Lead Product Manager – R&D Decision Intelligence & Digital Analytics

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Stein (AR); Hybrid; CHF 160,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Syngenta Crop Protection seeks a strategic Lead Product Manager to govern a portfolio of digital products that transform R&D data into actionable insights, forecasting and AI-enabled decision support. You will own vision, strategy, roadmap and value realization for a POD area, guiding cross-functional teams to deliver scalable, trusted digital products.

You will collaborate with R&D, data, security, governance and enterprise architecture to translate needs into measurable outcomes, establish

Qualifications

• Experience leading product-centric teams with Agile/Lean
• Strong product strategy capabilities: vision, roadmapping, portfolio management
• Experience with analytics, predictive modeling, decision intelligence, forecasting, optimization or AI-enabled digital products
• Understanding of AI/ML concepts, human-in-the-loop decision-making, explainability and governance
• Familiarity with scientific data, data provenance, metadata, governance principles
• Ability to translate complex R&D or business needs into clear product strategies and measurable outcomes
• Strong stakeholder leadership across business and technology functions
• Experience navigating ambiguity, making transparent trade-offs, driving decisions in complex environments
• Understanding of solution architecture and end-to-end product design integrity
• Track record of launches, go-to-market strategies, or scaling products in enterprise environments
• Experience with customer discovery, user research methodologies, translating feedback into requirements
• Familiarity with regulatory, compliance and governance frameworks for AI/ML data-driven products
• University degree in IT, Engineering, CS, Science or related field

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the POD vision, value hypotheses, multi-horizon roadmap and portfolio strategy
• Lead prioritization and investment decisions across products and capabilities balancing value, scope, cost, time, risk and capacity
• Deliver digital products enabling analytics, forecasting, scenario planning, resource/capacity planning and AI-enabled decision support
• Partner with R&D, business, data, technology, security, architecture and governance to translate needs into measurable outcomes
• Establish and track OKRs/KPIs related to adoption, outcomes, cycle-time, performance and cost of ownership
• Lead product delivery practices including backlog management, cadences, dependency management and release governance
• Drive adoption and change management through stakeholder engagement, enablement and feedback
• Ensure products are scalable, reusable, interoperable, secure and aligned with enterprise architecture and data governance
• Manage POD-level risks, dependencies, vendors and partners
• Coach and develop Product Managers within the POD
• Establish executive visibility through reporting on performance, initiatives, budget and metrics
• Conduct competitive analysis and market intelligence for AI/analytics solutions
• Define and implement continuous improvement integrating user feedback and performance data
• Oversee budget allocation, resource planning and financial performance for the POD

Skills

Agile/Lean product practices

Product strategy

Analytics/AI/ML

AI governance

Data governance

Stakeholder leadership

Ambiguity management

Enterprise architecture

Product launches/GTMs

User research

Education

University degree in IT/Engineering/CS/Science

Job description

• Full-time

Company Description

Syngenta Crop Protection is a leader in agricultural innovation, bringing breakthrough technologies and solutions that enable farmers to grow productively and sustainably. We offer a leading portfolio of crop protection solutions for plant and soil health, as well as digital solutions that transform the decision‑making capabilities of farmers. Our 17,900 employees serve to advance agriculture in more than 90 countries around the world. Syngenta Crop Protection is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, and is part of the Syngenta Group.

Our employees reflect the diversity of our customers, the markets where we operate and the communities which we serve. No matter what your position, you will have a vital role in safely feeding the world and taking care of our planet. Join us and help shape the future of agriculture.

Job Description

We are looking for a strategic and experienced Lead Product Manager to lead a portfolio of digital products that strengthen how R&D teams generate insights, make decisions, plan, predict outcomes, and optimize scientific workflows. In this role, you will own the product vision, strategy, roadmap, delivery, adoption, and value realization for a Product‑Oriented Delivery (POD) area within CP R&D IT. You will lead cross‑functional teams to deliver scalable, trusted, and sustainable digital products that turn experimental and observational data into actionable insights, predictive capabilities, and decision-support solutions.

