Current Recruitments at Syngenta

Role purpose

• Develop and grow the Seedcare business across Eastern Africa by driving portfolio acceleration, NPI excellence, Key Account leadership, downstream market development, and P-A-S-S (Product–Application–Services–Sustainability) execution.
• Manage and coordinate strategic Seedcare initiatives for Strategic Key Accounts operating across AME South, ensuring a unified customer experience, aligned value propositions, and seamless regional collaboration between South Africa, Southern Africa and Eastern Africa.
• Shape the seed industry through strong partnerships, stakeholder influence, and capability development while building a high‑performing team that delivers the AME South growth ambition.

Key Accountabilities

Portfolio Leadership & NPI Acceleration

• Own the Seedcare portfolio lifecycle in Southern Africa, including commercial, biological, and stewardship dimensions.
• Identify portfolio gaps, customer needs, and new business opportunities.
• Drive portfolio management excellence for NPIs (VICTRATO, ARCANA/NEVANZA, VIBRANCE Maxx, ATUVA, ARVATICO, NUELLO range, biologicals).
• Partner with CPD, Marketing and AME Seedcare team to shape portfolio evolution and secure future pipeline readiness.
• Ensure PASS value propositions are competitive and consistently executed.

Key Account & Commercial Leadership

• Develop and deliver account strategies for upstream seed companies and down-stream/on‑farm partners.
• Lead commercial negotiations, pricing execution, and contract performance for Key Accounts based in Southern Africa.
• Strengthen tender participation and deepen strategic partnerships with seed industry partners
• Ensure Salesforce.com discipline with robust key account planning and customer relationship management (visits, planning, KA plans and strategy, business intelligence)

Strategic Key Account Coordination (Bayer, Corteva, Seedco, Zamseed, Twiga, KSC)

• Collaborate closely with the Eastern Africa Business Development Lead to ensure seamless multi‑country execution for Strategic Key Accounts operating across AME South. The Southern Africa Business Manager is the strategic and commercial owner for Key Accounts based in Southern Africa and supports the Eastern Africa BD Lead with local execution when these ac-counts operate in Eastern Africa. Conversely, the Eastern Africa BD Lead is the strategic and commercial owner for Key Accounts based in Eastern Africa and supports the Southern Africa Business Manager with local execution when these accounts operate in AME South. This structure ensures a unified customer experience while maintaining clear single‑point ownership in each region.
• Deploy PASS initiatives (Products, Application, Services, Sustainability) to drive differentiation.
• Lead downstream expansion via Seedcare Academy, On-Farm Seed Treatment (OST), quality assessments and SMARTLC diagnostics.
• Use SCI services to strengthen customer loyalty through application support, wastewater management and stewardship.
• Ensure high standards of stewardship, HSE compliance and safe-use practices.

Market Shaping & External Influence

• Build trusted relationships with regulators, associations, multipliers and industry partners.
• Influence regulatory frameworks and industry standards to support Seedcare adoption.
• Co‑create solutions with strategic partners across cereals, soybeans, sunflower and emerging crops.
• Monitor competitor activity and translate insights into action.

Team Leadership & Capability Development

• Lead and develop a team of 1–2 Seedcare professionals with clear performance expectations.
• Promote a “Lead to Win” culture focused on accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Strengthen technical capability through field immersion and collaboration with CPD and SCI.
• Enhance cross-functional ways of working across CPD, Marketing, Regulatory, Supply Chain and Finance.

Business Delivery & Operational Excellence

• Deliver annual sales, market share and gross profit targets for Southern Africa.
• Contribute to EASA Must-Wins through targeted KA support and NPI execution.
• Lead S&OP, forecasting, budgeting and MBR cycles for the region.
• Ensure disciplined pricing, commercial excellence and value extraction.
• Maintain full compliance with HSE, stewardship and driving policies.

