R&D Disease Control Group Leader

Role purpose

·       To provide effective leadership and direction in order to build and maintain a highly motivated disease control team at the Vero Beach Research Center (VBRC) in order to support the Crop Protection R&D strategy. Provide technology foresight and contribute to product intelligence toward creating a competitive advantage.

Design, initiate, and conduct research and development projects with the focus to support the North American Disease Control program.

Accountabilities

·   Provide leadership to team members; motivate, coach, and assign research activities.

·   Active participant on special projects and/or teams.

·   Support VBRC initiatives and the Crop Protection Development Strategies.  

·   Promote operational excellence and optimization of assets through management of group budget and equipment.

·   Plan and complete disease control research programs, special problem solving projects, and off-season support activities. Develop trial methodology and protocols, interpret results, and provide recommendations for further work or product uses

·   Identify and pursue opportunities to add value to products in the marketplace at the regional and global level.  Lead and conduct research and development of new active ingredients.

·   Seek project requests from all internal customers, prioritize and balance the workload of the group in line with company priorities

·   Provide support to the Sales team in the form of tech info, training, and presentations.  Conduct problem solving projects to address market issues. Demonstrate awareness and understanding of grower needs and perspectives and their relationship to Syngenta activities

·   Design, initiate, and conduct research projects including lab, greenhouse and field studies; a critical part of promoting new active ingredients, new technology, and off-season support for development and commercial products.  Act as a field project coordinator for assigned projects.   Provide technology foresight and contribute to product intelligence toward creating a competitive advantage.

·   Be an active disease control bioteam member

·   Works toward a One Team One Plan mindset within team and VBRC.

·   Promote team within Syngenta

Critical success factors & key challenges

·   Understands the Syngenta portfolio in indication, ability to innovate around developmental projects obstacles and sales support needs that the VBRC can uniquely address.

·   Develop an effective network of internal and external contacts to maximize the value of the group and its ability to problem solve.

·   Cohesive team

·   Demonstrate a cooperative style that facilitates working across many functional interfaces

·   Leadership/Stakeholder Management:  Must work effectively with stakeholders in North America and globally, e.g.  protocol sponsors, to ensure team delivery of conclusive trials and to ensure shared practices and processes work effectively/collaboratively.

·    Effectively leads across boundaries.

Knowledge, experience & capabilities

Critical knowledge

·   In depth knowledge of the products, crops, markets, and methods of research associated for weed control. 

·   Broad knowledge of technologies, modes of action, and weed resistance management. 

·   Sufficient knowledge of the business to make and communicate project priorities.

Critical experience

·    Ph.D. in Plant pathology or related field plus at least 3 years exp. or a MS degree (plant pathology or related field)  with 6 years of R&D experience.  And, typically desires a career path in leadership. 

Critical technical, professional and personal capabilities

·   Excellent oral and written communication and computer skills. 

·   Good ability to foster teamwork and balance workload/resources within the group.

·   Is decisive, offers clear solutions and recommendations

·   Strong planning, organizing, problem solving, and critical thinking skills.

·   Exhibits and implements a continuous improvement mindset, out of box thinking

·   Particularly skilled in interacting and communicating with internal and external customers and the VBRC team as a whole

·   Travel Requirements – 10 %

·   All applicants must be eligible to work in the US.

What We Offer:

• A culture that celebrates diversity & inclusion, promotes professional development, and strives for a work-life balance that supports the team members. offers flexible work options to support your work and personal needs

• Full Benefit Package (Medical, Dental & Vision) that starts your first day

• 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 other benefits

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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All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.