Biological Operation Lead (Farm Manager)

ROLE PURPOSE

Coordinate open field agronomy program at Syngenta’s Vegetable Research & Development Station in La Puebla, Murcia, plus all data collection activities on his/her area of influence. 

Implement best practices and introduce/deploy new technologies and processes for the management of breeding, trialing, and seed production trials in/out site.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING

• Coordinate vegetable field-agronomy program, with responsibilities for planning, planting, growing, irrigation, fertilization, pest control, and equipment maintenance, including marketing field trials on the site.
• Promote efficient communication with peers, team members, breeders, trialing, and marketing regarding the status of trials, projects, and related work activities.
• Validate and deploy new tools adoption for quantitative and qualitative data, capable of building comments, hypotheses, and recommendations from the data. Deliver implementation of existing new tools and supporting future tools that are being generated, providing ideas and solutions.
• Own and optimize trialing and nursery delivery (Quality, quantity, and timelines).
• Ensure/propose investment in capabilities and infrastructure for the site in alignment with R&D strategy.
• Lead and promote process-improvement projects related to the growing and breeding of vegetable varieties to meet trial needs (Opex mindset).
• Be an active member of any relevant global network of experts, and common interest groups with relevant functions to coordinate key technology advancements and promote the sharing of best practices while continuing to drive standardization and agronomy strategies.
• Function as an integral member of the site Leadership Team by participating in all in-scope activities, while main accountabilities are set on agronomy, maintenance of equipment and facilities, legal documentation, and people training.
• Member of the Biological Operation Leadership Team in Spain (BOLT)
• Ethics, HSE, and QM Commitment and accountability.  Perform all tasks in a compliant manner with company safety policies, including completing all required training sessions and attending local safety meetings.
• Biosafety:  follow and implement all biosafety rules and processes during the daily operations at the site

Critical Experience & Knowledge

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in open-field crop management with a special focus on Lettuce.
• Knowledge of plant breeding and new technologies.
• Experience managing teams, demonstrating his/her ability to manage tasks and personnel.
• Leadership and accountability to get things done.
• Knowledge of local regulations (Minor Sea regulations).
• OpEx training and continuous improvement skills and mindset.

Valuable Experience & Knowledge

• Knowledge of crop agronomy.
• Proficient IT skills. Handling Excel (create pivot, etc.) and informatics applications (Smartsheet, etc.).
• Bringing a good understanding of precision agriculture, hydroponic, and other open-field crops, including greenhouse activities.
• Sustainability and environmental awareness, robotics, and automation.

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Agronomy or related field.

Languages

• English: at least B2 level. Able to communicate.
• Spanish: full command.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER

• A culture that promotes work/life balance, celebrates diversity, and offers numerous events throughout the year.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• A role contributing to valuable and impactful work in a stimulating and international environment.
• Learning culture and a wide range of development options, including access to learning platforms (Degreed, LinkedIn Learning, O’Reilly)

Equal Opportunity

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.

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.