Qualifications

Knowledge, experience & capabilities

Critical Knowledge

• Minimum 10 years in agriculture, seed, crop protection or seed treatment industry.
• Tertiary education in Agriculture, Marketing or Business Management preferably with postgraduate degree
• Deep understanding of seed treatment technologies, crop agronomy and pest control practices
• Proven multi-country Key Account Management experience
• Deep knowledge of agricultural markets, channel and GTM approaches
• Strong track record in portfolio management and NPI launches.

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Role Purpose

• Manage and lead the development of new and existing products that result in successful marketing and sales of profitable products
• To lead Product Development projects across the BA EASA, and coordinate and implement the project portfolio within the BA EASA
• To ensure a consolidated summary of the technical positioning within the BA for input into the BA portfolio process and to facilitate technical exchange within and between technical support functions in the BA
• To ensure all elements of the biological part of projects, from profiling, registration and technical launch platform building are well covered, to deliver competitive products and technical knowledge according to business needs
• To identify new technical opportunities and evaluate technologies to contribute to a future profitable and sustainable portfolio
• Act as CPD Business Partner in the BA PLT and establish an effective network to drive input into the product development process
• As BA technical expert, support with the planning (e.g. different types of demo trials, technical launch plans, etc.) and launch of NPI’s in the market, working alongside Technical and TMD leads.

Accountabilities

• Together with country Technical Lead plan, coordinate, execute and lead CP projects from first submission, through FEX & LEX development and launch activities and support PLCM activities in the BA
• Participate in GAP definition and solution development through understanding of market evolution and competitor analysis.
• Protocol ownership in Biodesign
• Integrate different technologies to build sustainable offers that address grower needs (chemistry, biologicals, digital, agronomic, application tech, information, advice)
• Translate results into technical profile for product/grower offer
• Provide technical insights on current and future grower needs, competitive products, Syngenta portfolio competitiveness
• Ensure that the BA technical and regulatory needs/views are fully factored into AME Development Projects from the outset
• Accountable at BA level as the technical business partner to support Marketing. Activities include TLP preparation, general technical support and PLCM
• Represent field development in Project and Leadership Teams, e.g. AMEA and AME PLT’s, BUPT, BAPLT.
• Coordinate the activities of specific BA Launch Teams, be accountable for the BA Technical Launch Plans for defined projects. Need to work closely with CU PB who will be responsible at CU level for implementation. Need to create impactful messages together with local TMD leads, TL’s and TFS
• Support in country TL’s/TFS, Regulatory, commercial (marketing and sales) and distribution with aspects like training, recommendations, technical leaflets, data, etc. when required
• Foster Technical networking with CU Biology
• Reporting and communication of CPD results to role players within the BA
• Provide complete transparency of trial plans and CPD costs in relevant systems
• Keep abreast of developments and trends in specific fields of expertise
• Development of registration portfolios: Compilation of biological reports and draft labels to comply with registration requirements
• Active participation in multidisciplinary technical activities within the organisation
• Ensure that all operations under direct control comply with Syngenta Health, Safety & Environmental policies, and guidelines as well as any other relevant Syngenta or statutory policies

Qualifications

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

Critical Knowledge

• In depth Pathology/Entomology/Weed science experience – preferable more than 5 years experience.
• Agronomist/Crop protection engineer with strong technical background
• Very good understanding of technical and market aspects
• In-depth knowledge of the technical properties of Syngenta and competitor products and associated technologies
• Understand trialling, protocol design and statistical analysis
• Leadership and Teamwork in a multicultural environment
• Strong stakeholder management

Critical Skills

• Excellent networking capabilities
• Strong technical communication and influencing skills
• Strong verbal and written English

Critical Experience and qualifications

• Experience in the implementation, management and analysis of field trials
• Experience in managing development projects
• Preferably a M.Sc. degree or equivalent with at least 5 years experience in crop protection or related field
• Proven track record in a research/development environment
• Experience in practical field execution of trial work