Data Governance Lead

Company Description

Syngenta Group, a global leader in agricultural technology and innovation, employs 60,000 people across more than 100 countries to transform agriculture through tailor-made solutions for farmers, society, and our planet. Our diverse portfolio encompasses seeds, crop protection, nutrition products, agronomic solutions, and digital services, all designed to help farmers produce healthy food, feed, fiber, and fuel while conserving natural resources and protecting the environment. Our mission is to address critical challenges such as climate change and food security through sustainable practices and cutting-edge solutions, while safeguarding the planet's resources.

Syngenta Crop Protection, the largest Syngenta Group unit, leads in sustainable farming solutions, offering innovative products to keep crops healthy while minimizing environmental impact, from planting to harvest.

Syngenta Seeds, a leading developer and producer of Field Crops, -Vegetable, - and Flower Seeds, is part of Syngenta Group. We bring farmers more vigorous, stronger, resistant plants, including innovative hybrid varieties and biotech crops.

Syngenta has been ranked as a top employer by Science Magazine.

Job Description

We are seeking a highly skilled Data Governance Lead to join our Digital & Data Science Group in Biologicals Research. Biologicals research discovers, characterizes, optimizes and produces novel biologicals. Biologicals are derived from nature. They can be naturally occurring microbes, extracts or molecules protecting plants from pests and diseases or improving plant and soil health.

Within this role you will be responsible for establishing, embedding, and continuously improving data governance across Biologicals Research globally. The role ensures that research data is high quality, findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR), enabling trusted, data-driven decision making, efficient collaboration, and effective use of digital and data-science capabilities.

Operating across a Biologicals Research community located on five global R&D sites, the role translates Data Excellence principles into practical standards, processes, ownership and operating models for Biologicals Research. It connects local research teams with cross-functional CP R&D governance forums to resolve shared data topics and promote consistent practices.

Key accountabilities

• Lead the implementation of data governance within Biologicals Research.
• Define and maintain Biologicals Research data standards for business-critical data assets.
• Champion FAIR data principles throughout experimental design, data capture, storage, analysis, sharing, and reuse.
• Ensure clear data ownership, stewardship, accountability and sponsorship across Biologicals Research.
• Monitor data quality, completeness, consistency, traceability, and fitness for purpose; coordinate remediation where gaps are identified.
• Partner with scientists, digital teams and RDIT to ensure research workflows and tools support governed, reusable data.
• Represent Biologicals Research in cross-functional data governance forums, aligning business-specific needs with enterprise-wide principles and resolving dependencies.
• Coordinate adoption across global sites, balancing global consistency with justified local requirements.
• Track governance maturity, risks, adoption, and value delivered; provide transparent reporting to the Biologicals Research leadership team.

Profile and capabilities

• Strong understanding of research data lifecycles, scientific data management, and FAIR principles.
• Demonstrated experience implementing data governance, data quality, metadata, master/reference data, or related data-management practices.
• Ability to translate governance concepts into simple, usable processes for scientific teams.
• Credibility working with researchers, digital/IT teams, data scientists, and senior stakeholders.
• Experience working in agile delivery environments, with practical knowledge of agile methodologies such as Scrum, Kanban, and iterative product development.
• Skilled in influencing across a matrixed, international organization
• Pragmatic, structured, and outcome-oriented, with strong facilitation and change-management capability.
• Comfortable operating across cultures, time zones, and multiple R&D locations.

Qualifications

Additional Information

What We Offer

• An environment where every voice matters, professional growth is encouraged, and work-life balance is prioritized.
• Comprehensive benefits package tailored to your location along with learning and development opportunities, wellness programs, employee assistance programs, and additional benefits in accordance with local practices.

Compensation 

Annual Gross Salary (RAL): €42,000 – €56,000, assessed based on experience 

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.