Portfolio Manager Seeds Field Crops Asia

Role Purpose 

• Build an industry leading Field Crop Seed portfolio in Asia ensuring that all key marketing mix elements deliver profitable market share growth in line with AMEA strategy.
• Design Crop strategies for key growth crops across all 8 countries in the BU to form the basis for growth in countries across Asia.
• Drive key initiatives required to hit short, medium and long term targets for the portfolios aligned to strategy.
• Demonstrate Customer Experience (CX) principles in both strategy design and execution with the countries
• Understand how our portfolio strategies contribute to Business & Environmental Sustainability
• Own relevant strategic external partner/collaborator relationships cultivating long term success.
• Design Seed Production Plans that allow profitable growth and manage risk appropriately
• Be a key interface with Country and Global teams to represent our portfolios and ensure cross functional and multi team support.

Accountabilities 

• Drive and coordinate Product advancement process (HPC), manage product life cycle of varieties in the portfolio to support delivery of the strategy. 
• Manage alignment between market needs and corn portfolio and implement necessary actions to commercially direct the portfolio via the Corn Hybrid Promotion Committee (HPC). Outline the crop strategy and anticipate future grower needs and set directions for R&D.
• Ensure that all necessary Syngenta functions (R&D, P&S, Regulatory, M&S) are aligned and work together seamlessly in delivery of the crop strategy and business, with focus on profitable growth.
• Responsible for design and delivery of 5YR and 15YR portfolio plans influencing country teams to be ambitious with growth plans.  Maintain a credible plan by providing accurate market and product information.  Ambassador for use of planning tools to ensure data accuracy (Anaplan).
• Continuous improvement of key processes: HPC, SPP, Commercial planning and Pricing.
• Drive increase in profitability through close working with other functions, pricing management, GTM models and better P&S COGS.
• Together with P&S design Seed Production Plans (SPPs) that optimise our short and long term supply position with focus on market share growth and portfolio profitability.
• Work with region & country R & D teams to develop New Product Introduction launch plans based on technical performance and value creation.
• Properly reflect the impact of current and future competition activities in portfolio design.
• Implement Strategic initiatives in country smoothly by forming trusted partnerships with key country teams.
• IN-season decision maker on any product allocation decision needed between countries & any exceptional quality release decision
• Build and support business cases for footprint expansion (P&S, R&D investments)
• Ensure LTO/Stewardship/product sustainability is an integral part of product positioning and is embedded in campaigns.
• Be an ambassador for CX Principles across our Field Crop business
• Ensure Portfolio function is working in a joined up way aligned with strategy and other key functions.  Provide strong guidance to the Tech Ag function where appropriate within Asia
• Work across functions & teams (e.g. Syngenta CP) to ensure alignment of portfolio messaging are aligned to our Seed Strategy
• Partner with our in-country marketing communications teams to ensure that the portfolio marketing activities support our overall Seeds Brand.

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.

Knowledge, Experiences & Capabilities

Critical Knowledge

• Degree in agriculture, business, marketing or equivalent related subject or equivalent experience preferably in the Seeds Industry.
• In depth knowledge of Seed Industry in Asia or equivalent region, Rice knowledge preferred.
• Understanding principles of key marketing and sales strategies/techniques
• Good understanding of regulation and recommendation processes within the industry
• Understand and demonstrate CX principles
• Digitally fluent

Critical Experience & Skills

• At least 5 years of experience in the agribusiness industry or 5 years marketing experience in a related industry (Product marketing, market and business planning).  Preferably in the Seed Industry
• Can use market research & intelligence effectively to understand customers, markets, channels
• Uses data, tools and mindset to provide sound advice & direction
• Excellent influencing, persuasion and negotiation skills
• Some technical knowledge of Rice & Corn crops
• Excellent presentation and communication skills, fluent in English

Critical Leadership Skills

• Develops clever strategies and sets aligned objectives for individuals and teams.
• Skillfully plans, organizes and monitors performance to meet deadlines.
• Creates passion and excitement.
• Senses and adapts to the changing environment to achieve excellence in delivery.
• Gains commitment of key reports and stakeholders in a compelling way.
• Makes tough decisions

• Flexible location
• Role will involve frequent travel across Asia countries and less frequent additional travel
• Flexibility in working hours with out of office hours required to fulfill the role successfully