Executive Director, Seed Portfolio - GROWMARK, Inc. - Bloomington, IL

Growmark • Bloomington, MN

1d

About The Position

The Executive Director, Seed Portfolio is responsible for the seed product portfolio and go-to-market approach across the GROWMARK System and Ontario. The role oversees genetic and trait supplier relationships and agreements, product advancement and research, portfolio strategy, pricing and programs, product positioning, seed marketing, and grower engagement. It owns the System Supported Brand strategy and proprietary seed brands, InVISION and HiSOY, as primary sources of genetic diversity and grower choice. The position is accountable for portfolio competitiveness in support of Seed divisional income and net new acre targets.

The role supervises and develops the Senior Manager, Product Advancement and Research, and the Director, Sales Enablement. It leads cross-functional work with seed operations, customer care, sales, crop protection portfolio marketing, Agronomy Services, and Enterprise Marketing. The position manages seed portfolio profitability and supplier relationships, directs product management and research across multiple seed product lines, sets pricing and grower programs, and partners with sales and marketing leaders on positioning, launches, training, and program execution. It also develops annual and long-range portfolio plans and reports on performance, supplier position, pricing, market trends, and financial results to the VP, Crop Protection and Seed.

GROWMARK is an agricultural cooperative serving almost 400,000 customers across North America. It provides agronomy, energy, facility engineering and construction, logistics, grain marketing, and risk management products and services. Headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois, GROWMARK owns the FS trademark and operates SEEDWAY, the largest full-line seed company in the United States.

Requirements

• Normally requires a college degree in agronomy, agricultural business, agricultural economics, marketing, or a related field, or equivalent.
• Nine or more years of related experience demonstrating seed portfolio, marketing, or product management leadership.
• Advanced understanding and experience with seed genetics and traits, plant breeding and seed production, product advancement and research, branding and marketing, pricing strategy, licensing and supply agreements, inventory and risk management, negotiation, and compliance.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating and administering supplier and trait-provider agreements and managing a multi-supplier portfolio, including proprietary brand development.
• Strong analytical skills, including portfolio profitability analysis and financial modeling.
• Proven leadership skills, including staffing, coaching, performance evaluation, and achieving results through others, including leaders who do not report directly to the position.
• Demonstrated business knowledge, collaboration, communication, customer focus, decision-making, and skill-development abilities.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and persuasion skills, and 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, a valid passport, and the ability to travel independently and overnight as needed.

Responsibilities

• Account for seed gross margin, product line profitability, portfolio competitiveness, and contributions to Seed Division sales, net new acre, share, and divisional income targets.
• Negotiate and administer seed supply, licensing, and trait agreements for GROWMARK seed entities in coordination with the VP, Crop Protection and Seed and Legal.
• Develop and maintain genetic and trait supplier relationships, managing the supplier portfolio to balance access to genetics and traits, competitive economics, and the System’s long-term position.
• Direct product management, advancement, and research for corn, soybean, wheat, forage, and turf, including seed testing, genetic acquisition, product selection, seed treatment, and identification of member company needs.
• Set seed product line pricing and grower programs to support System profit standards and competitiveness.
• Communicate product mix and annual supply plan needs to Seed Operations to manage inventory and support sales growth and profitability.
• Own seed grower engagement programs, including trips, educational activities, demonstration plots, grower targeting, and acre-level value propositions, in coordination with the Executive Director, Crop Protection and Seed Sales.
• Partner with the Executive Director, Enterprise Marketing and Agronomy Marketing Strategist on long-term and annual marketing plans, product positioning, and brand messages aligned with the enterprise marketing framework and FS brand standards.
• Coordinate marketing efforts with System Supported brand partners.
• Partner with the Executive Director, Crop Protection and Seed Sales on program execution, field positioning, new product launches, and product and sales training for field staff and member company personnel.
• Coordinate with the Executive Director, Crop Protection Portfolio on integrated seed and crop protection offers.
• Develop annual and long-range seed marketing goals, portfolio plans, and marketing inputs to sales, gross margin, and selling expense budgets.
• Report regularly to the VP, Crop Protection and Seed on portfolio performance, supplier position, pricing and program results, market trends, and financial results.
• Analyze seed industry trends, competitor genetics and traits, marketing programs, advertising, and channel behavior to guide portfolio and positioning decisions.
• Develop and maintain relationships with strategic partners, universities, and industry contacts; represent GROWMARK at industry events and on association boards and committees as assigned.
• Visit member companies to understand System needs and build marketing programs that grow System Supported Brands.
• Collaborate with Seed Operations to ensure governmental and regulatory requirements for assigned product lines are met.
• Support seed performance data flows through myFS Agronomy and encourage innovative practices, ideas, and technologies within the team.
• Follow GROWMARK’s Code of Conduct and Corporate Compliance Program, and applicable Environmental Health and Safety, OSHA, and DOT policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Fully funded pension
• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Supplemental accident, critical illness, disability, hospital indemnity, and identity theft protection plans
• Generous paid time off
• Paid holidays
• Parental leave
• 401(k) plan with company matching
• Free Employee Assistance Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director