R+D Businesses Development Lead

R+D Businesses Development Lead

Position is located in River Falls. WI. It's closer to the Twin Cities metro area than you think!  Only 17 miles over the MN/WI border.

Job Summary Lead a team to develop product charters/business cases with a system testing mind set to identify and assist in directing projects and market support across all crop protection areas, seed and technology application.  Lead charter development for HIF and work collaboratively with all P&L and Business Development leads (PNP, Adjuvants, seed care, biologicals etc.) to identify, develop and drive innovative charters and opportunities across platforms including crop protection, seed and application and digital technologies where possible. Be the primary technical point of contact across RD business development lines with procurement and industry RD partners to identify testing, insight, market support and technology initiatives with P&L and commercial teams. Manage relationships from a technical agronomic perspective with key suppliers, manufacturers and industry partners. Supply national market support on product knowledge, positioning, and competitive landscape awareness.

Responsibilities:

Business Development

• Responsible for identifying and developing business cases for current and emerging crop production, seed, and technologies system testing that support retailer needs to enable growth. With focus on HIF.
• Strategic leader responsible for monitoring and evaluating emerging trends, competitive activities, and agricultural technologies to identify opportunities for growth and advancement. 
• Responsible to know internal broad business strategies, agronomic trends, and retail customer needs and gaps nationally.
• Work collaboratively with all RD Business Development leaders (PNP, Adjuvants, seed care, biologicals etc.) to identify, develop and drive innovative charters and opportunities across business platforms including crop protection, seed, insight and application/ digital technologies where possible.
• Be the primary technical point of contact across RD business development lines with P&L leads, Industry and government affairs, procurement and industry RD partners to identify testing, insight, and technology initiatives and initiate those efforts and trainings nationally.

Project Charter Leadership & Business Support

• Ensure idealization of project charters with core stakeholders that align with business strategies with a systems mindset.
• Responsible for the idealization, development, alignment, and initiation of charters into the RD pipeline workstream.
• Oversee project charters through the pipeline with core stakeholders and ensure critical project resources are prioritized and KPIs are established and successfully obtained.
• Technical liaison among Winfield United business directors, brand marketing, product development, Agronomy Services, product registration, crop protection industry and other groups to co-develop and provide technical supporting insights.

Internal and External Collaboration and Relationship Leadership

• RD technical leader to collaborate with internal cross -functional stakeholders, including marketing, sales, production, procurement, IT, agronomy, regulatory affairs, industry and government affairs to support product launches, market adoption and retail insights ever changing market and policy dynamics.
• Establish and maintain relationships with key stakeholders including academics, research organizations, and industry partners to identify business, testing and insight opportunities and initiatives.
• Represent the WU at industry conferences, symposiums, public forums showcasing our WU agronomic leadership in the areas of crop protection, seed and insights.  
• Technical lead and strategic partner to develop trusted relationships with external partners and build systems based technical RD testing approaches that support crop protection, seed, technology and insights.

Direct and Indirect People Leadership and Knowledge Transfer

• Lead and inspire a diverse team of innovative leaders that can turn data into insights to build greater product knowledge, positioning, and technical confidence.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, continuous learning, personal development, and business acumen with a growth mind set.
• Monitor short- and longer-term progress and assist your team in resources and prioritization.
• Manage a budget, identify initiatives to improve processes and deliver projects on time.
• Work with the RD leadership, P&L and commercial teams, to develop initiatives and strategies that deliver technical insights that support the growth for brands and pipelines.

Required Experience/Knowledge/Skills:

• M.S. in weed science, agronomy or closely aligned field - required
• 10 or more years of experience working in agricultural – preferably in research/development and commercial experience - required
• People leadership - required
• Knowledge of technical marketing in the areas of adjuvants, pesticides, and application technology - required
• 5 or more year serving as an industry expert working with industry, university and government groups on issues related to crop protection products, adjuvants, and application technology - required
• Extensive knowledge of managing and developing technical, sales and marketing support materials - required
• Experience with logistics, strategy, policy, organization management - required
• Ph.D. - preferred

Salary range: $142,160 - $213,240 (in most cases, candidates offered employment can expect to be hired at a pay rate near the middle of our salary ranges) 

About Land O'Lakes, Inc.

Join us and be part of a Fortune 250, farmer- and member-owned cooperative that is reimagining the business of food. We have been named a Top Workplace by Indeed and LinkedIn, and to the TIME 100 Most Influential Companies list.

Benefits for most full-time roles include medical, dental, vision, PTO, life & disability insurance, education assistance, a 401k and a variety of well-being resources. Most part-time employees are eligible for prorated PTO, holiday pay, employee development programs, prorated education assistance, and a 401(k).

Land O'Lakes, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) M/F/Vets/Disabled. The company maintains a drug-free workforce, including post-employment substance abuse testing pursuant to a Drug and Alcohol Policy.

Neither Land O’Lakes, nor its search firms, will ever contact you and ask for confidential information over the phone or in email. If you receive a call or email like this, please do not provide the information being requested.