Commercial Sales & Marketing Director

Advanta•Amarillo, CO

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Advanta is a global seed business adapting to rapidly increasing food insecurity and climate change by providing farmers with innovation and new technologies. As part of UPL Group, Advanta aims to deliver high quality seeds with excellent agronomic practices and crop protection solutions. Advanta operates in over 80 countries under global brands of Advanta, Alta and Pacific Seeds. Advanta holds a leadership position in tropical and sub-tropical geographies in corn, grain and forage sorghum, sunflower, canola, rice, and a variety of vegetables. With over 60 years' experience in plant genetics, Advanta provides seeds technology that ensures crop performance and farmers prosperity. Position Overview The Head of Sales & Marketing is responsible for defining and executing the commercial sales strategy for the company’s sorghum and sunflower Portfolio. The position is a critical leadership role and a key member of the Senior Leadership Team. The position is responsible for business growth and leadership of the company’s sales, marketing, and operations planning. This role owns portfolio P&L, revenue growth, market expansion, brand leadership, and customer engagement while ensuring alignment between sales execution, marketing strategy, product development, and supply alignment. The position combines strategic leadership with hands on commercial execution in a highly specialized agricultural seed market.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Business, Marketing, or related field
12+ years of progressive commercial experience in the seed or agricultural inputs industry
Demonstrated leadership experience in sales, marketing, or general management roles
Strong experience with sorghum, sunflower, or comparable row‑crop seed markets
Proven success managing dealer/distributor networks and key accounts
Experience leading multi‑region or cross‑border commercial teams
P&L ownership and strategic planning experience strongly preferred
Strategic commercial sales leadership with strong execution focus
Deep understanding of crop production systems and grower decision making
Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills
Strong negotiation and pricing strategy capabilities
Data driven mindset; experience with CRM, forecasting, and analytics tools
Ability to balance long term portfolio strategy with short term market realities
Willingness to travel extensively (30–50%)

Nice To Haves

MBA or advanced degree preferred

Responsibilities

Define and implement the overall sales and marketing strategy for sorghum and sunflower seed portfolios
Drive profitable growth through market share expansion, pricing discipline, and portfolio optimization
Translate company vision into clear commercial objectives, annual operating plans, and KPIs
Provide strategic input to the leadership team and support long term business planning
Own revenue forecasts, commercial budgets, and return on investment decisions
Lead, structure, and develop US sales team
Design and manage distributor, dealer, and key account strategies
Oversee territory planning, incentives, performance metrics, and sales capability development
Lead negotiations for strategic accounts, large growers, and commercial partnerships
Ensure accurate demand forecasting and alignment with production and supply planning
Establish strong product positioning and value propositions for sorghum and sunflower seed offerings
Lead product launches, lifecycle management, and portfolio prioritization
Oversee marketing communications, branding, and demand creation initiatives
Support field marketing activities including trials, demonstrations, field days, and grower meetings
Ensure consistent, agronomically credible messaging across all markets and channels
Monitor market trends, grower needs, competitor activity, and regional production dynamics
Collaborate closely with R&D, breeding, and agronomy teams to shape the product pipeline
Provide commercial input into hybrid advancement, trait development, and market suitability
Support stewardship, product quality, and regulatory compliance in commercial operations
Partner with Supply Chain on production planning, inventory levels, and allocation decisions
Work with Finance and Product Management on pricing strategy, margin management, and performance tracking
Collaborate with HR on talent development, leadership succession, and organizational capability
Align with Quality and Operations teams to ensure compliant commercialization