Executive Director, Crop Protection Portfolio - GROWMARK, Inc. - Bloomington, IL

Growmark•Bloomington, MN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Responsible for the crop protection product portfolio and how it goes to market across the GROWMARK System. This includes managing manufacturer and supplier relationships, portfolio strategy, pricing and programs, product positioning, and crop protection marketing. The role owns the branded, post-patent, proprietary, and private label crop protection offering, including adjuvants, biologicals, and specialty products, and is accountable for the portfolio's margin and competitiveness to support Crop Protection divisional income targets and sales growth. The position supervises, leads, and develops the Director, Proprietary Portfolio; Senior Manager, Crop Protection Marketing; and Manager, Registration and Specialty Products. It also leads cross-functional work with crop protection operations, sales, seed portfolio, Agronomy Services, and Enterprise Marketing.

Requirements

College degree in agronomy, ag business, ag economics, marketing, or a related field, or the equivalent thereof.
Nine years or more of related experience demonstrating crop protection portfolio, marketing, or product management leadership.
Demonstrates essential abilities including business knowledge, collaboration, communication, customer focus, decision making and skill development.
Advanced understanding and experience with crop protection marketing, price strategy, manufacturer programs and rebates, procurement, distribution, inventory and risk management, negotiation, product registration, and compliance.
Demonstrated experience negotiating and administering supplier agreements and managing a multi-supplier portfolio, including proprietary or private label product development.
Strong analytical skills, including portfolio profitability analysis and financial modeling.
Proven leadership skills including staffing, coaching, performance evaluation, and the ability to achieve results through others, including leaders who do not report directly to the position.
Proven communication, interpersonal, and persuasion skills, and the ability to work independently and in a team-oriented environment.
Demonstrated planning, organization, problem-solving, and project management skills.
Must have and maintain a valid driver's license and satisfactory driving record.
Must have and maintain a valid passport.
Ability to travel independently and overnight as needed.
Ability and willingness to participate in required training that may include education on GROWMARK's policies and procedures and additional training as it relates to the requirements of the position.

Responsibilities

Accountable for crop protection gross margin, product line profitability, and portfolio competitiveness, and contributes to Crop Protection Division sales, share, and divisional income targets.
Negotiates and administers supply, rebate, and program agreements with crop protection manufacturers and suppliers, in coordination with the VP, Crop Protection and Seed and Legal, and manages the supplier portfolio to balance access to leading chemistries and technologies, competitive economics for member companies and growers, and the System's long-term position.
Directs the administration of all manufacturer programs, including goal negotiation, tracking, and communication with member companies, and oversees the Crop Protection Task Force.
Sets crop protection product line pricing and grower programs at levels that support System profit standards and competitiveness and communicates product mix and volume needs to Crop Protection Operations to inform procurement and supply plans.
Directs product registration, regulatory compliance, and stewardship for crop protection products in the U.S. and Canadian markets served by the System.
Directs the development, testing, registration, and commercialization of the proprietary and private label crop protection portfolio, including post-patent offerings, proprietary adjuvant brands, biologicals, and specialty products, and the supplier partnerships that support it.
Partners with the Executive Director, Enterprise Marketing and Agronomy Marketing Strategist to develop long-term and annual marketing plans and product positioning messages aligned with the enterprise marketing framework, which communicate branded, generic, and specialty product messages across all core and expanded geographies.
Partners with the Executive Director, Crop Protection and Seed Sales on program execution, field positioning, and new product launch, and provides product and adjuvant training and support in conjunction with Agronomy Services to strengthen the System's crop protection position.
Coordinates with the Executive Director, Seed Portfolio on integrated seed and crop protection offers and shared manufacturer relationships.
Develops annual and long-range crop protection marketing goals, portfolio plans, and marketing inputs to sales, gross margin, and selling expense budgets, and reports regularly to the VP, Crop Protection and Seed on portfolio performance, supplier position, pricing and program results, market trends, and financial results.
Analyzes market conditions, competitor activity, post-patent opportunities, regulatory developments, and industry trends to guide portfolio decisions.
Develops and maintains manufacturer and industry relationships, represents GROWMARK at crop protection industry events, and serves on association boards and committees as assigned.
Visits member cooperatives and non-member customers to strengthen business relationships and inform portfolio and program design.
Implements credit procedures and protocols for non-member business that meet GROWMARK standards.
Maintains crop protection sales history and product line reporting, and encourages and supports innovative practices, ideas, and technologies within the team.
Follows GROWMARK’s Code of Conduct and Corporate Compliance Program, Environmental Health and Safety, OSHA and DOT policies and procedures, as they apply.
Responsible for encouraging, supporting, and promoting innovative practices, ideas, and technologies within the team.
Performs all other duties as assigned.