About Syngenta

At Syngenta Crop Protection, we're pioneering solutions that safeguard global food security while championing sustainable agriculture. As a world market leader headquartered in Switzerland, we empower farmers with innovative crop protection technologies that defend against nature's toughest challenges. We unite advanced science with digital solutions to develop intelligent crop protection that maximizes yields while minimizing environmental impact. Join our mission of revolutionizing plant protection from seed to harvest.

Role overview

We're seeking a self motivated and target driven incumbent passionate about sales to contribute towards our overall growth strategy focusing on the Northern Cape region. The key objectives of this key role include but not limited to:

• Develop and direct regional business strategies and plans to achieve the agreed profit and volume goals for the (relevant) channel partners and region, consistent with overall sales and marketing strategy.
• First line of contact with the customer (dealer, agent, grower) in terms of technical support, recommendations and training.
• Investigate, understand, capture and communicate aspects of key crop production.
• Implement key account management (KAM) principles with designated key customers.

Accountabilities

• Develop and direct regional business strategies consistent with overall marketing and sales strategy.
• Development Market Information, Budgets, Forecasts, Business Planning, Partnership Agreements.
• Identify, define, establish and maintain influential relationships with relevant institutes and key crop value opinion leaders.
• Focus resources on growers and key influencers in the food/feed chain – create pull approaches.
• Build relationships in value chain (identify the lead influencers).
• Identify key crop, product and market opportunities and threats.
• Support agents and growers with technical solutions on all aspects of key crop production.
• Investigate and manage complaints/claims to minimise financial loss (first line of contact for Syngenta).
• Develop the competence, motivation and commitment of Dealers and Agents through effective training, promotion and sales support aids.
• Keep abreast of market, trade and competitor activity in order to revise strategies to meet changing requirements.
• Ensure market information accuracy for allocated crops focus.

Critical qualification & experience

• University degree in Agriculture, or equivalent
• Mininmun 5 years of experience working in crop protection in a sales role
• Proven track record of achieving sales targets
• Adequate Key Account Management experience 
• Broad technical know-how of crops, products and farming practices.  (Approximately three years’ experience).

Critical skills and knowledge

• Relationships building and management
• Ability to motivate others and delivery of targets
• Strong leadership and team working skills
• Effective communicator, fully bilingual, well-developed skills of persuasion.
• Resilient to pressure.
• Good understanding of the business, key account management, the market and how to add customer value.
• Practical experience of developing and implementing sales strategies and plans.
• Knowledge of key financial and marketing concepts and principles.
• Sound business acumen and negotiating ability

Critical success factors & key challenges

• Adopt and implement GTM strategy – assist with training of channel.
• Accountable for sales forecasting / planning for Key Dealers in region – CP and Seeds.
• Ensure implementation of related campaigns.
• Lead sales and any other interactions with relevant dealerships.
• Support agents with technical and commercial information in order to achieve sales targets.
• Gather market intelligence.
• Handling of product complaints.
• Dealer strategy.
• GAPS = ID new opportunities.

Key stakeholders

• Area Sales Managers
• Relevant Dealerships and Agents
• Supply Chain function
• Customer Marketing
• Industry influencers 

Location: This role's target market is the Northern Cape region, the incumbent may based within the province or in Bloemfontein.

Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion commitment 

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, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.