Reference: 2019-3155

The fourth largest seed company in the world, Limagrain is an international cooperative group created and directed by French farmers. As a creator and producer of plant varieties, Limagrain markets field seeds, vegetable seeds and cereal products.

VILMORIN-MIKADO is a Business Unit of Limagrain. It brings together the activities of Vilmorin (French seed company) and Mikado (Japanese seed company).

VILMORIN-MIKADO is a global seed company which has strong bases spread over the five continents; it offers a wide, unique and original high-quality range to all professionals in the vegetable industry.

VILMORIN-MIKADO team conveys a strong commitment to customer-service and passion for vegetables. Strong by their diversity and entrepreneurship spirit, they hold our values of audacity, proximity and excellence.

From Vilmorin-MIKADO, expect quality seed of the tastiest products for your markets.  

As a global Seed Company, Vilmorin-MKS has strong basis over the 5 continents and offers a wide and original high-quality range to all the professionals of the vegetable chain. Vilmorin-MKS is specialized in the creation, production and marketing of vegetable and tree seeds and is entirely dedicated to agricultural professionals.

As a part of the Marketing team, you will be asked to support the growth of our Cherry/Specialty Tomatoes by recommending and managing the global strategy and development.

Main Responsibilities:

Market intelligence & Business outlook:

• Follow up and update market data in collaboration with the development and sales teams in order to anticipate major market trends in the consumption / retailing of Cherry and other Specialty tomatoes in Europe, USA, Japan and other main markets worldwide.
• Elaborate Business plan, recommend, animate and execute mid and long term strategic plans to define ambition and to direct marketing, research and development activities of the product line (managed internally or sub-contracted).
• Maintain active benchmarking.

Innovation:

• Foster innovation within the company and animate it for products as well as for process.
• Ensure growth with innovation, by developing new concepts and new products in collaboration with Breeders, local Development & Sales teams, Regional Crop Specialists, Growers and/or Vegetable/Fruit Marketers.
• Develop « Downstream marketing » approach for the lines and key targeted markets.

Lifecycle and Products’ management:

• Manage product life cycle and products range at worldwide level, within the objective of turnover and margin growth, with the support of Production, NPI flow Manager, Development & Sales teams and Regional Crop Specialists.
• Lead NPI process (New Product Introduction). Coordinate and animate development plans for new products with the Breeders, Development & sales team and Regional Crop Specialists.
• Support Sales teams with appropriate tools and technical information.
• Develop and implement product platforms with breeders, regional crop Specialists and development teams to showcase our products and innovations internally and externally.
• Manage the In and Out-sourcing activities in line with the Cherry/Specialty Tomatoes strategy.
• Supervise and challenge Sales forecasts and inventories’ management and actively participate in seed Production plans.
• Manage safety stock levels for the Cherry/Specialty Tomatoes lines and maintain proactivity of stock management.
• Maintain and improve product quality consistency, and lead Quality Chart follow-up.

Products’ Communications:

• Ensure execution of the Commercial brands’ strategy on a regional and worldwide level
• Ensure best communication for the products’ benefits by proposing specific and competitive USP for each target within the chain.
• Participate in the products’ promotion (commercial and new products) to actively support local Development teams and Communication team, to implement effective communication plans to growers, vegetable buyers/retailers and other seed buying decision makers.

Profile:

The candidate must have an understanding of fruit, vegetable or other perishable business. An ideal profile would be someone with a strategic vision; good knowledge of fruit/vegetable commercialization in the main markets; and experience in seed or other agricultural product in product management or related function. A bachelor’s degree in agronomy, business or related field is a must; a MBA would be preferred. This person would act frequently as a project leader, so she/he should know how to lead/motivate multifunctional/multicultural teams and be able to travel regularly.

• Languages: Fluent in English and Spanish; French, Italian and/or another language will be a plus.

Location:

The position is ideally based in Almeria, Spain. However, other reasonable locations in Spain, Italy, France or other places could be considered.

Application:

If you’re interested by this position, please, apply directly by sending your application (CV + Motivation/Cover letter in English) to: https://talent.limagrain.com/job/emploi-chef-produit-tomates-h-f-_3155.aspx?LCID=2057