Product Manager, Spinach & Baby Leaf

JOB SUMMARY: Responsibilities include all facets of product development, marketing and sales of Sakata products for assigned territory. Develop marketing plans, sales strategies and action plans for identified targets of opportunity that clearly define company objectives and goals. Duties include devising and implementing sales strategies, forecasting demand, field trials, and coordinating various sales programs with Area Sales Managers for assigned territories. Responsible for meeting sales budget and marketing reports and files. Develops products for baby leaf spinach, beet, chard, arugula, and wild rocket product lines, while working with breeders and production staff to maintain proper product mix. Must utilize expense account with prudent judgment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES*:

• Work with the Crop Business Unit Manager to aid in preparing worldwide baby leaf business plans, defining breeding targets and priorities, propose sales targets per territory, assisting with trial planning and local action plans
• Provides direction and leadership to other team members and local product managers to implement company’s baby leaf strategy and tactics.
• Develop tools and procedures to improve market knowledge, and product knowledge as well to achieve maximum market penetration and to attain both medium and long-range objectives for sales growth.
• Establishes territory sales targets and implement them in close relation with territory Sales and Marketing.
• Collect the data to prepare, update, and define market potential: market size, segments, cropping cycle, seed rate per acreage unit, seed volume, and seed value.
• Estimate company’s and competitor market share. Identify competitive leading varieties in each selected segment.
• Scout technological information, trends, production shifts, etc. to keep company informed on new threats and opportunities.
• Assist and monitor implementation of new product introduction in all key territories.
• Maintains effective budgetary control of expenses within budget frame.
• Acts within scope of authority and consistent with company objectives and policies.
• Assures a positive employee and customer relations position is maintained.
• Ability to handle stress, especially when encountering necessary projects, deadlines and/or high workload.
• Must be able to work under strict time constraints and requirements.
• Strong character traits required including emotional stability, adaptability, ability to handle stress, cultural and gender sensitivity, and honesty.
• Monitors activities of global product team employees and provides the necessary coordination between divisions and territories involved.
• Performs any directly related or other appropriate duties as assigned.
• Performs assigned duties with minimum personal supervision.
• Maintains appropriate sales and marketing reports and files.
• Other duties as assigned.
  
  

Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Must have demonstrated ability to coordinate a high level of activity under a variety of conditions and constraints.
• Must have excellent knowledge of marketing, product management (product profile definition, product development, launching, support and life cycle control), production constraints, inventory management and turnover. Should have overall working understanding of melon seed business.
• Must have the overall ability to use tact and discretion to achieve goals through others.
• Must be knowledgeable of new trends in the field of seed and food industry.
• Basic computer knowledge, including but not limited to Microsoft Office.
  
  

Experience Required

• Minimum 10 years’ sales and marketing experience in the seed industry.
• Minimum 15 years’ experience in Baby Leaf production.
  
  

Education Required

• An undergraduate college degree in marketing, business administration, crop science or agriculture or its equivalent in training and experience required.
  
  

Licenses/Degrees/Training

• Must have valid driver's license and excellent driving record.
  
  

Working Conditions/Physical Demands

• Must be able to work long and/or irregular hours.
• Must be able to travel for long periods of time throughout the year.
• Must be able to work under different weather conditions such as extremes in temperature and must be able to work in dusty conditions.
  
  

Benefits

Health & Wellness

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance

Monthly Wellness Stipend

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Disability Insurance (plans vary by location)

Financial Benefits

401(k) Program Company Match

Profit Sharing Program (via 401(k)

Holiday Bonus

Performance Incentive Bonus Program

Tuition Reimbursement

529 College‑Savings Plan

Company-Paid Basic Life & AD&D Insurance

Time Off & Flexibility

Paid Vacation

Paid Sick Leave

14 Paid Company Holidays

2 Floating Holidays

Birthday Off

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty (as described above) satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.