About Sensei Ag

At Sensei Ag, we align technology with the environment to protect and preserve natural resources while optimizing how we grow food. Merging agriculture and innovation to achieve sustainable farming practices allows us to grow delicious and fresh fruits and vegetables.

Learn more from our website or by following us on LinkedIn. If you'd like to see what we are doing with our consumer-facing brand Sensei Farms, please check our Instagram!

Position Description

The Vice President of Product Innovation will join the Plant Research & Development team as a key player in executing our company’s dynamic and competitive crop strategy. This senior leader will have intimate knowledge of the produce industry, experience in fruit and vegetable commercialization, and a longstanding reputation among industry peers. The VP will easily transition their focus and priorities from one crop to the next while thinking strategically about the future. The right person will complement and be a mentor to members of the Plant R&D team, elevate our internal capabilities, enhance our external relations, and architect a successful crop innovation roadmap for the company.

The Head of R&D Operations is accountable for the overall performance of the department, their responsibility ranges from seeds sourcing to test trials execution, produced data and overall departmental results. The incumbent will join the Farm Operations team as a key player in executing our company’s dynamic test trials strategy. This senior leader will have intimate knowledge of the produce industry, experience in fruit and vegetable in the Controlled Environment Agriculture space. The incumbent will easily transition their focus and priorities from one crop to the next while thinking strategically about the future. The right person will complement and be a mentor to members of the R&D Operations team, elevate our internal capabilities, enhance our external relations, design and implement a successful new varieties development. The incumbent will maintain a close working relationship with sales and marketing in developing our future seed varieties selection.

Responsibilities

• Create and implement a product selection roadmap based on the Company’s strategy over the next 3-5 years. 
• Set direction and coordinate for the trialing plans across locations and multiple crops; advise on data collection needs, data packages and market targets to advance varieties through pipeline.
• Partner with Commercial and Sensei R&D teams to collect, report results as required by the test trial parameters and the R&D Operations strategy.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify and prioritize crop management and crop strategies trial needs.
• Access new material through partnerships with commercial seed vendors
• Pursue exclusive access to plant material as warranted.
• Focus on key traits defined by the business: yield, color, taste, nutrition, consumer appeal, etc.
• Access global varieties that are not currently in the US market to provide unique differentiation to the brand and portfolio.
• Align with Commercial on product launch timelines and route to market for new products.
• Facilitate data collection system and develop a product advancement decision process.
• Responsible for test trial schedules. Prioritize and coordinate test trials across sites.
• Ensure supply chain and seed availability to support product launches and growth plans across locations.
• Create departmental budget planning, implementation and tracking.
• Coordinate with other departments in talent mapping, performance management, financial models/timeline validation. 
• Recruit and develop talent to grow the organization and create a successful, winning, rewarding environment.
• Create a talent development strategy for future company expansion (growers and manager careers).

Minimum years of experience required

• 10 years in CEA (controlled environment agriculture), product development, innovation or growing.

Required Skills, Abilities and Qualifications

• Demonstrated leader in indoor agriculture and the produce industry.
• Ability to create and track departmental budgets, trial planning.
• Ability to manage expectations and team members performance.
• Able to connect with key stakeholders and identify exciting business opportunities.
• Easily works across functions to create strategic plans and build functional teams. 
• Ability to work across multiple crops with varied trialing plans.

Preferred Skills, Abilities and Qualifications

• Collaborative, team player, easy to get along with, and reliable. 

Educational Requirements

• Bachelor in plant biology, agriculture-related field or engineering with experience in CEA.

Travel Requirement

• Up to 50% of the time.

Traits We Value

• Appreciation for transforming health and the future of food
• Smart, not arrogant 
• Humble and hardworking 
• Entrepreneurial, not risk averse 
• Kind and genuine 
• Grit and lots of it 

FLSA Status

• Exempt 

Compensation

• $167,500 - $265,000 / year

Benefits

• Comprehensive Medical Plans
• Prescription Drug Benefits
• Employee Wellness
• Dental Plan
• Vision Plan
• HSA/FSA
• Basic Life and AD&D
• Short and Long Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Travel Assistance Program
• Paid-Time Off
• 401K

NOTE: Residents of Hawaii, receive a Comprehensive Healthcare Bundle consisting of: Medical, Dental, Vision and Rx prescriptions, different from US Mainland plans/programs.

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities or qualifications associated with the job. Other duties may be assigned.