Business Development & Technical Advisor Citrus & East Coast

upllimited•Visalia, CA

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

DECCO, an ADVANTA company, is the global leader in providing postharvest solutions to reduce food waste and enhance the freshness of fresh fruits and vegetables all along the food supply chain. DECCO delivers value every day to packers, shippers, supermarkets and consumers with customized coating, decay control, sanitization and disinfection products, application technology, on-site service and almost 90 years of postharvest expertise. Our 200+ dedicated DECCO employees operate in over 40 countries. Our purpose is to enable more and better Fresh Food for the world. More. Beautiful. Fresh The Business Development & Technical Advisor – Citrus & East Coast is responsible for supporting commercial activities along with promoting growth and market penetration of the company’s portfolio in various markets throughout the Southwest and across the Eastern US. This role combines expertise of postharvest fruit & vegetable pathogens, treatments, and handling practices with strategic business development, customer relationship management, and hands‑on technical advisory to growers, distributors, and strategic partners.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Plant Pathology, Plant Science, or related field
5+ Years of experience in technical advisory, innovation, or development roles
Strong experience working directly with customers and commercial teams
Proven ability to translate technical concepts into customer-relevant business value
Strong analytical, presentation, and communication skills
Valid driver’s license, able to drive company vehicle
Proficient computer skills: use of word processor (Word), Excel, PowerPoint and internet functions
Technical expertise and problem-solving
Strong knowledge of pest and disease management
Commercial acumen
Ability to influence without authority

Nice To Haves

Master’s or PhD preferred

Responsibilities

Identify, assess, and secure new commercial opportunities, including key growers, cooperatives, distributors, consultants, and influencers.
Drive revenue growth, trial conversions, and product adoption in line with annual budget and growth targets.
Represent the company at industry events, field days, grower meetings, and trade shows.
Act as a technical authority supporting customers, sales, and key accounts.
Provide technical guidance on product selection, application, performance, and optimization.
Design, implement, and evaluate field trials, demonstrations, and on‑site validations.
Analyze field data and customer feedback to support claims, refine positioning, and guide product development.
Support issue resolution related to product performance, crop response, and adoption barriers.
Identify unmet market needs and translate them into technical requirements and solution concepts.
Collaborate with R&D, Product Management, and Engineering to develop, test, and refine innovative solutions.
Support the commercialization of new products and technologies, including launch readiness and technical positioning.
Contribute to the development of differentiated value propositions and solution roadmaps.
Build and maintain long‑term relationships with key decision‑makers and technical influencers.
Collaborate closely with stakeholders to ensure alignment on territory strategy, execution, and technical support.
Serve as a trusted advisor to growers by understanding their operational, agronomic, and economic challenges.
Monitor market trends, customer feedback, and competitive technologies.
Provide structured insights to inform innovation priorities, product improvements, and portfolio decisions.
Support business cases and technical justification for new solutions and investments.
Work closely with Commercial, Operations, and Service teams to ensure solutions are scalable and executable.
Act as a technical liaison across regions and functions to ensure consistency and best‑practice sharing.