AgroStar - Head - Category

Head - Category @ Agrostar

AgroStar is India's foremost AgTech start-up with a mission of #HelpingFarmersWin through right advisory and solutions, powered by data and technology. It was started with a vision to solve two of the biggest problems in Indian agriculture - Lack of guidance for healthy and sustainable farming AND limited access to quality farm inputs for consistent and qualitative farming.

With technology at its core, we have built an innovative & sustainable ecosystem that includes products such as a customized enterprise sales solutions that maps data of farmers' crop life cycles, India's first online farmer community, online agri-advisory with online shopping for inputs and an incomparable logistics solution for last mile rural connectivity.

We have procured and partnered with leading national and international brands for major agri-inputs like seeds, crop nutrition, crop protection and farm implements, that are needed for farming and we deliver them at the doorstep of farmers. Thus, our efforts at AgroStar are focused to become the driving force to equip our farmers with the power of knowledge to farm better and smarter, through technology and up to date expert advice.

The company is funded by prominent VCs like IDG Venture Partners, Aavishkaar Ventures and Accel Partners. AgroStar is the winner of Economic Times' Best Startup Award 2016, under the 'Social Enterprise' category.

Our Team :

- We are a team of highly motivated individuals, who are willing to push beyond the ceiling, initiate new ideas and take challenges head on. Apart from coffee, working in an extremely fast-paced, dynamic work culture is what we passionate souls thrive on. We ride against the tide as time is never enough and there's always more to do.

- Our mission of - Helping Farmers Win- is a tall task as we try to bring change and development to the grassroots of India. We need heroes who are dedicated to the mission, live the dream and drive it with passion.

If that sounds like you, here's more about the role :

About the Role :

Job description :

As a Head of Category @ Agrostar, you will :

- Lead the Category Management function and the establishment of excellence in Category Management across Agrostar product categories.

- Own pricing and product management for seeds, crop protection, nutrients and other Agri input products.

- Build and maintain strategic vendor relationships at senior leadership levels across the brands.

- Build the Agrostar brand externally (amongst vendors and external market).

- Own profit and loss management of all categories in AgroStar.

- Drive private label growth and the introduction of new products in private label across categories.

- Ensure that strategies are in place, approved, documented, and communicated for all categories and sub-categories and are kept up to date to reflect market dynamics.

- Ensure that Category Handbooks are in place for all categories, that these are approved and clearly detail the strategies.

- Ensuring efficient working capital management.

- This role will be based out of Pune.

As an ideal Head of category candidate, you will need :

- BSc / Msc . MBA (Agri Business Preferred).

- 15+ yrs experience in in crop category.

- Experience in agri- inputs domain necessary.

- Experience in planning and positioning of variety of different brands in agricultural industry.

- Exposure to market study, analysis and segmentation.

- Experience in leading and mentoring teams and projects.

- Experienced managing P & L for products and categories.

- Desired personality traits of being a self-learner, collaborator and extra miler.

- Ability to own and execute with a Hands on attitude.

We are looking for enthusiastic intrapreneurs who want to work at the - grass root- level and want to make a difference to India's biggest sector. We hope this excites you as much as us and looking forward to the next few conversations.