Product Manager, Spinach & Baby Leaf

Sakata Seed America, INC.•Salinas, CA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Responsibilities include all facets of product development, marketing and sales of Sakata products for assigned territory. Develop marketing plans, sales strategies and action plans for identified targets of opportunity that clearly define company objectives and goals. Duties include devising and implementing sales strategies, forecasting demand, field trials, and coordinating various sales programs with Area Sales Managers for assigned territories. Responsible for meeting sales budget and marketing reports and files. Develops products for baby leaf spinach, beet, chard, arugula, and wild rocket product lines, while working with breeders and production staff to maintain proper product mix. Must utilize expense account with prudent judgment.

Requirements

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Must have demonstrated ability to coordinate a high level of activity under a variety of conditions and constraints.
Must have excellent knowledge of marketing, product management (product profile definition, product development, launching, support and life cycle control), production constraints, inventory management and turnover. Should have overall working understanding of melon seed business.
Must have the overall ability to use tact and discretion to achieve goals through others.
Must be knowledgeable of new trends in the field of seed and food industry.
Basic computer knowledge, including but not limited to Microsoft Office.
Minimum 10 years’ sales and marketing experience in the seed industry.
Minimum 15 years’ experience in Baby Leaf production.
Must have valid driver's license and excellent driving record.

Nice To Haves

An undergraduate college degree in marketing, business administration, crop science or agriculture or its equivalent in training and experience required.

Responsibilities

Work with the Crop Business Unit Manager to aid in preparing worldwide baby leaf business plans, defining breeding targets and priorities, propose sales targets per territory, assisting with trial planning and local action plans
Provides direction and leadership to other team members and local product managers to implement company’s baby leaf strategy and tactics.
Develop tools and procedures to improve market knowledge, and product knowledge as well to achieve maximum market penetration and to attain both medium and long-range objectives for sales growth.
Establishes territory sales targets and implement them in close relation with territory Sales and Marketing.
Collect the data to prepare, update, and define market potential: market size, segments, cropping cycle, seed rate per acreage unit, seed volume, and seed value.
Estimate company’s and competitor market share. Identify competitive leading varieties in each selected segment.
Scout technological information, trends, production shifts, etc. to keep company informed on new threats and opportunities.
Assist and monitor implementation of new product introduction in all key territories.
Maintains effective budgetary control of expenses within budget frame.
Acts within scope of authority and consistent with company objectives and policies.
Assures a positive employee and customer relations position is maintained.
Ability to handle stress, especially when encountering necessary projects, deadlines and/or high workload.
Must be able to work under strict time constraints and requirements.
Strong character traits required including emotional stability, adaptability, ability to handle stress, cultural and gender sensitivity, and honesty.
Monitors activities of global product team employees and provides the necessary coordination between divisions and territories involved.
Performs any directly related or other appropriate duties as assigned.
Performs assigned duties with minimum personal supervision.
Maintains appropriate sales and marketing reports and files.
Other duties as assigned.