TC Lab Coordinator

Company Description

About Syngenta  

Syngenta is a global leader in agricultural innovation with a presence in more than 90 countries. Syngenta is focused on developing technologies and farming practices that empower farmers, so they can make the transformation required to feed the world’s population while preserving our planet. Its bold scientific discoveries deliver better benefits for farmers and society on a bigger scale than ever before. Guided by its Sustainability Priorities, Syngenta is developing new technologies and solutions that support farmers to grow healthier plants in healthier soil with a higher yield. Syngenta Crop Protection is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland; Syngenta Seeds is headquartered in the United States. Read our stories and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram & X.

Job Description

At Syngenta, our goal is to build the most collaborative and trustworthy team in agriculture, providing top-quality seeds and innovative crop protection solutions that improve farmers' success. To support this mission, Syngenta’s Operations GT Seeds team is seeking a TC Lab Coordinator in Amatitlan, Guatemala. This role will support on:

• Be a project manager to execute CAPEX projects proposal for TC Lab mid and long term (documentation, Contractors, finances, etc.), leading improvement and technical innovation initiatives that enhance the efficiency, quality, and competitiveness of the area aligned with strategic objectives.
• Act as the technical expert within the TC Initiations team, providing direction on methods, research on technologies and culture media, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement.
• Create a QMS for initiation and maintenance activities to drive robust implementation in routine TC lab initiations activities.
• Coordinate and execute day-to-day tissue culture (TC) operations across initiation to deliver planned output, quality, and timing.
• Lead the implementation and routine adoption of the TERRA platform within laboratory workflows.
• Lead development and continuous improvement of tissue culture protocols (initiation and maintenance) by collaborating with technicians and stakeholders to design and run trials, train and implement updates in routine work, and monitor quality/performance—escalating deviations and driving corrective actions as needed.

Accountabilities 

• Partner with the TC Lab Lead and Supervisor to oversee day-to-day laboratory workflows, ensuring equipment readiness, materials/media availability, and seamless workflow execution.
• Build proactive alignment on ways of working and best practices with other Syngenta TC labs (e.g., Enkhuizen and Gilroy) focused on TC initiations and maintenance.
• Ensure adherence to the TC-SEE process and maintain working knowledge of the full SEE cycle, including a strong understanding of the Elite concept from initiations to big scale production.
• Design and lead the laboratory's innovation strategy, with a medium and long-term projection where medium term means Maintenance activities and long term means Initiations activities.
• Propose and design experiments to identify the best culture media, growth regulators, and environmental conditions for maintenance and initiations for new crops.
• Explore and evaluate new techniques, inputs, and technologies applicable to in vitro cultivation.
• Analyze experimental data and translate findings into concrete improvements to the production process.
• Plan, execute, and monitor improvement and innovation projects in the laboratory.
• Define objectives, timelines, resources, and success metrics for each project.
• Identify risks and propose contingency plans within the projects under your responsibility.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams (Breeding, Phyto Lab, Phytosanitation, Procurement, HSE and others) for project execution and strategic objectives achievement.

Qualifications

Required  

• Language Skills: Good level of English verbal and written.
• Critical knowledge.
• ·Education: Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent level demonstrated through relevant experience and proven performance).
• Role requirements: To perform successfully, the incumbent must consistently deliver essential duties with high quality and efficiency. Key knowledge areas include:
• Tissue culture and/or cell biology fundamentals and application.
• People leadership (supervision, coaching, mentoring).
• Laboratory quality systems and quality assurance practices.
• Critical experience.
• Hands-on experience with tissue culture material handling in a production and/or R&D lab environment.
• Demonstrated collaboration across boundaries (cross-functional and/or multi-site).
• Experience in tissue culture protocol development, optimization, and implementation (including documentation and training).
• Critical technical, professional & personal capabilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Strong planning and organization skills; able to manage multiple priorities.
• High attention to detail and disciplined documentation.
• Decisive, solution-oriented approach to operational issues.
• Effective interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Desired 

• Proactive and self-directed: Anticipates issues, prioritizes effectively, and drives actions to completion with minimal supervision.
• Cross-functional communication & problem solving: Aligns quickly with stakeholders (e.g., breeding, QA, supply/logistics), communicates clearly, and resolves issues using structured root-cause thinking.
• Process improvement mindset: Identifies improvement opportunities, translates concepts into practical protocol changes, and ensures sustainable implementation and adoption.
• Appropriate attention to detail: Maintains high accuracy in documentation and execution, applying the right level of rigor based on risk, impact, and task criticality.
• Learning agility: Quickly learns new methods, tools, and requirements; seeks feedback and applies lessons learned to improve performance.
• Effective in a matrix organization: Builds trust and influence without direct authority, manages competing priorities, and delivers outcomes through collaboration and alignment.

Additional Information

What We Offer  

• A culture that celebrates diversity & inclusion, promotes professional development, and strives for a work-life balance that supports the team members. Offers flexible work options to support your work and personal needs. 
• Full Benefit Package (Medical, Dental & Vision) that starts your first day. 
• Paid Vacation, Paid Holidays, Maternity and Paternity Leave, Education Assistance, Wellness Programs, Corporate Discounts, among other benefits. 

Important: 

Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. 

Beyond just believing in the power of diversity, Syngenta Group promotes an inclusive culture that includes differences in all its forms. We believe that the feeling of belonging allows people to become their best version, building an increasingly welcoming and productive environment. 

All qualified candidates will be considered for our positions, without distinction of race, gender, age, nationality or disability 

*This position will not provide relocation support. 

*This position will require immediate availability. 

Be part of a leading company that brings the potential of plants to life. 

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