Technology Scientist URC Kenya

To lead a team of Research & Development scientists responsible for delivering solutions to improve production and processing technologies and to manage a research portfolio which delivers improvements aligned with the Crop Technology business objective.

Key Responsibilities

• Accountable for the Center of Expertise (CoE) Production Research Program for a range of crops which conducts research for new genetic trials, new technology screening and developing crop production & processing improvement programs to improve productivity.
•  Develops and delivers programs for CoE research aligned with the Crop Technical Strategy designed to deliver significant business value; addressing quality, cogs, new customer solutions, efficiency or new production processes or technologies.
• Prepares annual research programs budget estimates for providing input to drive business case requirements.
• Leads the research team in improving scientific standards within the organization and analytical capabilities to implement global research processes, including experimental design & reporting, standardized metrics, and upscaling/change management processes to realize reliable results.
• Develops scientific evidence for the 'Crop Production' Best Practice Protocols and Secures the new technology in the master data, aimed to deliver sustainable improvements in yield, quality and productivity
• Develops  process control programs aimed at evaluating new technologies and support upscaling into production (including metrics, statistical process control, training & materials, and audit program)
• Sources and identifies research opportunities and organizes for appropriate trial for correction/improvement.
• Communicates technical results effectively throughout the organization to enable business decisions, implementation and training to users.
• Works with the End-to-End Crop Technology leads and Crop Specialists to develop the research programs regionally and liaises with global teams. 
• Maintains an interaction with Crops Cross Category teams/projects to coordinate and align technologies and applications; including the leading of one or more strategic projects.
• Maintains awareness of competitive developments and key technology trends in the cuttings & related industries and external technology institutions to ensure that innovations are identified, evaluated and implemented.
• Prioritizes and align resources through effective integration with adjacent functions, managing resource conflicts and coordinating the annual budget and project processes
• Ensures adequate training of the team and overall succession management to secure business continuity.
• Supports regional Technology Innovations in troubleshooting when there has been a significant deviation in protocol performance.
• Ensures Health Safety & Environment (HSE) rules and regulation and champions the implementation of Syngenta HSE policy in all business decision and activities.
• Ensures compliance to phytosanitary regulations.
• Be part of Ethics and Compliance culture in the organization

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Qualifications

• BSc.  in horticulture/agriculture/ Botany/Agronomy/ plant physiology or similar
• Msc. in  horticulture/agriculture/ Botany/Agronomy/ plant physiology or similar

Personal Attributes

• Attention to detail
• Innovative
• High integrity
• Scientific mind
• Self drive
• Interpersonal relation
• Objective
• Patience
• Open minded.

Key Skills:

• Change management
• Organization
• Communication
• Analytical
• Computer
• Problem solving
• Project management

Critical Experience:

• 3 years of relevant experience

Working Relations

Internal

• HODS
• EAME
• Production Managers, Site Managers, PPT leads,

External

• Suppliers.
• Accredited labs,
• Universities,
• Research institutions

Syngenta Leadership Competencies and Behaviours

Essential Syngenta Competencies

• Customer-focused Ensure that communication and updates given to our internal and external customers is relevant and    timely and address the core customer requirements.
• Innovative Challenge and improve the current way of doings things in your area of responsibility to increase customer confidence.
• Decisive  Demonstrate ability to take prudent action with little oversight.
• Communicative Demonstrates openness in communication to others, able to communicate to other workers in a   language they can understand, listens well and incorporates the thoughts and ideas of others.
• Trusted Track record for building trust and reliability to deliver required products.
• Team-oriented Ability to work in a team and maintaining harmonious relationships with other personnel and especially providing support to Cuttings Operations the Production Manager and the Logistics  Manager
• Results-oriented Ability to plan and provide information and reports as per set deadlines in the most efficient manner. This calls for proper work planning and anticipation.

Other Behaviors Critical for the Role.

• Ability to work under pressure and work odd hours during peak season.
• Integrity.
• Ability to prioritize tasks.

Critical Success Factors & Key Challenges

• Maintaining  a factual overview of the production possibilities
• Timely planning of order confirmation
• Timely and factual communication of capacity updates.
• Adequate preparations in production planning in conjunction with the Production Manager.

Equal Opportunity Statement

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, tribe or any other  legally protected status.

Syngenta is a Global Agribusiness Company with its headquarters in Basel, Switzerland. We are a market leader in the breeding and production of Seeds and Cuttings for high quality pot and bedding plants. In Kenya, we have two production Sites; Kenya Cuttings Limited based in Thika and Pollen Limited based in Ruiru.