ROLE OVERVIEW
An opportunity within our Seedcare Business has become available for a commercially inclined and business savvy individual. The incumbent will lead the profitable growth of the South Africa Seedcare business by taking ownership of commercial delivery, portfolio and new product introduction priorities, key-account planning and execution, and P-A-S-S (Product, Application, Services and Sustainability) value propositions. Success requires coordinating and executiong cross-functional actitivties with the Seedcare Institute (SCI), Marketing, Sales, CPD, Regulatory, Supply Chain and Finance, and ensures effective local execution for key accounts operating across the South African Business Area.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
1. Business ownership and commercial delivery
- Own the South Africa Seedcare business plan and deliver agreed sales, gross profit, market-share and working-capital objectives.
- Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, S&OP and monthly business review cycles, with clear assumptions, risks and corrective actions.
- Drive pricing discipline, value capture, contract performance and commercial excellence in line with delegated authority and governance requirements.
- Maintain high-quality customer data in Salesforce, including account plans, call plans, pipeline, forecasts and market intelligence.
2. Key-account and customer leadership
- Develop and execute differentiated strategies for Seedcare Key Accounts with a clear operational framework and Key Account plans
- Lead customer negotiations and coordinate internal approvals for pricing, terms, contracts, rebates and service commitments.
- Provide strategic guidance for downstream and on-farm treatment channels, aligned with the South Africa go-to-market model.
- Coordinate with the Head of Seedcare Key Accounts AME on multi-country accounts: own relationships and execution for accounts headquartered in South Africa, and support local execution for AME-led accounts operating in South Africa.
3. Portfolio, innovation and NPI leadership
- Own the South Africa Seedcare portfolio lifecycle and identify portfolio gaps, customer needs and growth opportunities.
- Lead business cases and launch readiness for new products and seed-applied biologicals, including value proposition, demand forecast, pricing, registration, supply, channel and stewardship readiness.
- Partner with CPD, Marketing, Regulatory and the AME Seedcare team to shape portfolio priorities and pipeline decisions.
- Ensure P-A-S-S offers are differentiated, commercially relevant and consistently executed.
4. SCI, stewardship and technical value delivery
- Use SCI capabilities to strengthen customer performance and loyalty through application support, treatment quality, wastewater management and stewardship.
- Ensure compliance with HSE, product stewardship, safe-use and driving requirements across all Seedcare activities.
- Build technical and commercial capability through field immersion, customer problem-solving and collaboration with CPD and SCI.
5. Market shaping and stakeholder influence
- Build trusted relationships with relevant industry associations, regulators, seed companies, multipliers and strategic partners.
- Monitor competitor, customer and industry developments and translate insights into portfolio, pricing and commercial actions.
- Co-create solutions for priority crops, including maize, cereals, soybeans, sunflower and selected emerging opportunities.
6. Leadership and cross-functional execution
- Lead the extended Seedcare team through clear priorities, accountability and regular business performance follow-ups.
- Promote a Lead to Win culture of customer focus, collaboration, inclusion, transparency and continuous improvement.
- Coordinate effective delivery across Marketing, CPD, Regulatory, Supply Chain, Finance and Sales
Knowledge, experience & capabilities
- Tertiary qualification in agriculture, agronomy, plant science, marketing, business management or a related discipline. A postgraduate qualification is advantageous.
- Typically 8-10 years of relevant experience in agriculture, seeds, crop protection or seed treatment, including substantial commercial or key-account responsibility.
- Demonstrated experience in business planning, customer negotiation, pricing, forecasting, portfolio management and new-product introduction.
- Sound understanding of seed-treatment technologies, crop agronomy, stewardship and South African agricultural markets and channels.
- Experience leading cross-functional teams or delivering through indirect authority.
- Proficiency with CRM and commercial planning tools; Salesforce experience is advantageous.
- Valid driving licence and willingness to travel regularly.
Critical Skills & behaviours:
- Strategic and commercial acumen, with strong financial judgement and disciplined execution.
- Customer leadership, negotiation, influencing and relationship management.
- Portfolio thinking, opportunity assessment and launch management.
- Clear communication, collaboration and effective stakeholder management across cultures and functions.
- Leadership, coaching and talent development through direct and indirect influence.
- High integrity, sound judgement, safety leadership and transparent ways of working.
Stewardship & Compliance:
- Ensure complete compliance with Syngenta HSE, stewardship and driving policies.
- Promote safe-use practices across all Seedcare operations
Success measures
- Delivery of agreed sales, gross profit, market share and key performance indicators
- Quality and execution of key account plans, customer pipeline and contract commitments.
- On-time, on-strategy NPI launches with defined adoption and value-capture outcomes.
- Customer retention, share of wallet and documented progress against priority opportunities.
- Portfolio health, pricing discipline and timely resolution of supply, regulatory and stewardship risks.
- Improved cross-functional execution, team capability and succession readiness.
- Full compliance with HSE, stewardship, finance, competition-law and driving requirements.
Note: 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, gender identity, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.
