Product Placement Scientist

Company Description

Syngenta is leading science-based agtech company; 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. No matter what your position, you will have a vital role in safely feeding the world and taking care of our planet. Join us and help shape the future of agriculture.

We invite you to help us shape the future of agriculture. 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, we’re looking for a: Product Placement Scientist (PPS)

Job Description

Purpose

• Manage trialing activities for crops in conjunction with Breeding Project Leads to drive excellence in on/off site trialing (PLC 3-5). 
• Successful delivery of the role will result in high quality trials, implementing trial design, adequate data collection and data analysis that will enable data-based product advancement and placement decisions in conjunction with product development specialist, Marketing and Technical Support.
• PPS are the key technical contributors to the hybrid promotion from PLC5 to PLC6.0 focusing on the territory and on regional demand.
• PPS provide data for the territory advancement and positioning process PAT/PAM documents, technical positioning proposals) for our new vegetables seeds products.

Accountabilities

• Manage on/off site trialing and deliver quality data to support PLC 5 transfer to 6 decision making
• Key contributor of PLC6.0 transfer decisions with the variety performance and other technical parts at Territory level in her/his crops.
• Prepare the year plan with the support of Breeding Project Leads, plan for assessment trials including budget (Trial plan)

• Organize external (off-station) trials with growers in his crops as planned in trial planning tool and on the way of working as described in trial protocol
• Organize internal (in-station) trials with station managers in his crops as planned in trial planning tool and on the way of working as described in trial protocol
• Prepare and negotiate contracts with growers for trials based on standard Syngenta agreement.
• Grower-field and greenhouse-selection for trial in line with targeted customer segment and general trialing needs (uniformity, soil, consistency)
• Grower or YP raiser visits at critical steps of growing to execute or manage sowing, planting, harvest to prevent mixture and provide correct material labelling.
• Create trials in SPIRIT applying Trial Design rules
• Harvest, plants and yield evaluation-data collection according to trial protocol, trialing plan and breeder’s needs.
• Deliver all collected data via agreed formats and SPIRIT within agreed deadlines.
• Instruct trialing technicians or 3rd party trialing company to secure good trial and data quality.
• Organize data collection in the field with Syngenta or third party employees
• Makes plant selections in field as instructed by Breeding Project lead (if applicable).
• Support data collection during line development (if applicable)
• Using of databases as SPIRIT, MINT and software as Excel, Spotfire to plan trials and other software for data management, data analysis and data visualization. Prepare trials in MINT and SPIRIT.
• Provide data set on the performance of materials from all trials and make good overviews about the hybrids for their positioning in certain markets (country level) compared to Syngenta and competition.
• Secure availability of Syngenta products and commercial seed checks following internal compliance rules (GARF, GCC)
• Organize Product Advancement Tour (PAT tour) with Breeding Project Leads and Portfolio managers to present trials and new products candidate to transfer to PLC6.0. PPS is securing the appropriate visit date in order to have all participants and to visit the trials at the appropriate development stage.
• Prepare all the trials and product exposition for the PAT tour. Prepare trial data analysis to be used during the PAT tour and lead the PAT visits. Make and share the minutes of the PAT tour.
• Preparation of technical variety promotion leaflets in order to support effective hand over to marketing of new varieties. Fill relevant PMD information.
• Maintain good contacts with the distributors/growers/traders with the objective to understand customer needs & practices, and use this information to update breeders in order to improve trials.
• Make trial contract evaluations (price, quality, risks) according to protocol, implement subsequent improvements.
• Follow Biosafety, HSE rules and the quality system requirements

Core Capabilities:

• Strong result orientation and assertive mindset
• Good relationship building and networking skills
• Ability to stand for her/his proposal with courage
• Challenging the status quo with innovative solutions
• Proactive  mindset and agility (communication, seeking solutions)
• Taking new initiatives and to capturing new opportunities beyond borders
• Candid to receive feedbacks and build these to her/his personal development
• Flexibility in working (coping with timing/environment/ people changes)

Qualifications

Critical success factors & key challenges

• Knowledge and experience on data management, experimental design and statistical analysis.
• Learning to work within the Syngenta Seeds Vegetables matrix organization, with special attention to connection and support (according to the plan agreed with BPLs) to Product Development and Sales/Marketing team within geography.
• Build up a core team of growers who can perform good quality trials for the company.
• Efficient use the resources available in the company.
• Good health state to stand hard work conditions (hot, cold, humid).
• Ability to work in a dynamic environment, fast adaptation to new situations, requests.
• Flexible attitude.
• Open behavior in case of disagreement.
• Feel part of and responsible for the success of Syngenta Seeds.

Critical experience required for the job:

• Experience in plant variety trialing (preferably in vegetable crops)
• Experience in experimental design, data analysis and assessment (using statistical methods and IT tools)
• Experience in agricultural technologies and applications
• Experience in working with growers/other related companies/functions in the veg production chain
• Understanding of Vegetable market and crop specifications
• Profound understanding of agronomy and basic breeding principles
• Willingness to travel frequently (internal/abroad)
• Experience with working in international environment is a plus
• Experience in making public presentations is a plus

Critical knowledge and education required for the job:

• BSc (required) and/or MSc (preferably) in Horticulture or in Agriculture with relevant crop related work experiences (threshold is 3-5 years dependent from the scope of the previous job).
• Relevant knowledge about plant genetics and breeding (MSc/PhD in Plant Breeding & Genetics is a plus)
• Knowledge about trial design and theory, principles of statistical data analysis
• Good understanding of the English language both verbally and in writing

Experiences to be gained in the job

• Deep technical knowledge about the particular Veg crop group
• Comprehensive market knowledge about the crop group (market demand, competitors, trends, across territory view, regional differences etc.)
• Developed analytical skills and mindset

Additional Information

Potential next jobs

• Senior Breeding Trial Specialist
• Breeding Project Lead
• Portfolio/Asset Manager

Due to the nature of the role, willingness to travel is essential, especially during the summer months, to other areas of Italy (central and northern Italy) for periods of up to several weeks.

Languages: Native Italian speaker, good spoken and written English.

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