R&D Operations Manager Philippines

Overview

Syngenta Seeds is one of the world’s largest developers and producers of seed for farmers, commercial growers, retailers and small seed companies. Syngenta seeds improve the quality and yields of crops. High-quality seeds ensure better and more productive crops, which is why farmers invest in them. Advanced seeds help mitigate risks such as disease and drought and allow farmers to grow food using less land, less water and fewer inputs. Syngenta Seeds brings farmers more vigorous, stronger, resistant plants, including innovative hybrid varieties and biotech crops that can thrive even in challenging growing conditions. Syngenta Seeds is headquartered in the United States.

Role Purpose

• Oversee R&D site operations, aligning with regional and global strategies across Finance, HSE, Quality, HR, PPP and P&S and key commercial functions. Coordinate with various teams to support research activities, manage operational tasks, and implement projects.
• Ensure statutory compliance and lead seeds R&D operations, focusing on minimizing pipeline losses, excelling efficiency through optimum utilizing of resources.
• Develop a high-performance team to support in developing superior hybrids, manage nursery and trialing priorities, and drive operational excellence.
• Collaborate across functions to deliver safe, sustainable, and efficient product development environment. Contribute to Seeds strategy development, translate business goals into R&D priorities, and foster cross-functional synergies to enhance commercial success.

Accountabilities

• Lead and manage the Corn R&D site operations for Corn seeds, including nurseries and trialing activities across the country.
• Oversee site finances, legal agreements, vendor management, HR, administration, and protection of proprietary assets. Manage stakeholder relations with local communities and regulators, coordinating with various teams for operational reviews and program updates.
• Develop and manage annual and long-term budgets, including CAPEX planning, while ensuring proper implementation of crop protocols and management procedures.
• Align nursery team activities with R&D objectives and implement trialing programs in collaboration with other departments, ensuring high-quality data generation and timely reporting.
• Manage workforce resources, including 3P contract employees, driving innovation in operations with a focus on Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE), cost-effectiveness, and efficiency.
• Set and monitor team KPIs aligned with portfolio objectives, implement global and regional change programs, and represent the country in broader networks.
• Collaborate with global teams on corn seed R&D programs to meet specific targets, championing modern breeding methods and data-driven decision-making.
• Implement best practices and innovative technologies in R&D operations and trialing organization, ensuring compliance with company policies, including the Code of Conduct (COC) and HSE regulations.
• Monitor program indicators and performance metrics for continuous improvement, focusing on effective utilization of mechanization, automation, and digital tools.
• Work with regional leadership to ensure effective work slate implementation, contributing to the overall success of the R&D function and its alignment with broader organizational goals.
• Represent R&D in the country FCLT

Talent and Organization Development

• Design and implement a forward-looking organizational structure that aligns with and supports the R&D organization's long-term objectives and strategic goals.
• Spearhead continuous professional growth initiatives within the R&D team, ensuring the organization maintains expertise in cutting-edge plant breeding techniques and methodologies.
• Oversee comprehensive people management strategies, encompassing performance evaluation, leadership pipeline development, and strategic talent acquisition and retention programs.

Operational Excellence

• Continuously optimize breeding operations and trialing processes, fostering a culture of innovation to maximize efficiency and minimize unit costs through creative productivity enhancements.
• Exercise rigorous financial stewardship over operational and capital expenditure budgets, strategically allocating resources to accelerate genetic advancements and expedite the consistent delivery of superior products to market.
• Establish, monitor, and respond to critical leading performance indicators, driving continuous improvement across all R&D-related processes to enhance reliability, efficiency, and overall effectiveness.

Strategy Development and Execution

• Define clear, measurable organizational objectives and formulate strategic initiatives aligned with company goals.
• Engage key stakeholders for input and secure buy-in and oversee the breakdown of initiatives into actionable tasks
• Manage resource allocation and assignment of responsibilities and implement and maintain robust monitoring systems for KPIs and milestones
• Conduct regular progress reviews and facilitate necessary adjustments and lead periodic performance assessments to identify and address challenges
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and adaptability and gather and analyze feedback from team members and stakeholders.

Stakeholder Management

• Develop and implement stakeholder engagement strategies to proactively address concerns and leverage diverse expertise across the organization.
• Facilitate regular cross-functional meetings and workshops to foster collaboration, share insights, and drive innovation in crop development and commercialization processes.
• Establish and maintain strong partnerships with key stakeholders to ensure alignment on Ways of Working (WoW), processes, and responsibilities.
• Drive end-to-end continuity and excellence in seed R&D and delivery through effective cross-functional coordination and communication.
• Collaborate extensively with country, regional and global germplasm and applied teams to integrate cutting-edge technologies and tools, facilitating strategic germplasm introgression that optimally balances security concerns with business objectives.
• Act as a liaison between technical teams and business units, translating complex scientific concepts into actionable business strategies and vice versa.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master’s in Agronomy / Plant Breeding or Genetics or Plant science or a related field. Additional preference for MBA in operations, digital transformation or problem-solving skills like Six-sigma and project management.
• Proven experience in contemporary global research and development environment.
• 15+ Years of relevant experience
• Solid understanding of latest advances in molecular breeding, data analytics and precision phenotyping, Project management and process improvement tools.
• Experience working successfully in international and cross-functional teams to execute strategy.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to inspire team.
• Great track record of hiring, influencing, and developing talent.

Additional Information

In Syngenta we recognize that diversity and inclusion is important to our business. We embrace the unique perspective and capabilities of our employees, which will help us continue to drive innovation and achieve our business goals. Our culture enables us to create an environment of involvement, respect and connection with the communities where we operate - benefitting individual employees and the company.