Divisional Agronomy Manager North & East

Syngenta Seeds is one of the world’s largest developers and producers of seed for farmers, commercial growers, retailers and small seed companies. Syngenta seeds improve the quality and yields of crops. High-quality seeds ensure better and more productive crops, which is why farmers invest in them. Advanced seeds help mitigate risks such as disease and drought and allow farmers to grow food using less land, less water and fewer inputs.

Syngenta Seeds brings farmers more vigorous, stronger, resistant plants, including innovative hybrid varieties and biotech crops that can thrive even in challenging growing conditions.

Syngenta Seeds is headquartered in the United States.

Divisional Agronomy Manager (Tech Agronomy) : Job responsibility demands for planning and execution of Agronomy strategy, collaborates with Product Managers, DMs, BM, CE & R&D team for strategic planning and execution of various agronomy initiatives across crops with the assigned divisions to meet annual business goals. Accountable for product evaluation & hybrid decision delivery for relevant crop/AOAs. Focus on execution of product advancement and pre-commercials testing trials. Develop a working knowledge of customer’s needs and agricultural practices to support field sales team in right product positioning. Keep an eye on changing environment responsible for key product performance issues with respect to pest/disease/crop shift/ customer’s profitability and share with key stakeholders. Execute NPL Demo strategies across Divisions for ramping up new products based on product value delivery. Co-ordinate and identify need of hybrids testing with SAUs to align product registered/include in licence before sales.

This role will lead the planning, prioritization, resource and execution of trials and field demonstration programs to evaluate and/or showcase new products and technologies for their agronomic fit and commercial viability. The role will be responsible in building agronomic excellence, product confidence and techno-commercial aptitude across the commercial teams; as well as in delivering technical support programs to ensure successful acreage growth of products and sustained farmer adoption of Syngenta’s field crop hybrids/varieties.

Reporting to Head Tech Agronomy IN.

Product Evaluation & Testing:

• Accountable for product evaluation & hybrid decision delivery for relevant crop/segments.
• Focus on execution of product advancement and pre-commercials testing trials in close coordination with Research /Agronomist /Sales team, ensuring product testing in right segment / potential markets/timely analysis and decision delivery during HPCs.
• Collect detailed information of local environmental differences that impact product performance / customer needs and associated traits to facilitate decision making to fill the gaps.
• Develop a working knowledge of customer’s needs and agricultural practices to support field sales team in right product positioning.
• Keep an eye on changing environment responsible for key product performance issues with respect to pest/disease/crop shift/ customer’s profitability and share with key stakeholders.
• Execute NPL Demo strategies across Division for ramping up new products based on product value delivery.
• Co-ordinate and identify need of hybrids testing with SAUs to align product registration/include in licence before sales with support of Product registration team.

 Technical Knowledge & Product Training:

• Serve as the lead product information/data resource for the Division, particularly as it pertains to new product introductions
• Work closely with Divisional sales and functions (marketing, sales and CE) to provide support on technical information/ education.
• Identify training needs of sales and agronomy team and deliver trainings on product characteristics, product positioning, crop management practices to build technical skills/knowledge/capabilities within team.
• Critically evaluate and review an agronomist goals are aligned as per CUs business needs.

 Sales Support:

• Guide sales/agronomy team on customer service calls involving product performance by assisting them on possible reasons/interpretation/technical guidelines/ solutions
• Analyse and report all service calls to fasten decision making on product/quality performance.

 Project Management:

• Conceptualize & Implementation of growth projects for new area development, NPL scale up, execution of agronomy trials, new initiatives, and assessment on creating competitive advantages and product /services value creation.
• Define and take up agronomy interventions required to create competitive advantages in close co-ordination with Head Tech Agronomy.
• Reports project status and progress against agreed milestones and deadlines to key stakeholders.

 Review & Reporting:

• Develop review and report mechanism to fasten decision making and information flow within stakeholders through monthly agronomy audio, Agronomy Dash Boards, service call status etc.

People Development:

• Leading a team of agronomist (Tech support leads/product agronomist), make sure their goals are aligned as per Divisional growth plan. Identify team’s training & development need time to time and provide them appropriate opportunities for development and succession planning.
• Actively manage any performance issues within the team by regular feedback and coaching.

Syngenta Values:

• Ensure workplace safety and compliance to Syngenta ESH policies. Actively demonstrate Syngenta Values and coach team members.
• Work within teams in the implementation of product stewardship and compliance programs to preserve product benefits for the longest time and protect freedom-to-operate.
• Work with sales to investigate and resolve suspected product performance issues.

Knowledge, experience & capabilities

Critical knowledge:

• Deep knowledge on agronomy, crop protection and related disciplines (soil science, plant physiology, crop science, and data analytics).
• Expertise in field plot techniques, field crop research and trial management.
• Seed and CP business acumen - understanding of commercial, product management functions.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Critical experience:

• 4-5 years of experience in Ag field including field research, supervision and/or teaching.   
• Experience developing teams and participation in strategic teams
• Demonstrated people management potential and coaching others to success.

Critical technical, professional, and personal capabilities:

• Excellent organization and leadership skills required.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal communication and influencing (with or without authority) skills to work across numerous internal multidisciplinary groups, including research, supply chain, production, sales and marketing, regulatory, intellectual property, etc.
• Self motivation and ability to travel.
• Analytical & Decision making skills.
• Decision making skills.
• Capability to acquire scientific / product knowledge.
• Customer orientation and credibility with key stakeholders.

Critical success factors & key challenges

• Develop key networks and ways of working for this role
• Effectively position role as the key focus for technical sales support activities in the Divisions

Education / Qualifications:

• Minimum- MSc Agriculture.

People are at the heart of what we do:

• Once a year Full body check
• Competitive insurance scheme
• Employee assistance program – to take care of your and your loved ones mental health
• Paid Vacation of 30days, 12 Paid Holidays, Maternity and Paternity Leave, compassionate leaves
• Education assistance – for your career growth
• People first culture translated into ‘Most Preferred place to work 2022-23 by Times group’

Note: 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, gender identity, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

To learn more visit: www.syngenta.com and www.good-growth-plan

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