Corn Nursery Manager

About Us
At Syngenta, we believe every employee has a role to play in safely feeding the world and taking care of our planet. To support that challenge, the Trialing Team is currently seeking a Corn Nursery Manager, to be located in Highland, Illinois 

Role Purpose 
The Operations Manager is responsible for the management of functional and operational activities that occur at the site level which include, but are not limited to the following:
Effectively leading the seeds operations organization at the site to deliver against the site level work load. 
Developing staff and incorporating leading capabilities and technologies in daily seed production operations in order to generate the highest quality seed in an efficient, safe, timely and environmentally sound manner and in the quantities required.

Accountabilities

• Work in a team based environment to effectively manage and deliver site level work load:
• Resources    
• Own budget for the Operations cost center: Plan, execute and deliver seed quantities required on necessary timelines within allocated budget.
• Ensure/propose investment in capabilities and infrastructure for seed production and processing at site level in alignment with Seeds Development strategy and capital processes.
• Define site level resource availability for seed production and processing, ensure proper alignment of workload against that availability. 
• Develop and continuously update unit costs for all operations tasks conducted at the site level
• Operations 
• Ensure proper implementation and timely execution of seed processing and packaging operations on and off site
• Own and Optimize delivery of physical seed at the site level (Quality, Quantity and Timeliness)
• Effective nursery management including planting, pollinations, harvest and processing
• Ensure seed production and processing activities at the site are conducted in accordance with company HSE standards
• Facilitate Operations alignment with meetings with other functions and Operations team meetings
• People    
• Line management of the Operations team members on site (4-6 direct reports, up to 15 indirect reports)
• Ensure people management processes, people capabilities and succession plans are in place for the site Operations team
• HSE and Code of Conduct responsibility at the site level
• Reporting / Communication    
• Ensure transparency and cross-site communications regarding Operations efficiencies and best practices.
• Responsible for reporting seed production status updates and KPIs at the site.
   

Critical knowledge

• Degree in Agronomy or Biology with good understanding of agriculture, crop management and breeding principles. 
• Thorough understanding of seed production (Operations) processes and sufficient knowledge to identify the critical issues and engage effectively with people to solve problems. 
• General knowledge of Syngenta functions supporting seed production and a general understanding of  how to interface with those functions.  
• Sound understanding of commercial and business needs
• Must be a team player
• Provide leadership to a functionally diverse team.
• Effective and efficient management of Operations resources.
• Develop a culture of innovation, agility and continuous improvement to deliver the agreed upon workload within budget and on timeline.
• Winning the support and commitment of the site level staff to work together to drive operational efficiency and operational excellence.
• Strong leadership skills with a history of getting things done in a complex operational environment.
• Management and demonstrated success delivering work load on budget.
• Demonstrated ability to network across functions.

Critical Capabilities:  

• Excellent organization and computer skills.    
• Excellent interpersonal skills, especially those required to successfully function as part of a cross-functional team.  
• Ability to understand and communicate complex instructions. 
• Track record of delivery 
• Process improvement, automation, and imaging
• Strong communicator with ability to influence, build consensus and gain support. 
• Demonstrated decision making & problem solving capabilities in the face of conflicting priorities and ambiguity

What We Offer:

• Full Benefit Package (Medical, Dental & Vision) that starts the same day you do
• 401k plan with company match, Profit Sharing & Retirement Savings Contribution 
• Paid Vacation, 9 Paid Holidays, Maternity and Paternity Leave, Education Assistance, Wellness Programs, Corporate Discounts among others
• A culture that promotes work/life balance, celebrates diversity and offers numerous family-oriented events throughout the year

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.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) 
(http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/posters/fmla.htm)

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's (EEOC)
(http://webapps.dol.gov/elaws/firststep/poster_direct.htm)

Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA)
(http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/posters/eppa.htm)

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About Syngenta
Syngenta is a global leader in agriculture; rooted in science and dedicated to bringing plant potential to life. Each of our 28,000 employees in more than 90 countries work together to solve one of humanity’s most pressing challenges: growing more food with fewer resources. A diverse workforce and an inclusive workplace environment are enablers of our ambition to be the most collaborative and trusted team in agriculture. Our employees reflect the diversity of our customers, the markets where we operate and the communities which we serve. Join us and help shape the future of agriculture.