Product Development Specialist - Vegetable Seeds at Syngenta

Job Description

Role Purpose

• Implement the strategy for the assigned vegetable crops in the designated countries.
• Act as the Product Marketing interface to the Territory Marketing Head and Regional Portfolio managers.
• Is the recognized local authority on product & market knowledge for the assigned crops/geography.
• Maintain an in-depth understanding of the changing market trends and grower needs and a high level knowledge regarding the competitors’ key varieties.
• Translates the Regional Trial Plan (PAM output) into detailed countries and / or CU plans.
• Plans the standard varieties, trial seeds allocation and key trait evaluation for the PLC 6 trials and plans with the Marketing Operations Lead the campaigns including organization of demonstration trials.
• Plans and evaluates key trials with key producers, and organizes trials with the Technical Sales Reps.
• Collects trial results and data and consolidates into CU or Territory Trial reports (where we have a Territory crop specialization, represent the Territory’s needs within the RCU, and with the Regional Portfolio Lead).
• Refines the product positioning for launching varieties and defines the key buying factors.
• Inputs variety forecasts for three years forward into IBP and reviews this on ‘moments that matter’ for seed production.
• Gives technical support to key producers, leverages technical knowledge to the sales team to prepare sales arguments and after sales support.
• Provides investigation support for customer complaints

Accountabilities

• Contribute local requirements to Territory and regional portfolio platforms (portfolio & pipeline requirements, Target Product Profiles (TPPs, quality specs) to steer the development of a winning portfolio and pipeline for the Territory.
• Plan and evaluate with sales teams pre-commercial trials (PLC 6) and coordinate trial seed availability to ensure a timely trial seed delivery into the countries.
• Through pre-commercial trials, drive assessment of NPI candidates with Territory Crop Unit team & facilitate and manage pre-commercial field trials with CU sales teams.
• Provide phase-in & phase-out recommendations to territory and regional portfolio teams & local PMD inputs + manage the local SKU range.
• Positions the new products (segmentation, technical / commercial positioning) and coordinates the NPIs.
• Identifies in-& out-licensing opportunities and reports them to the Regional & Territory management.
• Owns with territory Product Development Specialist the Territory 3-year forecast (IBP) & flags major changes / deviations as part of S&OP; drive pro-rate allocation within the Territory; maintain a strong connection with Supply.
• Working with the Territory and local teams, to define and agree on the Territory marketing plan and annual sales campaigns for assigned crops.
• Oversee & support implementation by CUs, in strong collaboration with marketing operations and sales.
• Support CU sales force and demand creators by providing market trends, product and price positioning and technical expertise for customer complaints.
• Plans and manages stage 6 trials to refine product positioning and plan for successful new product introductions (NPI’s).
• Owns and organizes Product Advancement Tours. (PAT meetings) in advance of the PAM meeting.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Experience & Capabilities

Critical Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture/ Horticulture or equivalent.
• Minimum 5 years in marketing and business management.
• Minimum 5 years of Vegetables Seeds business and/or marketing experience.
• Profound knowledge of the Vegetables Seeds market and customer needs.
• Track-record of successful people/processes management.
• Good English language proficiency.

Critical Knowledge and Skills

• Strong Focuses on customers.
• Manages for performance.
• Leadership of cross-functional teams.
• Develops people, organization and self.
• Collaborates across boundaries.
• Communicates with impact.
• Leads change and holds ambiguity.
• Builds a culture of innovation.
• Sets ambitious strategic goals.
• Has deep and broad crop and product knowledge.
• Understands customer needs.
• Understands market dynamics and competitive environment
• Communication and presentation skills
• Analytical and strategic thinking
• Develops/delivers innovative, customer-driven offers