Station Manager

Role purpose

• Lead R&D Seeds Operations (cross-crop) at Ramon, Samara and Krasnodar & accompanying activites.
• Ensure effective operation to deliver new Seeds products aligned to commercial strategy and optimizing the use of R&D resources to deliver the approved portfolio in line with  operational budget targets for the site.

Accountabilities

Operations

• Fully accountable for delivery of cross-crop Seeds R&D operations at the Ramon, Samara, and Krasnodar sites
• Closely interaction with JV “ Golden Seeds” concerning SF R&D development stages.  
• Ensure appropriate site management is in place at Ramon and Samara, establish Site Leadership Team if not in place.  Establish and lead the cross functional site.
• Represent Ramon, Samara, and Krasnodar (SE trialing) operations on the Oilseeds Seeds R&D Operations Leadership team
• Liaise with key stakeholders and breeding leads to ensure that annual delivery of portfolio is scheduled and delivered to the highest standards according to agreed targets, timelines and priorities. This includes the plan for the second priority crop activities
• Understand stakeholder needs and communicate expectations and deviations from the portfolio delivery plan.
• Plan, utilise and care for our assets to maximise their life and utilisation for the benefit of Syngenta and according to regional priorities
• Work alongside the Oilseeds Operations Infrastructure lead to understand and contribute to the evolution of the site visions and strategic intent, and work with Infrastructure to jointly own any relevant capital plans. 
• Drive harmonization and implementation of global processes and standards at site level
• Ensure proactive organisation of material import & export activities for RU; including feedback to stakeholders should delays be foreseen

People 

• Accountable for the people management within Ramon, Samara, and Krasnodar Seeds R&D Operations (both day to day and talent, development, performance, retention, attraction)
• Responsibility to ensure that challenging personal goals are set and agreed with the team.  Ensure that personal development/career plans are constructed and supported.
• Manage the recruitment process to ensure leavers are adequately replaced.
• Ensure motivation and engagement of the site community in collaboration with other functions on site.

HSES and Quality

• Ownership of the Ramon and Samara site HSE agendas; drive a leader-led culture, ensuring proactive HSE mindset and application of HSE standards.
• Work with the HSE leads to support the continued development and management of the HSES improvement plan
• Working alongside Quality Management Designates, to be responsible for quality management within Ramon, Samara, and Krasnodar Seeds R&D Operations to ensure standards are in place and actively applied.
• Ensure compliance to Syngenta policies (Code of Conduct, financial DoA, Capital process, etc) using the support departments as required (such as HR, Finance, Infrastructure, HSE professionals, CREFM organization, etc).

Budget and Planning

• Fully Accountable for the budgets relating to the Ramon and Samara Seeds R&D operations
• Interface to relevant SDU stakeholders to ensure Ramon, Samara, and Krasnodar Seeds R&D operations goals coincide and annual workslate is agreed and manageable within budget.
• Working with Oilseeds PPP contact, ensure that operational supply is understood, and that the use of the RU sites infrastructure and resource is maximised where possible to accommodate agreed projects (across secondary crops were applicable) within available resource, actively contributing to the identification of and solutions for resource gaps

Continuous Improvements

• Drive excellence in operations, emphasis on continuous improvement and productivity, sharing best practises, obtaining the agreed quality level, and measurement with effective KPIs
• Ensure operational activities and organisation can accommodate the implementation of long term SDU plans, lead and manage change effectively. 
• Promote working cross crops and cross functional boundaries as needed to ensure collaborative and efficient problem solving and innovation.  Work in concert with the other station heads within oilseeds operations.
• Provide support to ensure efficient establishment or transition of new ways of working via technical or training inputs to meet Oilseeds and regional strategic objectives.

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.

Knowledge, experience & capabilities

Critical knowledge

• Degree or equivalent in agricultural or biological science
• Extensive knowledge of crop agronomy; strong seeds knowledge and understanding of product life cycle and associated contributary factors
• Understanding of technology and it’s integration into and value to plant breeding programmes
• Understanding of field and glasshouse production systems and critical success factors
• Understanding of health and safety in field & glasshouse environments. 
• Knowledge of Seeds R&D operations
• Sound understanding of commercial and business concepts.

Critical experience

• Minimum of 5 years of successful experience in Seeds R&D
• Experience leading and developing a large team essential
• Experience of budget management essential
• Experience of managing customer expectations essential
• Experience of working with operational HSE processes essential
• Experience of working with oilseeds crop desirable
• Experience of managing and delivering Seeds R&D operations highly desirable

Critical technical, professional and personal capabilities

• Commitment to the highest standards and quality of work as an individual and across the team
• Ability to plan, schedule and deliver multiple activities using available resources.  Skilfully plans, organizes and monitors performance to create value and achieve excellence in delivery
• Drive to motivate a team through peaks in workload to meet business needs
• Ability to communicate at all levels and collaborate across boundaries
• Competence in the use of Microsoft Office packages and data management systems
• Creates an environment that supports creativity, and coaches people to spark innovation.  Ability to drive a continuous improvement culture and OpEx mindset
• Ability to work within a matrix environment strong stakeholder management, influencing skills
• Gains commitment of individuals and stakeholders in a compelling way.  Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers
• Coaches people to excel, provides opportunities for learning, and creates a climate for development and growth    

Critical success factors & key challenges

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to lead, inspire and develop a team
• Build productive relationships with key stakeholders, working in collaboration with partners within the EAME Oilseeds SDU and across the other SDU teams to effectively communicate on planning, prioritisation, problem solving and reporting on progress throughout the year.
• Ensure annual portfolio targets are achieved within agreed budgets and timelines
• Identify and solve production problems creatively in a timely manner
• Show creativity and innovation to support continuous improvement and sustained excellence
• Understanding and concern for HSE standards and quality of work as an individual and across the team.
• Ability manage high workload and plan effectively
• Able to keep goals, targets and objectives in sight during busy periods.