Head of Testing Research Associate- Africa and Smallholder at Bayer East Africa

Key responsibilities and tasks

• Executes overall field operations and testing activities in the country of PCM1, PCM2 and PCM3 varieties; ensures resources are properly allocated to deliver pipeline needs. Understands key business and financial parameters and their impact.
• Develop Testing Research Associates through effective leadership focused on people and organizational needs.
• Optimize Testing footprint for the region.
• Optimizing our Trialing strategy for the region, aligning it with commercial long-term plan and Must Win Battles.
• Facilitate resources including searching for/ maintaining external testing facilities, grower contracts, equipment, seed (preparations), overall planning, and personnel for effective and efficient functioning of vegetable testing programs.
• Ensures high level quality data collection in a timely manner with the appropriate digital tools and entry into enterprise systems.
• Collaborate with Breeding, Market-Development and Commercial teams of the specific country/ market segment, to ensure the desired output is generated and shared periodically with stakeholders.
• Partner with peers to build an efficient workflow within Testing.
• Maintain grower relationships, having a customer focus, and ensure all external parties are aligned with the internal and external regulations.
• Supports and implement novel strategies to realize full value of the regional testing organization to realize objectives to deliver the technology pipeline

Experience, Skills and Qualifications

• MSc in Plant Breeding, Crop Science or related field with 5 years' experience or B.S. degree with 10 years of experience
• Agronomic experience. Ability to describe phenotypic plant characteristics
• Demonstrated abilities to collect data accurately, analyze and interpret data and use of digital tools (advanced computer skills).
• Proven leadership skills, ability to work collaboratively with cross functional teams to effectively achieve business results and to build effective teams
• Strong analytical skills and understanding of how to apply them to achieve business results.
• Ability to perform successfully in a fast paced, dynamic, team-based environment.
• Grower relationship management (customer focus, incl. contracts/ negotiation).
• Ability to run multiple projects and priorities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills (in local language and English).
• Driving license "B" category.