Reference: 18040122

About Syngenta

Syngenta is a global leader in agriculture; rooted in science and 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. Join us and help shape the future of agriculture.

About Us

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, the Market Segment Team within Seeds Development is currently seeking a Trialing Specialist-Product Placement Scientist, to be located in Malta, Illinois.

Role Purpose

• Manage R&D trialing activities for vegetable crops, with a focus on Large Seeded Vegetables for the US Mid-West, as prioritized by the Market Segment Team (MS Team) to drive excellence in on/off site trialing.  
• Be a high impact team member with Market Segment Leads (MSL), Germplasm Development Scientists (GDS), Product Development Specialists (PDS), and Regional Portfolio Managers.
• Develop deep knowledge of vegetable crops and regional markets, build an industry best network of customer-focused collaborations, and translate customer needs into recommended technical solutions for crop production and consumer satisfaction.  
• Successful delivery of the role will result in high quality trials, implementing trial design aligned with key markets and customers, high quality data collection and data analysis that will enable data-based product advancement decisions in conjunction with product development specialist, Marketing and Technical Support.
• Product Placement Scientist (PPS) are the key technical contributors to variety promotion from R&D to the Pre-commercial level by providing data, focusing on enabling optimal product placement of new varieties aligned with prioritized customer needs.
• PPS provide data for the Market Segment (MS) advancement and positioning process and technical positioning proposals for our new vegetables seeds products.

Accountabilities

• Manage on/off site trialing and deliver quality data to support product advancement decisions.
• Key contributor to advancement decisions and launch strategy based on variety performance and other technical data metrics at Market Segment level in her/his crops.
• Work with the MSL and GDS in making a yearly plan for assessment trials including budget
• Organize external (off-station) trials with growers in their 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 their 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/or greenhouse-selection for trial in line with targeted customer segment and general trialing needs (uniformity, soil, consistency)
• Grower visits at critical steps of growing to execute or manage sowing, planting, harvest to prevent mixture and provide correct material labelling.
• Harvest, plants and yield evaluation-data collection according to trial protocol and GDS team’s needs.
• Deliver all collected data via agreed formats within agreed deadlines.
• Conduct data collection in the field
• 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 competitive checks.
• Secure availability of Syngenta products and commercial seed checks following internal compliance rules.
• Use of proprietary and commercial databases and systems to plan trials, collect, manage, analyze, and visualize data.
• Organize and lead successful Product Advancement Tours (PAT) with GDS, MSL, PDS, Portfolio Managers and local Sales Representatives to present trials and new product candidates.
• Support early-stage trialing activities under the responsibility of Germplasm Development Scientists or Trait Development Leads.
• Prepare technical variety promotion leaflets for marketing and fill relevant information in relevant databases.
• Maintain good contacts with the distributors/growers/traders with the objective to understand customer needs & practices. Use this information to improve trials and trialing plan.  Feed relevant information to GDS teams and MS teams.
• Make trial contract evaluations (price, quality, risks) according to protocol, implement subsequent improvements.
• In collaboration with the commercial organization, establish On-Farm collaborations with key customers to create a customer centric culture, and to deliver solutions to our customers faster by exchanging data and information.
• Follow Biosafety, Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), compliance and ethics, and the quality system requirements according to Syngenta internal standards
• Contribute to achieving the company sustainability targets.

Requirements

• MS in Horticulture, Agriculture, Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics or 3 to 5 years work experience in a related field with relevant crop and field work.
• Relevant knowledge about plant genetics and breeding.
• Knowledge about crop trialing design and theory, principles of statistical data analysis
• Proficient in English (verbally and in writing)
• Knowledge of agronomy and growing techniques
• Experience in experimental design, trial placement, and data analysis.
• Travel between 25- 50%
• Proficient in MS office Suite
• Analytical skills and mindset.
• Effective communication with stakeholders, summarizing experimental results, synthesizing analyzed data to tell compelling stories and support recommendations and actions.
• Deep technical knowledge about vegetable crop groups

Preferred Requirements

• Experience in plant variety trialing, preferably in vegetable crops
• Experience in agricultural technologies and applications for crop production
• Experience in working with growers and related companies or functions in the vegetable production or value chain.
• Understanding the vegetable market and crop specifications.
• Basic understanding of plant breeding principles.
• Basic understanding of modeling.
• Experience working in international environment
• Experience in making public presentations
• Experience in statistical analysis software-SAS, GMP & R

Physical Demands and Essential functions

• Capable of working in high or low temperature conditions in field or greenhouse.  Capable of lifting to 50 pounds.  Capable of working long hours during time-critical periods of the growing season

Working Conditions While Performing Essential Functions:

• Field, greenhouse, laboratory, office.  Domestic and international travel required with occasional overnight stays. Stays at off-season production/nursery locations may extend to two to three weeks.  Potential allergens pollen, fungal spores, chemical pesticides in the field or greenhouse.
• Seasonal travel to off station testing locations, project meetings.  Domestic and international travel required with seasonal overnight stays.

What We Offer:

• Full Benefit Package (Medical, Dental & Vision) that starts the same day you do
• 401k plan with company match, Profit Sharing & Retirement Savings Contribution
• Paid Vacation, 9 Paid Holidays, Maternity and Paternity Leave, Education Assistance, Wellness Programs, Corporate Discounts among others
• A culture that promotes work/life balance, celebrates diversity, and offers numerous family-oriented events throughout the year.

To apply

Please click HERE to learn more and to apply online.

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.