Veg. Agronomist – Field Production Research

At Syngenta, we believe every employee has a role to play in safely feeding the world and taking care of our planet. To support that challenge, the NA SSV Field Production Team is currently seeking a , Veg. Agronomist – Field Production Research located in Salinas, CA
Role Purpose
The incumbent will be responsible to coordinate a Veg parent characterization and agronomic improvement program for Vegetable production in North America to enable data driven decisions for product advancement, production instructions, and production planning. 

Delivers a key service through a team or leads complex and significant tasks and projects of regional or global scope.   Provides high scientific, technical, specialist/subject matter or product expertise and leadership for assigned species groups and region.  Facilitate and lead the cross crops vegetable seed Field Production continuous improvement plan.  Communicate and liaise with all relevant stakeholders to enable one team.

Interaction is mostly with:

• Head of Small Seed Vegetable Production
• Global Production Crop Strategist SSV–
• Supply Chain Leads – Global Supply Chain Teams
• Regional MoM organization
• Production Admin Manager
• Regional Field Production Heads/Managers
• Global Field Production managers
• Regional Field Production Agronomist
• Regional Field Production Research teams
• Regional QC Leads
• Regional University network
• Relevant Species Breeders and related R&D personnel.

Accountabilities

• Take the lead in inbred characterization to provide key seed producibility data for breeders and the hybrid advancement process, analysis of supply reliability and relative cost of production.
• Development of production instruction and product profile for crops grown in region.
• Lead and assist with experimental design and trial creation. This involves relevant ad-hoc research projects, determining seed, crop protection products entry lists, and making all necessary preparations to ensure experiment completion.
• Develop and maintain communication with various functions within Syngenta, Research and Development, Biological Operations, Seeds Production, Parent Seeds, Quality Control and Marketing and Sales. This includes other relevant sectors in the seed industry and universities.
• Analyze data and prepare reports/presentations for delivery to internal and external department customers. Present information through a number of formal and informal avenues. Develop two-way communication with various audiences ranging from breeders to department managers.
• Maintain an awareness of competitive developments and key technologies in the seed production and adjacent industries, along with external technology institutions to ensure that innovations are identified, evaluated, and implemented.
• Supervise research activities of Syngenta FPR staff, this includes 3rd party personnel selection, prioritizing tasks, assigning workloads, and coordination of data collection activities.
• Regular production field visits and partnering with field production staff to ensure trial data are calibrated and relevant to business, as well as visits with sales staff and customer to understand customer needs.
• Ensure full Health Safety & Environment (HSE) compliance and promote environmentally sustain-able solutions.
• Personal development: Attend Company sanctioned and/or external training seminars, as agreed upon with Supervisor, for development of personal and technical skills.
• Representation of Syngenta: Builds trust inside the company and in the local community showing ethical considerations and Syngenta values are reflected in company activities. Effectively pro-motes FPR and Syngenta Brand inside the company and with stakeholders and customers.
• Management of regional improvement projects and action plans

• Bachelors Degree required with significant relevant 5 years of experience or Master’s Degree in Agronomy, Plant Breeding, related agricultural or biological discipline.
• Functional knowledge of Seeds production across a range of crops desired.
• Organization; planning, pro-activity and reactivity leadership, flexibility and availability.
• Experience in Managing Cross Functional teams.
• Strong IT & project management skills and experience
• Must have excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Ability to influence and change current ways of working to develop a more scientific approach in the way we describe data, design experiments, integrate, interpret, and present results.
• Team working in multi-functional groups, both within FPR and externally.
• Ability to coordinate activities across geographies and cultures.
• Experience in working across functions both within P&S and outside of P&S.
• Independent and entrepreneurial mindset, ability to set a clear vision, End-to-End thinker and at each moment understand the impact of a decision on the ultimate customer satisfaction.
• Skill to analyze & understand the financial impact and take ownership of processes.
• Strong communication, presentation and collaboration skills
• Cross cultural awareness and ability to work in diverse teams
• Strong drive to successfully complete projects
• Thorough understanding of experimental design, field trial execution and statistical analysis.
• Cross functional and multi-cultural project management aptitude.
• Ability to work with Global network and Production group.

Preferred Requirements

• A passion and enthusiasm for digital technology and creating value through data.
• Expertise in team and project management and leadership.
• Statistical, data visualization and presentation expertise, database management.
• Financial knowledge & data analytics
• Global mindset and experience working in a multi-cultural international     environment
• Good understanding of seed quality and factors that affect quality
• Being Bilingual would-be a plus

• Full Benefit Package (Medical, Dental & Vision) that starts the same day you do
• 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 others
• A culture that promotes work/life balance, celebrates diversity, and offers numerous family-oriented events throughout the year

Work Level 4B
Salary Range $76,000-$95,000

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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Syngenta is a global leader in agriculture; rooted in science and dedicated to bringing plant potential to life. Each of our 28,000 employees in more than 90 countries work together to solve one of humanity’s most pressing challenges: growing more food with fewer resources. A diverse workforce and an inclusive workplace environment are enablers of our ambition to be the most collaborative and trusted team in agriculture. Our employees reflect the diversity of our customers, the markets where we operate and the communities which we serve. Join us and help shape the future of agriculture.