About this role
- Job Description
- Serve as technical leader for biostimulants, biocontrol, and nutrient use efficiency (NUE) solutions across AMEA & JANZ CPD. Influence and communicate needed changes in ways-of-working resulting from new insights and emerging market trends.
- Manage and lead the development of new and existing biostimulant, biocontrol, and NUE products that result in successful marketing and sales of profitable solutions across Syngenta's crop protection and biological solutions portfolio.
- Lead biostimulant, biocontrol, and NUE product development projects including resistance management and stewardship initiatives, and coordinate and implement the project portfolio within the Commercial Units.
- Ensure a consolidated summary of the technical positioning for biostimulants, biocontrol, and NUE products across the countries for input into the PDC and facilitate technical exchange with relevant stakeholders.
- Ensure all elements of biological and agronomic aspects of projects—from profiling, registration, and technical launch platform building—are well covered to deliver competitive products and technical knowledge according to business needs.
- Identify new technical opportunities in biostimulants, biocontrol, and nutrient optimization and evaluate technologies to contribute to a future profitable and sustainable portfolio.
- Act as Biostimulants, Biocontrol & NUE Development Business Partner in Regional and country Crop Protection Teams and establish an effective network to drive input into the product development process for biological and nutrient management solutions.
- Collaborate and align with Global Biostimulants, Biocontrol, and NUE teams to help define overarching priorities and ensure regional trialing needs are met.
- Accountabilities:
- Lead the strategic development and evaluation of innovative biostimulant, biocontrol, and NUE solutions across crops and countries in AMEA & JANZ. Drive GAP definition and solution development, incorporating market evolution, sustainability trends, and competitor analysis in the biological and nutrient management space.
- Design and oversee comprehensive trial programs for biostimulants, biocontrol agents, and NUE products, coordinating with researchers, contract trial companies, and in-house Trialists. Pioneer the integration of technologies (biologicals chemistry, digital, agronomic, application tech) to create cutting-edge, sustainable solutions. Stay at the forefront of advancements in plant biostimulation, biological control mechanisms, nutrient dynamics, and sustainable agriculture practices.
- Collaborate closely with Country teams to implement biostimulant, biocontrol, and NUE strategies across geographies. Represent biological solutions and nutrient optimization expertise in cross-functional project teams and Portfolio Leadership Teams at AMEA & JANZ, maintaining connections with Global leadership. Foster multidisciplinary collaboration to enhance solutions across the organization.
- Work closely with AMEA & JANZ Digital Lead and support the organization for digital step changes in product development through increased digital awareness, engagements, and building trust with users in biological and nutrient management applications.
- Establish and propagate best practices in sustainable biostimulant, biocontrol, and nutrient management methodologies across the region. Ensure integration of long-term sustainability strategies into AMEA & JANZ operations. Develop solutions that balance agronomic performance with environmental stewardship and regenerative agriculture principles.
- Serve as the primary technical authority for PLTs, supporting Commercial and Marketing Teams. Provide in-depth analysis of customer needs, competitive landscapes, and portfolio positioning in biological solutions and nutrient management. Identify emerging market opportunities and grower challenges to guide business strategy. Drive GAP definition and solution development incorporating market evolution and competitor analysis.
- Craft compelling narratives around Syngenta's biostimulant, biocontrol, and NUE innovations to support product positioning. Deliver comprehensive reports on trial results and market insights to local and regional stakeholders. Ensure transparency in research planning and CPD cost allocation through relevant systems.
- Uphold the highest standards of safety and compliance in all operations, adhering to Syngenta's Health, Safety & Environmental policies and relevant regulations. Promote responsible use of biological products and nutrient management technologies among stakeholders. Regularly assess the effectiveness of current strategies and initiate improvements based on new scientific findings, regulatory developments, and market feedback. Drive regional biological innovation by identifying priority biological targets and mechanisms of action, setting performance standards, and developing technology platforms aligned with commercial and scientific objectives.
- Lead product development decisions by assessing the biological potential of candidates through evidence-based evaluation, defining performance criteria, guiding portfolio prioritisation, and supporting stage-gate decisions for regional advancement.
- Provide technical leadership and capability building to Product Biological teams across AMEA and JANZ, establishing technical specifications, identifying product enhancement opportunities, and engaging effectively with global, regional and country stakeholders.
- Optimise research prioritisation and resource allocation by focusing research programmes on market needs, ensuring complementary project design, reducing portfolio cannibalisation, and maintaining a balanced pipeline across priority crops, geographies and product profiles.
- Manage and develop the regional Product Biological team directly, setting clear objectives, strengthening scientific and leadership capability, and ensuring effective execution; provide indirect coaching, technical guidance and strategic support to biological teams in countries according to their maturity and local needs.
- Qualifications
- Experience in the implementation, management, and analysis of field trials for biostimulants, biocontrol products, and nutrient use efficiency solutions.
- Experience in managing development projects for biological products and sustainable agriculture solutions.
- Preferably a M.Sc. degree or equivalent with at least 5 years experience in crop protection, biological solutions, or sustainable agriculture.
- Strategic thinking on how data could drive more effective (choose the right product) and efficient (better and faster) product development in biostimulants, biocontrol, and nutrient management.
- Proven track record in a research/development environment focused on biological products, plant nutrition, or integrated crop management solutions.
- Digital experience will be appreciated, particularly in precision agriculture, digital agronomy tools, or data-driven decision support systems.
- Experience in practical field execution of trial work (with external collaborators) for biological products and nutrient management programs.
- Additional Information
- A passion and enthusiasm for biological & biocontrol solutions, sustainable agriculture, and their applications to address grower challenges and environmental stewardship.
- Open-minded thinking – beyond current practices and structures, embracing innovative biological and nutrient management approaches.
- Builds a culture of innovation – creates an environment that inspires and supports creativity in developing sustainable crop solutions.
- Proactive communication and alignment with stakeholders across technical, commercial, and regulatory functions.
- Strategic thinking with the ability to focus to deliver on what matters for biological product development and market adoption.
- Manages for performance – skillfully plans, organizes, and monitors performance to create value and achieve excellence in delivery of biostimulant, biocontrol, and NUE solutions.
- Focused on customers and is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of growers seeking sustainable, effective biological and nutrient management solutions.