What you will do

• Define and drive the POD vision, value hypotheses, multi‑horizon roadmap, and product portfolio strategy.
• Lead prioritization and investment decisions across products and capabilities, balancing value, scope, cost, time, risk, and capacity.
• Deliver digital products that enable analytics, insights, forecasting, scenario planning, resource and capacity planning, optimization, and AI‑enabled decision support.
• Partner with R&D, business, data, technology, security, architecture, and governance stakeholders to translate needs into measurable product outcomes.
• Establish and track OKRs/KPIs related to adoption, user outcomes, decision quality, cycle‑time reduction, operational performance, reliability, and total cost of ownership.
• Lead product delivery practices, including backlog management, prioritization cadences, dependency management, release governance, and outcome‑oriented increments.
• Drive adoption and change management through stakeholder engagement, communications, enablement, and continuous feedback.
• Ensure products are scalable, reusable, interoperable, secure, and aligned with enterprise architecture, data governance, and quality standards.
• Manage POD‑level risks, dependencies, vendors, and partners where applicable.
• Coach and develop Product Managers within the POD.
• Establish and maintain executive visibility through regular reporting on product performance, strategic initiatives, budget utilization, and key business metrics to senior leadership.
• Conduct competitive analysis and market intelligence to identify emerging trends, opportunities, and threats in decision intelligence and analytics solutions relevant to R&D operations.
• Define and implement continuous improvement processes that integrate user feedback, performance data, and stakeholder input into iterative product enhancements and refinements.
• Oversee budget allocation, resource planning, and financial performance management for the POD to ensure optimal return on investment and cost efficiency.

Qualifications

**What You Bring**

• Proven experience leading product‑centric teams and delivering measurable outcomes through Agile/Lean product practices.
• Strong product strategy capabilities, including vision setting, roadmapping, portfolio management, prioritization, and value measurement.
• Experience with analytics, predictive modeling, decision intelligence, planning, forecasting, optimization, or AI‑enabled digital products.
• Understanding of AI/ML and agentic AI concepts, including human‑in‑the‑loop decision‑making, explainability, traceability, evaluation, monitoring, and governance.
• Familiarity with scientific data, model lifecycle management, data provenance, reproducibility, metadata, cataloging, and data governance principles.
• Ability to translate complex R&D or business needs into clear product strategies, measurable outcomes, and scalable solutions.
• Strong stakeholder leadership and the ability to influence without formal authority across business and technology functions.
• Experience navigating ambiguity, making transparent trade‑offs, and driving decisions in complex enterprise environments.
• Strong understanding of solution architecture concepts and end‑to‑end product design integrity.
• Track record of successful product launches, go‑to‑market strategies, or scaling products in enterprise environments.
• Experience with customer discovery, user research methodologies, and translating user feedback into product requirements.
• Familiarity with regulatory, compliance, and governance frameworks relevant to AI/ML and data‑driven products.
• A university degree in IT, Engineering, Computer Science, Science, or a related field; equivalent experience will also be considered.

**What Will Make You Successful**

• You are collaborative, curious, and value‑oriented. You can connect business outcomes with technology opportunities, communicate a compelling product vision, and create alignment across diverse stakeholders.
• You are comfortable operating in a fast‑paced environment, managing complexity, and turning ambiguity into clear priorities and action.
• You demonstrate strong mentoring and team development capabilities, with a track record of building high‑performing product teams.
• You possess knowledge of enterprise software architecture, integration patterns, and technical infrastructure considerations relevant to scalable product solutions.

Additional Information

Why Syngenta?

• Meaningful impact: help build technology that supports scientific innovation and sustainable agriculture.
• Complex, modern challenges: work on high‑scale platforms and systems with room for technical judgement.
• Collaborative environment: partner with global engineering, R&D and product communities.
• Growth: broaden your influence through challenging work, visible outcomes and a global network.