus or commission (if relevant). Other benefits include health care, vision, dental, retirement, PTO, sick leave, etc. If selected for this role, the offer may vary based on market data/ranges, an applicant’s skills and prior relevant experience, certain degrees and certifications, and other relevant factors.

This posting will be available for application until at least October 28, 2026.

YOUR APPLICATION

Bayer offers a wide variety of competitive compensation and benefits programs. If you meet the requirements of this unique opportunity, and want to impact our mission Health for all, Hunger for none, we encourage you to apply now. Be part of something bigger. Be you. Be Bayer.

To all recruitment agencies: Bayer does not accept unsolicited third party resumes.

Bayer is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans

Bayer is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations in its application process for individuals with disabilities and encourages applicants with disabilities to request any needed accommodation(s) using the contact information below.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: Notice for U.S. Visitors: All information on this site is subject to compliance with local rule and regulations as they may vary from time to time and across different geographies, including, without limitation, U.S. Executive Orders.

Bayer is an E-Verify Employer.

Location: United States : Missouri : Chesterfield

Division: Crop Science

Reference Code: 893779

Contact Us

Email: [email protected]