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 & Trialing Team is seeking a Senior Research Associate in Malta, IL. This role will support planning, leadership, and execution on a controlled environment operations team to ensure the successful management and execution of seed production for multiple crops within breeding pipelines. Executes role responsibilities in addition to managing others.Accountabilities:Provide direction for the functional controlled environment team in operations.Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and operational metrics.Collaborate with site leadership and cross-functional teams to align operational strategies with business objectives.Oversee the development and implementation of operational policies, procedures, and best practices.Provide expert guidance, leadership, and mentoring to teams, promoting a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.Manage and optimize operational budgets, resources, and personnel allocation.Lead the evaluation, selection, and implementation of new technologies, systems, and tools.Represent the functional team in cross-functional meetings and decision-making processes.Foster a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and operational excellence.Develop and maintain relationships with external stakeholders, vendors, and industry partners.Identify and mitigate operational risks and develop contingency plans.Lead cross-functional operational projects and initiatives, ensuring alignment with business objectives.