CPD Head South Africa

Syngenta Group; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading agricultural science company in Pretoria is seeking a skilled leader to manage their crop protection portfolio. You will be responsible for team management, project execution, and maintaining regulatory standards. The ideal candidate possesses 10 years of experience in R&D, strong commercial acumen, and a relevant degree. This full-time role emphasizes collaboration and innovation.

Qualifications

• 10 years of R&D experience in agricultural CP development.
• Proven leadership and people management experience.
• Experience working with regulatory bodies.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the South African CPD team.
• Provide technical leadership within the business area.
• Focus on commercial priorities and understand local customer needs.

Skills

Leadership

Technical expertise

Commercial acumen

Regulatory compliance

Project management

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

BSc / MSc in Biology, Chemistry, Agronomy, Crop Science, Genetics or equivalent

Job description

Role Purpose

To deliver a competitive crop protection (CP) portfolio supporting a 5-year growth agenda in South Africa. This involves end-to-end (E2E) pipeline management, operational excellence, team leadership, knowledge transfer, and budget management. A key focus is understanding local customer needs to deliver differentiated product offerings and ensuring successful product launches in collaboration with other Syngenta functions.

Accountabilities

Leadership & Team Management: Lead and develop the South African CPD team, fostering a high-performance culture aligned with Syngenta values. This includes talent management, succession planning, and ensuring a safe, compliant work environment. Participate actively in the Country Leadership Team (CLT) to contribute to overall business strategy.

Technical Expertise & Innovation: Provide technical leadership within the business area, driving excellence in technical launches and support. Serve as the single source of technical truth for projects, leveraging CP technologies and anticipating regulatory impacts. Translate research findings into actionable product and grower offers, identifying and addressing technical portfolio gaps.

Commercial Acumen & Market Understanding: Focus on commercial priorities by understanding local customer needs and the competitive landscape. Collaborate with Marketing to position products effectively for rapid market share gains. Gather market intelligence and competitor information for informed decision-making.

Regulatory Compliance: Ensure conformity to Syngenta processes and regulatory requirements. Work closely with Regulatory to obtain new registrations efficiently while maintaining high data quality. Participate in industry committees (e.g., CropLife) to represent Syngenta.

Project Management & Execution: Own the end-to-end delivery of the CP pipeline from early development to first sales. Manage trial programs ensuring high-quality data and timely delivery. Prioritize the portfolio based on market realities, balancing new product introductions (NPIs) and mid-tier opportunities. Manage the portfolio lifecycle to maximize returns.

Collaboration & Communication: Foster effective cross-functional collaboration (R&D, Technical Services, Regulatory, Marketing, Commercial) and with regional/global teams. Communicate clearly at all organizational levels and across cultures.

Qualifications, Experience & Capabilities:

• BSc / MSc in Biology, Chemistry, Agronomy, Crop Science, Genetics, or equivalent.
• 10 years of R&D experience in agricultural CP development.
• Proven leadership and people management experience.
• Experience working with regulatory bodies.
• Significant experience in managing complex technical portfolios and projects.
• Solid understanding of regulatory landscape and market dynamics.
• Strong analytical, process, and communication skills.
• High level of commercial acumen.

Critical Success Factors & Key Challenges:

• Managing competing priorities from diverse stakeholders.
• Delivering high-throughput results while fostering innovation.
• Maintaining a high-performing, engaged team.
• Facilitating effective knowledge transfer across functions.
• Building strong relationships and influencing without direct authority.
• Developing a culture of innovation and agility.

Critical Leadership Capabilities:

• Demonstrate Syngenta leadership behaviors.
• Prioritize Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiatives, driving employment equity transformation.
• Lead change and navigate ambiguity.
• Set ambitious strategic goals.
• Focus on customers.
• Collaborate across boundaries.
• Communicate with impact.
• Build a culture of innovation.
• Manage for performance.
• Develop people, organization, and self.
• Foster effective collaboration and teamwork.

Additional Information:

Advert closing: 11 August 2025

Remote Work: Employment Type: Full-time

Key Skills: Accounts Handling, Customer Service, ABAP, Infection Control, Bakery, Jboss

Experience: years

Vacancy: 1