Global R&D Strategy & Projects Lead

SanLucar Company; Puzol; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Flexible working system

Home office policy

Job summary

SanLucar Company is seeking an R&D Protocol & Operations Manager to drive fruit and vegetable varietal development from trial to commercial execution. You will coordinate global projects with breeders, growers and product teams, turning strategy into actionable roadmaps and measurable outcomes.

You will lead cross-functional initiatives, manage timelines, resources and risks, and develop business cases assessing commercial and operational impact.

Qualifications

• Degree or Master’s in Agronomy, Agricultural Engineering, Horticulture, Plant Science, Crop Science, Agribusiness or related fields.
• 4-6 years of experience in Project Management, PMO, Business Transformation, Corporate Development, Consulting, Commercial Strategy, Variety Development, Business Analysis or similar functions.
• Experience in the Fruit & Vegetable industry is essential with preferred experience in Variety Development, Breeding Programmes, R&D or Technical Product Management within Fresh Produce.
• Advanced English and Spanish skills. French is considered a plus.
• Experience with project management methodologies and governance frameworks.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with tools such as Smartsheet, Power BI and Microsoft 365.
• Additional business or project management qualifications are considered a plus.
• Strong analytical and financial modelling capabilities.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills.
• Strategic mindset combined with a hands-on execution approach.
• Ability to work effectively across functions, cultures and geographies.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate global fruit and vegetable variety development projects from trial phase to commercial implementation.
• Translate strategic priorities into actionable project plans, roadmaps and measurable outcomes.
• Lead cross-functional strategic projects with alignment and timely delivery.
• Coordinate timelines, milestones, resources and risks with mitigation actions.
• Develop and evaluate business cases for strategic initiatives.
• Monitor varietal performance indicators like yield, quality, shelf life and profitability.
• Interface between R&D and Commercial/Product teams to align market needs and priorities.
• Support portfolio prioritization through business and investment analyses.
• Facilitate collaboration between producers, subsidiaries and breeders worldwide.
• Travel to farms, trial locations and breeding partners.
• Maintain a consolidated overview of the global R&D portfolio and provide transparency on progress and risks.
• Prepare decision materials and board reporting to support strategic discussions.
• Ensure governance standards and project methodologies are applied across initiatives.
• Support design and implementation of licensing structures with Legal and Finance.
• Contribute to negotiations ensuring alignment between contracts and business objectives.

Skills

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Communication

Financial modelling

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Degree/Master's in Agronomy or related fields

Tools

Smartsheet

Power BI

Microsoft 365

Excel

Job description

SanLucar Company is seeking an R&D Protocol & Operations Manager to drive fruit and vegetable varietal development from trial to commercial execution. You will coordinate global projects with breeders, growers and product teams, turning strategy into actionable roadmaps and measurable outcomes.

You will lead cross-functional initiatives, manage timelines, resources and risks, and develop business cases assessing commercial and operational impact.