Head - R&D - Specialty Plant Nutrition

Purpose of the Position:

To put the processes / systems in place for developing differentiated products and groom set of researchers who work in different new age technologies. To come out with in-house differentiated products in Water Soluble, Slow & Controlled Release, Bio stimulants and Nano Fertilizers space. To understand market gaps , farmer needs and trends in national and International Specialty Plant Nutrition space and aligning the R&D to realize the opportunities and keep us in first mover advantage position. Working with third party alliance partners/ understanding their technologies/ products and help marketing/ sales teams to build the volumes by giving the right positioning ideas. Working with alliances in co-development projects and coming out with differentiated products. To develop good R&D facilities/ labs in various manufacturing locations To make SFS as one of the leading SPN players with it's differentiated products.

Key Individual Accountabilities:

Strategic:

- Define short and long term R&D research areas and come out with a product roll out plan.

- Develop the R&D strategic plan and drive innovation.

- Understanding/evaluating global strategic alliances' products and technologies.

- Keep an eye on changing market needs / reshaping of Sustainable Agriculture practices and aligning new products as per the needs.

- Actively participating in various industry forums and contributing articles to various technical magazines.

- Developing R& D architecture, processes, recruiting right people, and portfolio.

Financial:

- Strategize and lead the SPN R&D and come out with new and differentiated product availability along with time lines for annual budgeting exercise of the Specialty Plant Nutrition business.

- Actively participating and coming out with R&D long and short term plans.

Customer/ External Orientation:

- Keeping in touch with the changing patterns of farmer preferences, identifying challenges faced by the farmers and ensuring that R&D is aligned accordingly.

- Coming out with right positioning strategies for new products based on the benefits products are expected to deliver.

- Seeking active feedback from the market on product performance and incorporating the necessary changes to the recipes.

People Orientation:

- Strengthen R&D employee engagement and cultivate culture of high performance

- Ensure regular review of team performance and provide development inputs through identification of training needs and nominating for training programs.

- Ensuring that R&D and Production plants Quality Assurance teams work in tandem.

Core operational accountabilities:

- R&D in various upcoming Specialty Nutrition space

- Identification of new research areas / coming out with in-house developed technology platforms.

- Planning & review of product trials with evaluation Team.

- Identify horizontal/vertical research areas in Water Soluble, Biofertilizers, Bio stimulants, Nano Fertilizers and Slow & Controlled release Fertilizers space.

- Thoroughly understanding FCO/Bio stimulants/Nano Fertilizers and other policies and ensuring that all new products strictly adhere to the norms.

- Responsible for accreditation of R&D facilities of highest government authorities.

- Presenting new products to all stake holders from time to time as per Stage & Gate policy.

- Liaison with government authorities/product approval committees /Industry associations to include new products/new technologies and registration of in-house developed products by submitting required dossiers.

- Bringing new technologies to speed up product evaluation.

- National and international research institutes/ universities tie ups for new technologies/ technical transfers for entering into new research areas and developing upcoming products.

- Commercialization strategies:

- Prioritization of New products roll out

- Arriving at right raw material sources which enhances product efficiency at the same time optimizes the product cost.

- Arriving at R&D budgetary requirements and year wise new products roll out plan.

- Quality Assurance:

- Set up QC/QA labs at various mfg. facilities

- Placing SOPs and Ensuring for Quality of all manufactured and third party products

- Continuously working on enhancing the existing product range quality in discussions with R&D teams as well as third party suppliers

Key Interactions:

Internal:

- With Supply Chain for understanding more on traded products, interactions with vendors and sourcing of newly identified products

- Agri services and Promotion Teams

- Senior management for strategic R&D decisions

- Sales & Marketing Team

- Procurement/HR/Accounts/ Legal

- QC Team

External:

- Farmers/Dealers

- Competitors' R&D Heads

- Industry associations

- International/Central/State agriculture dept./ Agriculture Universities/Research Institutes/Industry Associations

- Product vendors

- Strategic alliance partners

- Prospective alliances

Technical & Behavioral Skills & Knowledge:

Technical Knowledge:

- Ph.D. in Micro Biology/Biotechnology/ Soil Science /Agronomy with minimum 20 years research experience in a reputed company and min 5 yrs experience of spear heading R&D , Product innovation and development in Specialty Plant Nutrition area.

- Process setup for manufacturing of in-house developed products.

- Good Knowledge of Plant physiology, agriculture products and cropping patterns.

- Discovery / New product Development processes/ systems.

- Knowledge on Equipment / Infrastructure for setting up R& D facilities or enhancing existing infrastructure.

- Membership/ participation in National/International Conferences/ Trade Fairs.

Competencies:

- Thinks Strategically and Acts Decisively (PL3).

- Agile Towards Change and Innovation (PL3).

- Executes Efficiently (PL3).

- Builds a Performance & Development Culture (PL3).

- Focused on Achieving Results (PL3).

- Builds Partnership with Stakeholders (PL3).

- Product Development (ModulePL3).

- Analytical skills.

- Communication & Writing skills.

- Team Management.

- Ability to see big picture.

- Envisioning new product development from start to finish.

- Ability to pay attention to details.

Key Performance Indicators:

- Products offered to Business teams as per the roll out plan given in Annual Budget plan

- Time To Prepare stage & Gate presentations and moving to the next step

- Adhering to R&D budgets spelled out in annual Business plan exercise.

- New Products Per Researcher & Cost Per Researcher

- First To Market Products

- Co development of products with strategic partners