Product Manager, Hybrid Rye Job Details | KWS Saat SE

KWS Cereals USA is looking for a Product Manager who must ensure that Hybrid Rye and services connected will be successfully introduced and established in the US for long-term viability. To ensure this success, the Product Manager will work with existing and new key stakeholders, internally as well as externally.

The Product Manager must understand the entire product introduction process; from the identification of key hybrids that will meet the needs of customers along the value chain, to product placement and promotion after the hybrid has been introduced. The Product Manager must work closely with both the breeding and sales teams to provide training and professional agronomic service for Hybrid Rye.

Essential Job Functions:

• Manage the entire Hybrid Rye portfolio in relation to the midterm operational and strategic planning - including product segmentation.

• Develop strong partnerships with breeders and business including sales and marketing.

• Develop relationships with key stakeholders within the research and advisory system.

• Coordinate all agronomic trials and research needed in the regions of interest.

• Regularly visit yield trials with key team partners.

• Observe, review, evaluate and select from yield trials to make best recommendations for commercial advancement.

• Prepare charts and tables that summarize proprietary and official trial data for research and sales activities.

• Assist with any data analysis, database management, field book, harvest tag, computer files, nursery reading, trials set-up, seed inventory, and other Company activities as needed.

• Effectively cooperate and positively integrate as a member of the station team to achieve company objectives.

• Prepare and manage a budget.

• Build and maintain relationships with global stakeholders.

• Ensure the Company handbook, Rules, Guidelines and Procedures and safety policies are followed, and personal protective equipment is used correctly.

• Meet attendance requirements.

• Travel and/or drive on behalf of the business 25-40% of the time.

• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• BA/BS or equivalent in Breeding or related scientific fields (i.e. Agronomy, Genetics, Horticulture, etc) with professional experience; or minimum 3 years of relevant work experience in crop improvement, variety development, and commercial practices.

• Proven product management technical background and experience in seed business (cereals preferred).

• Strong computer, statistical, analytical and creative skills.

• Valid driver's license.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced Degree in related field with related experience.

• Located in the Midwest with easy access to an international airport.

• Specialized knowledge of variety testing, statistical analysis and experimental design.

• Experience in budget and leadership skills.

• Project management experience.

• People management and successful in working with teams.

• Exceptional organizational and time management skills.

• Excellent communication skills, verbal, written and presentation skills.

• Critical and logical thinking skills.

• Ability to travel internationally.

What We Offer:

• Health, dental, vision benefits

• Pension plan and 401(k) with employer match

• Company vehicle

• Flexible paid time off (PTO)

• Tuition reimbursement

• Professional training and development opportunities

• An international and diverse team

Working Environment:

May work in varied and/or extreme weather conditions; travel required as necessary to meet business demands, including driving long distances.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and move objects up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

This employer participates in E-Verify and after acceptance of a job offer, will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

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About KWS

KWS is one of the world's leading plant breeding companies. Over 5,000 employees in more than 70 countries generated net sales of around €1.8 billion in the fiscal year 2022/2023. A company with a tradition of family ownership, KWS has operated independently for 165 years. It focuses on plant breeding and the production and sale of seed for corn, sugar beet, cereals, vegetables, oilseed rape and sunflower. KWS uses leading-edge plant breeding methods to continuously improve yield for farmers and plants' resistance to diseases, pests, and abiotic stress. To that end, the company invested more than €300 million last fiscal year in research and development. For more information: www.kws.com/career. Follow us on LinkedIn at https://linkedin.com/company/kwsgroup/.

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