Regional Agronomy & Category Support Manager - Puglia

Freshplaza; Puglia; Híbrido; EUR 60.000 - 90.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Freshplaza seeks a Regional Agronomy & Category Support Manager for Puglia to lead field agronomy and post-harvest supervision for seedless table grapes. You will translate agronomic strategy into practical vineyard management and ensure alignment with commercial production goals across Italy and Southern Europe.

You will oversee growers, manage tech transfer, and guide club varieties while ensuring quality, export compliance, and data-driven planning.

Formación

• Fluent in Italian, working knowledge English; Spanish is a plus.
• 7+ years in commercial production management for table grape operations.
• Experience supervising club varieties, tech transfer with growers and OPs.
• Knowledge of international export market quality standards and phytosanitary protocols.
• Experience supervising fresh fruit packing, logistics, and export coordination.

Responsabilidades

• Oversee agronomic activities across vineyards to optimize commercial yield and fruit quality.
• Translate tech transfer and best practices into practical vineyard management.
• Coordinate with growers and OPs to align production with commercial goals.
• Guide club varieties’ cultivation in compliance with IP and licensing rules.
• Align crop handling with national and international market specs and requirements.
• Plan production and analyze operational data for informed decisions.
• Collaborate with Commercial, Quality and Exports teams to synchronize plans.
• Supervise packing and dispatch to meet standards and agreements.
• Identify deviations and opportunities; document best practices.
• Report to Global Head Agronomist/production manager; collaborate with commercial manager.

Conocimientos

Italian fluency

English knowledge

Leadership

Communication

Analytical skills

Commercial acumen

Educación

Degree in Agricultural Sciences, Viticulture or equivalent

Descripción del empleo

Regional Agronomy & Category Support Manager - Puglia

Are you an experienced agronomist specializing in viticulture and ready to help shape the future of a global table grape leader by translating agronomic strategy into operational excellence?

Do you get fuelled by supporting growers and OPs to enhance yield, quality and supply chain alignment? You like to combine technical pre-harvest skills with post-harvest supervision and up for an autonomous, field-based role with measurable impact on yield, continuous improvement and productivity? This is your chance to grow with us and make your mark.

The company

Our customer is a family-owned global produce leader integrating production, marketing, and distribution to supply international markets. Backed by a worldwide network, they connect selected growers and their own fields to retail and wholesale with tailored value propositions and a strong commitment to sustainability.

Regional Agronomy & Category Support Manager

Seedless Table Grapes

Role

Oversee and monitor agronomic activities across the vineyards to optimize the commercial yield, growth, and overall health of seedless table grapes. Partner with growers to translate tech transfer and best practices to into practical vineyard management, crop protection, and premium fruit quality standards, ensuring full alignment with commercial production goals.

Main Responsibilities:

• Grower Management & Agronomical Support: Deliver hands-on technical assistance to national and international seedless table grape growers and OP's to ensure compliance with company production programs; initial focus on Italian growers (80%) and the remainder 20% across other Southern European countries.
• Club Varieties & Tech Transfer: Provide clear agronomic guidelines to growers and OP's to improve production practices, crop performance, quality and yield. Oversee the cultivation and technical management of proprietary club varieties in compliance with IP and licensing rules and tech transfer protocols
• Market access and Commercial & Export Alignment: Optimize crop handling to satisfy national and international market specs, phytosanitary rules, and global customer requirements.
• Quality & Compliance Oversight: Ensure adherence to quality standards, budget and deadlines across various stages of the production in the vineyard, packing and export process. Partnering with growers to proactively identify deviations, risks and improvement opportunities.
• Planning & Data Analytics: Support production planning and track seasonal progress by collecting and analysing operational data to facilitate informed commercial and operational decisions. Prepare regularly technical and management reports to the Production Manager and related cross-functional teams.
• Cross-functional Coordination: Collaborate closely with Commercial, Quality, and Comex (export/logistics) teams to ensure alignment between production planning, commercial requirements and shipping schedules.
• Operations & Post-Harvest Supervision: Supervise packing and dispatch processes to ensure standards are met, and producer and supplier agreements are fulfilled.
• Process Improvement: Recommend production process enhancements and document best practices to standardize operations and secure continuity.
• You report to the Global Head Agronomist / production manager and dotted line to the commercial manager.

Profile

A technical leader, capable of bridging field innovation and general agricultural practices with commercial production performance.

Requirements

• Degree in Agricultural Sciences, Viticulture or equivalent education.
• 7+ years of experience in commercial production management roles directly tied to table grape operations, with a strong focus on crop management, seasonal planning, harvest coordination and post-harvest handling.
• Experience managing club varieties, conducting tech transfer initiatives with growers and OPs.
• Knowledge of international export market quality standards, phytosanitary protocols, and commercial requirements for table grapes.
• Experience supervising fresh fruit packing, logistics, and export coordination.
• Fluent in Italian, working knowledge English; Spanish is a plus.
• Positive, proactive, curious, and decisive individual.
• Excellent listening, communication, and persuasive skills, capable of making autonomous decisions and providing clear direction.
• Collaborative leadership to coordinate and guide affiliated growers toward common goals.
• Commercial acumen to balance agronomic decisions with market and export demands.
• Advanced analytical skills applied to the technical and economic management of vineyards.
• Flexible and partnership driven approach.

Location

Puglia, Home office with frequent travel across the region and occasional international travel.

What We Offer

• Excellent career opportunity to take on a key role in the company's regional agronomic development and management of premium club varieties.
• You are part of an ambitious and innovative company and work together with highly motivated and talented colleagues.
• Operational autonomy and the ability to make a concrete impact on export productivity and organization.
• Innovative, future-oriented environment combining cutting-edge agricultural technology and sustainability.
• Competitive integrated compensation package plus fringe benefits.