Savannah Seeds - Global Lead - Business Development - Digital & Sustainability

RiceTec's new long-term business strategy continues to expand the company's leadership in breeding and producing hybrid, direct seeded rice seed and technologies. The strategy builds on this leadership to provide additional digital services to farmers in key markets, especially India and the US, to support the transformation to more sustainable rice agriculture that create more value for farmers, customers, and the planet.

The Global Lead, Business Development, Digital and Sustainability will lead RiceTec's development of a digital product with programs and services (e.g. carbon, agronomic support, water management) that better enable farmers in India and the US to achieve greater value from rice production. The new commercial programs, which include pilot programs soon to be launched commercially and high-level business models to be further developed, will support farmers in transitioning to and continuing the practice of herbicide-tolerant enabled direct seeded rice agriculture. New seed product development as well as sales are not part of this role.

This role will work with the Head of Transformation and Strategic Partnerships and leaders of the regional business. The Global Lead, Business Development, Digital and Sustainability will manage a small, global team based in multiple locations, and be responsible for the development and execution of business models and partners for the digital product.

This outline is intended to describe the general nature and level of expectations of the employee and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of what is required; nor do they imply or establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

- Lead development of RiceTec's new products and services by translating RiceTec's long-term, strategic vision into commercial offerings.

- Evaluate new technologies and services to determine suitability for RiceTec's digital and sustainability product programs and services and for its farmers.

- Develop long-term partnerships to test, pilot, and eventually commercially launch new digital and sustainability product programs and services, including conducting market assessments, identifying and evaluating partners, scoping multi-year partnerships to trial new ideas, and negotiating terms.

- Collaborate across all functions of RiceTec, including regional seed businesses, research and development, information technology, finance, and human resources, working effectively with colleagues in different positions and levels within the company.

- Develop and execute plans to transition new products and services when have become revenue-generating to regional commercial teams.

- Be open-minded and evaluate new ideas while simultaneously making decisions that focus teams' efforts on most strategic opportunities.

- Manage global team, including day-to-day management, managing direction of team's activities, and developing team members.

- Infuse transformation mindset into partnerships and internal collaborations, including articulating the value of and creating comfort with new and uncertain business development opportunities.

- Serve as internal and external champion of RiceTec's business strategy.

- Ability to travel to all RiceTec locations, domestic and internationally, on a regular basis.

- Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

- 15+ years of experience working in business development, including scoping, negotiation, and scaling new opportunities that may take multiple years to become commercial.

- 5+ years of experience working in a growth environment, preferably in global companies with sustainable business models or sustainable products.

- Experience with digital products, sustainability products, and/or agriculture will be a plus.

- Experience managing team of direct reports.

- Experience managing departmental budget.

- Very collaborative, excellent communication skills, written and oral; excellent presentation skills; comfortable in working with all levels of the company.

- Ability to view multiple aspects of a situation and make decisions.

- Experience in working with diverse cultures.

- Fluent in English. Additional languages a plus.

- Finance acumen. Familiar with qualitative/quantitative evaluation methodologies.

EDUCATION:

- Master of Business Administration from a reputable institution

Work Environment:

Expected to perform the essential functions, responsibilities, and physical requirements of this role with or without reasonable accommodation within the described work environment.

- Individuals may need to sit or stand as needed. May require walking level and unleveled surfaces for periodic periods throughout the day including flooded rice fields. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

- Work and training locations may include office and warehouse environments. May also include dry, muddy, or flooded fields, and other outside environmental situations including extreme heat/cold, rainy or sunny conditions.

RiceTec, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing qualified applicants consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other applicable federal or state-protected classification.