Regional Crop Planning and Optimization Specialist

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. 

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 is seeking a Regional Crop Planning and Optimization Specialist who will translate breeding strategies into execution through precision planning and optimization. This role will develop end-to-end supply and demand balance plans, optimize site allocation and resource utilization, lead supply and demand harmonization, monitor delivery excellence and quality metrics, build cross-functional partnerships for seamless execution, and champion data-driven decisions to enhance customer service, optimize costs, and elevate site performance.

This role is preferably based at Slater, IA but could be considered to be located in Malta, IL; Lisle, IL; or Stanton, IA.

Accountabilities:

• Maintain the end-to-end (summer and winter season) overall supply and demand balance over a 2-year tactical horizon through the creation of supply plans which balance customer service, cost, and site functional capacities (including Trait Introgression, Genotyping, Nursery and Trialing activities).
• Implement 5-year plan forecasting for a given crop.
• Present data with key planning insights annually and drive feasibility discussion for the crops you support, with strong partnership with Finance for budget building.
• Track plan versus actual and delivery (on time and on quality).
• Act as the primary contact for all Crop Supply Plan enquiries from the Portfolio Team, site managers, and other key stakeholders, managing amendments or imbalances in the plans caused by forecast changes or production problems to preserve the original customer promise date.
• Work with the Market Segment Teams, Traits, Nursery & Trialing Teams to manage any demand and supply changes via an agreed-upon change control process to ensure implications of changes are understood before decisions are made.
• Act as the key contact for all planning-related issues associated with that crop.
• Anticipate future supply constraints and develop scenarios for their resolution.
• Work with the Portfolio and Business Operations Team and local site and functional managers to optimize site assets and resources.
• Ensure operational planning master data is accurate in the planning systems to help facilitate accurate plans.
• Active participation in the Planning Community of Practice to share ideas and drive a continuous improvement mindset.

PLEASE NOTE -- Candidates must be already located in the United States and not require visa sponsorship now or in the future (Includes OPT).

• Bachelor's degree is required.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in the agriculture industry, ideally with soybeans.
• Strong data science capabilities, with a demonstrated understanding of complex data analysis in a global R&D environment.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, and operate "fit for purpose" processes and tools, such as Excel, Power BI, and Smartsheet.
• Experience and deep understanding of breeding pipelines and processes, ideally in soybeans or cereals.
• Experience and deep understanding of Seeds Development operational activities.
• Experience building or managing budgets is desirable.
• Experience working in international and multidisciplinary project team environments.
• Excellent communication skills in English. Spanish would be a plus.
• Proven track record of planning and influencing key stakeholders across business-critical activities.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver under pressure while working through ambiguous projects.
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment, often under tight deadlines.

What We Offer:

• A culture that celebrates diversity & inclusion, promotes professional development, and strives for a work-life balance that supports the team members. Offers flexible work options to support your work and personal needs.
• Full Benefit Package (Medical, Dental & Vision) that starts your first day.
• 401k plan with company match, Profit Sharing & Retirement Savings Contribution.
• Paid Vacation, Paid Holidays, Maternity and Paternity Leave, Education Assistance, Wellness Programs, Corporate Discounts, among other benefits.

Syngenta has been ranked as a top employer by Science Journal. Learn more about our team and our mission here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVCN_51GbNI

Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

WL: 4B

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