Technical Market Development Head

Role purpose

• Coordinate optimal tech support resource allocation to maximize technical market insights and crop agronomy capability in the country
• Drive the identification of solutions meeting longer term customer needs
• Bring technical expertise required for effective marketing planning, through an objective and collaborative relationship with the commercial teams
• Coordinate and manage “Reasons to believe” trials program for NPI and Learning and Development Centers
• Support agronomic capability for successful commercial team.
• Work with CPD team on the new product introduction process to ensure new technologies and offers are appropriately supported.
• Bring the agronomic insights required to support the country in “putting the customer in the center of what we do”
• Lead a group of Divisional Technical support leads in effectively communicating technical knowledge which is aligned to market needs for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide a cohesive link between commercial leads and CPD functions for efficient technical knowledge transfer within the company and to external stakeholders.
• Co-ordinate with commercial team and ensure the successful implementation of sales demo program with clear commercial benefits.
• Where assigned, liaise with and proactively influence key value chain partners to provide technical support for Syngenta products and build a deeper knowledge of value chains of strategic importance for closer collaboration in future business opportunities.
• Co-ordinate product complaints in conjunction with sales and field development.
• Support competitors monitoring
• Advise on LEX/FEX to quickly address market opportunities
• Translate tech benefits into the “language’ of customers (better NPIs & demand generation) - After registration submission (2 years before launch / post-launch support)

Accountabilities :

• Propose and lead “Reason to believe” demonstration aimed at providing new grower solutions
• Champion demonstration of NPIs based on insights from Divisional Tech Support lead. Support Marketing on developing technical value proposition with sound business cases for offers and solutions.
• Provide customer insights to Syngenta CPD through feedback received from Divisional Tech Support lead
• Provide technical support for local optimization of NPIs for grower needs.
• Competitor technology analysis & 3rd-Party engagements, from technical perspective
• Close coordination with CPD and follow the recommendations made by them and ensure we have trials in the right locations, in the right numbers and that the data points are collated and analyzed to agreed protocols.
• Manage and develop the Technical Support to Sales teams that are aligned to the Commercial targets

Company Description

As a world market leader in crop protection, we help farmers to counter these threats and ensure enough safe, nutritious, affordable food for all – while minimizing the use of land and other agricultural inputs.
Syngenta Crop Protection keeps plants safe from planting to harvesting. From the moment a seed is planted through to harvest, crops need to be protected from weeds, insects and diseases as well as droughts and floods, heat and cold.
Syngenta Crop Protection is headquartered in Switzerland.

Critical technical, professional and personal capabilities :

• Experience in Crop Protection (CP)
• A sound agronomic and commercial understanding of selected major crops and an exceptional ability to communicate within the agribusiness sector.
• Possess a good understanding of the commercial drivers in major agricultural crops.
• A willingness to challenge basic concepts and look for new opportunities in product uses and crop solutions, seeds and crop protection.
• Sound oral and written communication ability.
• Strength in planning and time management.
• Proven skills in project management.
• Ability to effectively communicate between groups with diverse interests in agribusiness.

Critical leadership capabilities

• Communicates with impact: Gains commitment of individuals and stakeholders in a compelling way
• Builds a culture of innovation: Creates an environment that supports creativity, and coaches’ people to spark innovation
• Focuses on customers :Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers Manages for performance:
• Skillfully plans, organizes and monitors performance to create value and achieve excellence in delivery.
• Develops people, organization, and self:
• Coaches people to excel, provides opportunities for learning, and creates a climate for development and growth
• Collaborates across boundaries:
• Collaborates effectively across organizational and functional boundaries, and leverages diversity

Critical success factors & key challenges

• Manage priorities and deliver against competing demands from diverse clients.
• Lead effectively in a complex matrix organization
• Drive success in a dispersed organization
• Deliver high throughput results with high efficiency, while also supporting a culture of innovation
• Maintain a culture which promotes job satisfaction and team success with a large, dispersed team

Key Interactions/Relationships
Contacts within Syngenta
Primary Contacts

•  CPD Managers / Field Biologists
•  Commercial / Marketing Heads/Managers
• Divisional Sales teams

Contacts outside Syngenta

• Channel partners
• Value chain partners
• Research Organizations
• Departments of Agriculture
• Farmers
   

Qualifications
Education, Knowledge, experience & capabilities

• MSc, (Ag)/ PhD qualification in Agronomy or Plant pathology or Entomology. A minimum of 10-15 years of experience in the product development and marketing is desirable.
• Broad knowledge of the country agriculture, crop production techniques and use crop protection chemicals.
• Ability to interact, work in teams, lead, make decisions and influence people

Critical experience

• To have a minimum of 10-15 years of experience (5+ years desirable) in practical product development, sales or marketing roles, agronomy, or Plant pathology or Entomology.
• CP background

Department/Function: Crop Protection Development
Reports to role: Head, CPD
Location: Pune