Seedcare Business Manager South Africa

About the role

Syngenta Group is looking for a commercially minded, business-savvy person to lead the profitable growth of its South Africa Seedcare business. The role owns commercial delivery, portfolio and new product introduction priorities, key-account planning and execution, and the P-A-S-S (Product, Application, Services and Sustainability) value propositions, coordinating with the Seedcare Institute, Marketing, Sales, CPD, Regulatory, Supply Chain and Finance.

Key responsibilities

• Own the South Africa Seedcare business plan and deliver sales, gross profit, market-share and working-capital objectives; lead budgeting, forecasting, S&OP and monthly reviews; drive pricing discipline and maintain customer data in Salesforce.
• Develop differentiated strategies for Seedcare Key Accounts, lead negotiations and coordinate pricing, terms, contracts and rebates; guide downstream and on-farm treatment channels; work with the Head of Seedcare Key Accounts on multi-country accounts.
• Own the portfolio lifecycle, run business cases and launch readiness for new products and seed-applied biologicals, and ensure P-A-S-S offers are differentiated and well executed.
• Use the Seedcare Institute to strengthen customer performance and loyalty, ensure compliance with HSE, product stewardship and safe-use requirements, and build technical and commercial capability through field immersion.
• Build relationships with industry associations, regulators, seed companies and partners; monitor competitors and customers; co-create solutions for priority crops such as maize, cereals, soybeans and sunflower.
• Lead the extended Seedcare team, promote a customer-focused, collaborative culture and coordinate delivery across functions.

Required profile

• Tertiary qualification in agriculture, agronomy, plant science, marketing, business management or a related field; a postgraduate qualification is advantageous.
• Typically 8-10 years of experience in agriculture, seeds, crop protection or seed treatment, with substantial commercial or key-account responsibility.
• 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; valid driving licence and willingness to travel regularly.

Required skills

• Proficiency with CRM and commercial planning tools; Salesforce experience is advantageous.
• Strategic and commercial acumen, strong financial judgement and disciplined execution.
• Customer leadership, negotiation, influencing and relationship management.
• Portfolio thinking, launch management, stakeholder management and leadership, coaching and talent development.