General Manager – Fruit Varieties and Licensing

Freshplaza; Zürich; Hybrid; CHF 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Freshplaza is seeking a General Manager / CEO to lead day-to-day operations in Zurich area, Switzerland, with responsibility for licensing, partnerships and strategic growth. The role combines leadership, business development and financial oversight in a small, autonomous organisation.

You will work with shareholders from diverse linguistic backgrounds and travel internationally as required, with a work model allowing home-based work and periodic presence in the Swiss headquarters.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years in a leadership/management role.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with high autonomy.
• Ability to manage a small organisation with broad responsibilities.
• Experience in licensing/contract management in agriculture or plant breeding.
• International project management experience in agriculture or agronomy.
• Experience in agriculture/food sectors and brand/market development.
• Finance, controlling or general administration exposure is a plus.
• Fluent in German, English and French.
• Willingness to travel internationally.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations and translate strategic objectives into actions.
• Maintain and develop national and international licensing agreements.
• Build relationships with Agroscope, nurseries, licensees and partners.
• Develop marketing and licensing concepts for new fruit varieties.
• Represent the company to partners, authorities and organisations.
• Oversee financial management, budgeting and administration.
• Drive strategic development, market positioning and growth.

Skills

Leadership experience

Entrepreneurial mindset

Autonomy

Organisational skills

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Willingness to travel

Job description

General Manager - Fruit Varieties and Licensing

Location: Zurich area, Switzerland
Employment: Full-time, permanent position
Work arrangement: Flexible home-based working and business travel

The company
Based on the shores of Lake Zurich, our client develops and supports the national and international market introduction of new fruit varieties from the Swiss breeding programme of Agroscope (Federal Centre of Excellence for Agricultural research). The company acts as a bridge between research, plant breeding, nurseries, growers and marketing partners. It supports promising and innovative varieties throughout their development and accompanies them through to successful commercialisation in national and international markets.

As part of a succession plan, the company is now seeking its next: General Manager / CEO

In this key leadership role, you will assume responsibility for the day-to-day management of the company and implement its strategy in close cooperation with the shareholders, who are French, German and Italian speaking; the company's working language is English.

Your responsibilities

• Lead the company’s day-to-day operations and translate its strategic objectives into effective action.
• Maintain and develop national and international licensing agreements and contractual relationships.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with Agroscope as well as with nurseries, licensees, growers and marketing partners.
• Develop marketing and licensing concepts for new fruit varieties and support their successful market introduction. A significant part of the role will involve developing the commercial potential of FRED, one of VariCom's key fruit-variety.
• Represent the company towards business partners, public authorities and professional organisations in Switzerland and abroad.
• Oversee the company’s financial management, accounting, budgeting and administration.
• Drive the company’s strategic development, market positioning and long-term growth.

Your profile

• At least five years of experience in a leadership, management or general management role.
• An entrepreneurial mindset, a high degree of autonomy and strong organisational skills.
• The ability to work effectively in a small organisation with short decision-making processes, broad responsibilities and a high level of personal accountability.
• Experience in one or more of the following areas:
  • Contract and licensing management in agriculture, agronomy or the plant- breeding sector.
  • International project management in agriculture or agronomy.
  • The agricultural, food, horticultural or fruit sectors.
  • Finance, controlling or general business administration.
  • Brand or market development in the food or retail sector.
• Excellent command of German, English and French.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the credibility to work effectively with research institutions, producers, nurseries, commercial partners and shareholders.
• Willingness to travel internationally as required.

What the company offers

• A senior leadership position with genuine entrepreneurial freedom and scope for action.
• The opportunity to shape the future development and commercial success of innovative fruit varieties.
• An established Swiss company operating in a well-structured international environment.
• Short decision-making processes and close collaboration with the shareholders.
• A varied role combining strategic leadership, business development, licensing, finance and stakeholder management.
• Flexible organisation of work from home and during business travel.
• Regular presence at the company headquarters in the Zurich area, approximately two to three days per month.

Practical details

• Workload: Full-time
• Location: Switzerland or within commuting distance of the Swiss headquarters,
• Employment type: Permanent position with Swiss social-security coverage, subject to the applicable arrangements