As a world market leader in crop protection, we help farmers to counter these threats and ensure enough safe, nutritious, affordable food for all – while minimizing the use of land and other agricultural inputs. Syngenta Crop Protection keeps plants safe from planting to harvesting.  From the moment a seed is planted through to harvest, crops need to be protected from weeds, insects and diseases as well as droughts and floods, heat and cold. Syngenta Crop Protection is headquartered in Switzerland.

Role purpose

• Shape and define Seedcare & Biological Marketing strategy for South Africa and drive implementation thereof
• Lead all Seedcare marketing and operational activities to achieve the Seedcare 5-year ambition
• Manage the Seedcare portfolio lifecycle, including existing products, new product introductions, and Biological products
• Accelerate the transition to a Digital mindset in Seedcare
• Ensure smooth cross-functional alignment on Seedcare operations (campaigns, project planner, customer events, supply planning, pricing) with other functions

Accountabilities

• Identify and evaluate new business opportunities and previously underserved markets together with the Seedcare Business Manager to increase Seedcare market share in a highly competitive environment
• Develop and position the Seedcare and Biological portfolios within a dynamic landscape
• Lead cross-functional portfolio meetings to identify new portfolio projects and secure successful projects implementation
• Build solid brand plans for key products aligned with the 5-year plan ambition, including new product introductions
• Design targeted campaigns to create grower pull/awareness for Seedcare offers. Liaise with RSA Marketing team, commercial operations team and external agencies to generate content and execute the campaigns.
• Translate Seedcare offers to customer (channel, growers, seed companies) needs and detail including forecasting/supply, pricing and commercial offers)
• Shape the Seedcare Digital strategy (virtual pack offers, customer interactions & trainings, webinars, Seedcare One app, internet & social media) and integrate it into campaigns and commercial offers
• Measure strategy and campaigns effectiveness with post-campaign surveys & reviews with all relevant stakeholders
• Support the Seedcare strategy with competitor and market intelligence and takes ownership of building the Seedcare 5-year plan.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Critical Knowledge

• Tertiary education in Agriculture, Marketing or Business Management preferably with post-graduate degree
• Significant background and/or education in crop agronomy or related field
• Sound understanding of the seed industry, crop protection, biological products, seed treatment, and on-farm activities
• Well-rounded understanding of commercial and product development concepts
• Deep knowledge and understanding of crop agronomics
• Understanding of key marketing and sales processes
• Understand long term technical concept positioning whilst being able to deliver upon short term campaign imperatives
• General Marketing practices and dynamics including Digital marketing

Critical Skills

• In depth understanding of the agriculture industry
• Strong project management skills a must
• Self-starter with a high-level of self-drive
• Capability to work across teams with different functional roles
• High level of computer literacy (Power Point, Excel, Word)
• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal, presentation and negotiating skills with bilingual capabilities (Afrikaans and English)
• Collaborates effectively across organizational and functional boundaries

Critical Experience

• Good understanding of the seed and seed treatment industry
• Min. 5 years of experience working in marketing and business management
• Experience in the application of crop agronomics and technologies and their contribution to the financial drivers of a grower's business.
• Proven project management skills preferably with Sales and Marketing experience
• Demonstrated capability in agronomy excellence and applying capabilities to support commercial operations.

Critical success factors & key challenges

• Ability to “create” and “connect” in order to exploit opportunities
• Strong marketing and commercial skills
• Understands customer needs
• Fostering a mindset change
• Lead & manage change that positively engages and inspires
• Learning agility