Seed Operations Head - Americas

Syngenta Group•Durham, NC

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

At Syngenta, our goal is to build the most collaborative and trustworthy team in agriculture, providing top-quality seeds and innovative crop protection solutions that improve farmers' success. To support this mission, Syngenta’s Operations & Trialing Team is seeking a Head of R&D Seed Operations in Durham, NC. This role will be responsible for the core operational processes and activities that enable the breeding programs in the Americas while overseeing a network of research stations across North & South America. The Head of R&D Seed Operations will be responsible for the regional implementation of global R&D processes, digital capabilities, and seed production/movement for the Americas, ensuring efficient resource allocation and acceleration of time-to-market for new vegetable varieties. This leader will spearhead the standardization and implementation of breeding operational processes to ensure on-time seed delivery with the desired quality, quantity, and cost. The role will also implement strategies to improve cross-functional collaboration, streamline regulatory compliance processes, and foster a culture of innovation across the R&D network in collaboration with the other Heads of Seed Operations in Europe and APAC. This role is crucial in transforming Syngenta's R&D into a highly efficient, data-driven, and globally integrated organization, ensuring the company's continued leadership in the market.

Requirements

Candidates must reside in and be permanently authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship. This comprises, but is not limited to, OPT, CPT, and H-1B visa holders.
Advanced degree (Ph.D. preferred) in Plant Science, Agronomy, Genetics, or a related field.
10+ years in the agricultural or breeding industry.
5+ years in leadership roles focused on operational execution in an R&D context.
Proven experience overseeing a multi-site R&D research station network, including responsibility for resource allocation, capital investment, standardization of operational procedures, and performance management across geographically dispersed locations.
Deep technical knowledge across agronomy, plant breeding, logistics, seed physiology, operations, automation, modeling, and planning tools, with a strong understanding of breeding technologies and processes from seed to seed.
Demonstrated ability to lead organizational transformation and change in a complex, matrixed R&D environment, including experience with budgeting, forecasting, and developing ROI-based investment proposals.
Proven people leader with a track record of attracting, developing, and retaining top talent across multinational teams, and the ability to foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across all levels of the organization, navigate competing interests, and build trust with internal and external partners, including familiarity with regulatory, QMS, and HSE requirements in an R&D operations environment.

Responsibilities

Locally execute a global strategy for R&D Seeds Operations aligned with Syngenta's overall business objectives.
Enable continuous improvement in breeding processes and technologies that fine-tune our ability to deliver the right seed, in the right quantity and quality, at the right time and cost.
Oversee the network of research stations in North & South America, ensuring optimal resource allocation, standardization, capital investment, and performance.
Implement global standardized operational procedures across the Americas while accommodating site-specific nuances.
Foster strong partnerships with other departments (e.g., GD Heads, Trialing and Placement, etc.).
Facilitate knowledge sharing and synergies across the global R&D network.
Ensure excellence in all relevant regulatory, QMS, and HSE requirements in R&D operations for the Americas.
Optimize allocation of human, financial, and material resources across R&D operations in the Americas.
Develop and mentor talent within the R&D Seeds Operations team.
Maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) for R&D Seed Operations, with regular assessment and reporting on operational performance, implementing improvements as needed.
Cultivate an environment that encourages creativity, fosters collaboration and innovation, and standardizes processes and optimizes ways of working.
Promote knowledge sharing and best practice adoption in and outside of the Americas.