Head of Site Operations

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced professional for the position of Head of Site Operations in our Agadir-site, Morocco location. 

Role purpose

• Effectively lead the legal entity of the Agadir, Morocco (MAAG) Site Vegetables Seeds Operations to deliver on the Vegetable Seeds growth agenda.
• Management of site activities related to Seeds R&D and P&S Operations. This includes direct functional responsibility for infrastructure and capital improvements, HSE, Compliance and Biosafety and indirect responsibility to Finance and HR.
• Develop staff and incorporate leading capabilities and technologies in daily operations to bring the highest quality products to market in an efficient and sustainable manner.

Dimensions

• Financial: Budget (>$3m)
• People: # of direct reports 6-10 with overall responsibility for up to >250 employees  (indirectly)
• Geographic Scope: local

Accountabilities

• Member of the Global Seed Development Operations LT, indirect member of Field Production P&S LT
• Represent the legal entity vis-à-vis governmental and business institutions (like ‘ONSSA’, FIS, etc.);
• Oversee operational efficiency initiatives required for cost and structural review/improvements in seeds producing and processing activities on site.
• Infrastructure maintenance, capital improvements, seeds processing, field operations and quality operations occurring at the site level in the country.
• Chair the Agadir Site Management Team
• Ensures sharing of best practices and conformity to harmonized Syngenta processes, including HSE, Quality, Ethical Compliance, Stewardship, Quality Codes of Practice, and compliance with local regulations. Support the various businesses with compliance issues.
• Create an exciting and healthy workplace environment to drive innovation, collaboration and Operational Excellence across functions
• Ensure the appropriate capabilities are in place to deliver the agreed strategies and portfolio.
• Ensure appropriate people recruitment, development and retention processes including talent management to grow capability in a sustainable manner and collaboration with HR.
• Develop local/regional budget submissions with Finance to establish appropriate budgets to deliver the portfolio.
• Support strategy for infrastructure master plan in full alignment with global technology strategies.
• To create and secure a safe and compliant work environment enabling employee engagement having a Great Place to Work

Syngenta is one of the world’s leading agriculture companies. Our ambition is to help safely feed the world while taking care of the planet. We aim to improve the sustainability, quality and safety of agriculture with world class science and innovative crop solutions. Our technologies enable millions of farmers around the world to make better use of limited agricultural resources. Syngenta is part of Syngenta Group with 53,000 people in more than 100 countries and is working to transform how crops are grown. Through partnerships, collaboration and The Good Growth Plan we are committed to accelerating innovation for farmers and nature, striving for carbon neutral agriculture, helping people stay safe and healthy and partnering for impact.

To learn more visit www.syngenta.com and www.goodgrowthplan.com.

Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Syngenta.

Critical knowledge

• Academic level. Minimum MSc or BSc +10 years experience with with agronomic background
• Proven experience in leadership positions of minimum 5 years
• Good understanding of agriculture, crop management, plant breeding principles, and  production and supply chain processes
• Good knowledge of finance, ethical leadership and compliance practices

Critical experience

• Strong leadership skills with a track record of both direct and functional reporting lines
• Experience in operating independently in a complex matrix environment.

• Experience of partnering with regional or global business teams to develop a business strategy

Critical technical, professional and personal capabilities

• Excellent people skills that will build bridges and engages teams
• Strong influencing skills to lead and mobilize action without direct reporting lines
• Good communication skills and ability to operate across cultures and geographies, and across businesses where there are few established processes to get things done
• The ability to influence, build consensus and gain support.
• Strategic thinking skills
• Personal resilience and tenacity
• Strong analytical and process skills
• Clear decision-making in the face of conflicting priorities and ambiguity
• Business Improvement mindset
• Fluent in Arabic, French and English.

Critical leadership capabilities

• Sets ambitious strategic goals
• Steps beyond comfort zones
• Manages performance to high standards
• Develops self and others
• Focuses on must wins
• Communicates with impact
• Collaborates across boundaries
• Focuses on customers

Critical success factors & key challenges

• Efficient communication on-site and across the SD and P&S organizations.
• Winning the support and commitment of staff from local teams and across the SD and P&S organizations to work together to drive operational efficiency and operational excellence at the same time.
• Develop a culture of innovation and agility to deliver the agreed workslate within budget and timelines.
• Ensure a culture of diversity, equality and inclusion on-site and beyond based on Syngenta values

• Optimizing infrastructure footprint according to business strategy
• Foster data driven decision in operations
• Develop effective working relationship with regional and Global Business Partners (including R&D, P&S, Commercial , etc)  counterparts in order to understand and support the business strategy and future needs, stimulate and challenge their thinking with opportunities from R&D.
• Support the regional development of new tools from a user perspective, supporting effectively and simultaneously the technical and human change.

Willingness to undertake business travel (as needed)

Employee may, as part of his/her role and maybe through multifunctional teams, participate in the creation and design of innovative solutions to improve quality and efficiency of operations. In this context, Employee may contribute to inventions, designs, other work product, including know-how, copyrights, software, innovations, solutions, and other intellectual assets.