R&D Strategy & Project Manager (Fruit & Vegetables)

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

Join our Team as R&D Protocol & Operations Manager

Join our R&D team for Fruits & Vegetables and help shape the future of SanLucar's varietal portfolio. In this role, you will evaluate, develop, and implement innovative fruit and vegetable varieties across our global sourcing regions working closely with breeders, growers and agronomists as well as sales and product teams, among other internal areas. You will play a key role in translating agronomic and varietal innovation into successful commercial opportunities. If you are a strategic thinker with strong project management skills and enjoy working in an international environment, this is your opportunity to make a direct impact on the growth and success of SanLucar's global varietal portfolio.

Your passion - our daily business

• You will coordinate global fruit and vegetable variety development projects from trial phase to commercial implementation.
• You will translate the strategic priorities into actionable project plans, implementation roadmaps and measurable business outcomes.
• You will lead cross-functional strategic projects, ensuring alignment, execution excellence and timely delivery.
• You will coordinate project timelines, milestones, resources and dependencies while proactively identifying risks and mitigation actions.
• You will develop and evaluate business cases for strategic initiatives, assessing commercial, operational and financial implications.
• You will monitor varietal performance indicators including yield, quality, shelf life, consumer acceptance, and profitability.
• You will act as the key interface between R&D and Commercial/Product teams, integrating market needs, customer requirements and commercial priorities into varietal projects.
• You will support portfolio prioritization through business, profitability and investment analyses.
• You will facilitate collaboration between producers, subsidiaries, breeders and other external stakeholders worldwide.
• You will travel to farms, trial locations, and breeding partners to support varietal development projects.
• You will maintain a consolidated overview of the global R&D project portfolio and provide transparency on project progress, resource allocation and risks.
• You will prepare decision-making materials, executive presentations and Board reporting to support strategic discussions.
• You will ensure governance standards and project methodologies are consistently applied across strategic initiatives.
• You will support the design and implementation of licensing structures and contractual frameworks together with Legal and Finance teams.
• You will contribute to negotiations and ensure alignment between contractual structures, project economics and business objectives.

Why become a SanLucarian?

• Feel comfortable leaving your suit behind! We don’t have a dress code
• You’ll find a dynamic and fast paced work environment with plenty of opportunities to grow
• We are as colorful and diverse as our product range - bringing together more than 36 nationalities and always happy to welcome new perspectives
• Besides hard work, we also know how to celebrate and enjoy afterworks, team events and company celebrations
• To keep our community connected, we regularly organize meetups and teambuilding activities
• We support continuous learning and development through trainings and our SanLucar Talent Growth programmes
• Our flexible working system & home office policy support work life balance
• We care about our work environment so we can enjoy spacious offices as well as our rooftop canteen
• We offer competitive compensation and attractive benefits
• Enjoy additional perks such as entertainment discounts and flexible remuneration options
• That’s just a glimpse of what it means to be a SanLucarian - apply and discover more

We are happy to receive your application if we caught your interest! As diversity is part of our DNA, for sure it’s a crucial aspect regarding Talent Attraction. We respect equal opportunities and promote different mechanisms to totally avoid discrimination of any kind and to ensure that the selection processes are carried out exclusively according to merit and ability criteria, guaranteeing that all candidates receive the same treatment throughout the process and feel comfortable at any moment.

Requirements

What You’ll Bring Along

• 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.