Principal Scientist - BRD

Job Profile

Responsible for leading end-to-end operations of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs), including R&D, production, procurement, and strategic development aligned with Dabur's business needs. Ensures timely sapling production, raw material availability, and CSR project management. Oversees contract farming, nursery technology, cultivation innovation, value-chain development, and government liaison. Requires strong leadership across diverse sites and familiarity with environmental, forestry, and regulatory norms, elite species germplasm collection and multiplication of the motherland.

Interfaces

Production/RM Supply/ Regulatory Compliances / ABS / Cost and budget management etc.

Key Deliverables

Performance is measured against

• Oversee MAP operations across nurseries, greenhouses, and out-grower sites.
• Manage sapling production and in-house MAPs as per business requirement.
• Supervise agronomy projects for quality raw material (RM).
• Ensure good agricultural and lab practices for high-quality RM.
• Ensure uninterrupted herbal RM supply.
• Maintain optimum capacity utilization and assess MAP sites/contract farming.
• Implement GHP, GFCPs, and QA protocols.
• Identify, source, and supply desired species and RM.
• Present monthly progress updates to HOD-BRD, DRDC, DIL.

Research & Development (R&D):

• Develop and implement R&D strategies for MAP business growth in collaboration with BRD, DRDC.
• Conduct research to improve productivity, yield, and introduce new species.
• Identify research gaps and foster knowledge sharing across teams.
• Stay updated through participation in national/international scientific forums.
• Drive innovation in nursery, greenhouse, seed technology, and propagation methods.

Training & Capacity Building:

• Provide technical training to teams, site staff, and farmers.
• Promote knowledge sharing and skill enhancement.
• Conduct sessions on nursery tech, propagation, harvesting, and post-harvest practices and cost management.
• Support entrepreneurship and strengthen value chains among farmer groups.

Strategic & Business Development:

• Implement cost-reduction through new technologies.
• Drive business continuity and expand greenhouse operations via farmers and NGOs.
• Build strategic networks with communities, growers, government bodies, and agencies.
• Promote new methodologies and knowledge products within the business framework.
• Support expansion through partnerships, contract farming, and community projects and capita cultivation.

Stakeholder Management & External Coordination:

• Liaise with government bodies, NGOs, INGOs, embassies, research institutions, and development agencies (NARC, CIMMAT), WWF, GIZ, ICIMOD, Indian embassies etc. and other bodies.
• Ensure compliance with plant quarantine, Forest Department, agroforestry, MAP cultivation, and environmental regulations to ensure smooth export and in-house supply of RM.
• Represent company interests in government meetings, conferences, and policy forums.

Environmental & CSR Responsibilities:

• Support environmental initiatives as per DIL policies.
• Promote greenhouse-based sustainability interventions.
• Ensure execution of CSR activities within approved budgets.

Skills & Capabilities

• Strong negotiation and interpersonal communication
• Ownership and accountability for delivery
• Team collaboration and leadership
• IT proficiency and analytical ability
• Excellent communication and presentation skills

Essential:

• Medicinal & Aromatic Plants: Cultivation, agroforestry, sustainable practices
• Nursery & Greenhouse Management: Operations, propagation, seed technology
• Contract Farming & Farmer Engagement: Relationship management, value-chain development
• R&D & Quality Assurance: Scientific methodology, GFCP/GHP, QA protocols
• Supply Chain & Post-Harvest: Raw material sourcing, post-harvest technology

Desirable:

• Visionary, entrepreneurial, and proactive mindset, strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Innovative thinking and decision-making ability, Excellent communication and negotiation skills
• Team leadership with focus on capability building
• Collaborative and cross-functional coordination . Ownership and accountability for results

Educational Qualification

Ph. D. in Botany / Agriculture / Horticulture / Biotechnology / MAPs

Preferred / Additional:

• Specialization in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

Primary Interactions

Internal: CPPD, Factory Q.A, Factory Head, Finance, HR, DRDC, BRD, DIL

External: INGO, NGO, Government Officers, Ministry of Agriculture, State Governments, University, Department of Plant Resource, NMPB, NBA, SBBs, IUCN Line Department Government, Semi-Government etc.

Work Experience

• Minimum 10 years of experience in R&D or MAPs/Agro-forestry domain and executions.
• Demonstrated experience in Captive and contractual cultivation, nursery and farm operations, state-of-the-art greenhouse / satellite nursery management, and post-harvest management, Good Agricultural Practices / ESG / DJSI / BRSR compliances / CSR projects