Product Portfolio Manager – Grains & Potatoes

agritechnovation; Wellington; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

agritechnovation is seeking a Product Portfolio Manager for Grains, Industrial Crops and Potatoes to bridge R&D concepts into market-ready solutions and support commercialisation with sales teams and wholesale channels.

You will lead product lifecycle from research to market, collaborate with R&D and commercial teams, and coordinate training and literature for field teams. 3+ years in agronomic product development is preferred.

Qualifications

• Strong technical writing and communication skills.
• Ability to translate technical data into commercial value.
• Organised, detail-oriented and proactive.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate full lifecycle of AT products from R&D handover to market launch.
• Maintain product portfolio database with specifications, regulatory status and performance.
• Develop product positioning including USP, agronomic value and guidelines.
• Support wholesale team with product kits, guides, protocols and training.
• Address product queries and coordinate with supply chain for availability.
• Collaborate with Commercial Head to develop strategies and training materials.
• Gather field feedback with regional managers to identify needs.

Skills

Technical writing

Translate data to value

Organised

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Education

Degree in Agriculture/Plant Sciences/Agronomy

Job description

Purpose of the Role:

The Product Portfolio Manager: Grains, Industrial Crops and Potatoes plays a critical role in bridging innovation and commercial delivery. This individual ensures that product concepts from R&D are successfully developed into market-ready solutions and supports their effective commercialisation through the in-field sales teams and wholesale channels. The role requires strong technical acumen, project coordination ability, and commercial insight to manage the product portfolio lifecycle from research to market.

Main Responsibilities:

Product Portfolio Management

• Coordinate and support the full lifecycle of AT products – from R&D handover to market launch, commercial support, and portfolio rationalisation.
• Maintain and update the commercial product portfolio database, including product specifications, regulatory status, and market performance.
• Drive product positioning strategies, including unique selling points, agronomic value, and application guidelines.

Wholesale Channel Support

• Assist the crop specific commercial team in developing wholesale partner product kits, sales guides, application protocols, and training sessions.
• Monitor and address product queries, technical complaints, and information requests from wholesale clients.
• Collaborate with supply chain and production to ensure product availability aligns with wholesale forecasting and market demands.

Technical & Commercial Support

• Work closely with the Commercial Head of Product and Services: Grains, Industrial Crops and Potatoes to develop commercialisation strategies, product training materials, and support tools for sales teams.
• Support the commercial teams in providing support on product performance, trial data, mode of action, and compatibility.
• Liaise with regional sales managers and agronomists to gather feedback from the field and identify improvement opportunities or market needs.

R&D Interface

• Act as the link between R&D and commercial operations, ensuring product development is aligned with market requirements and business goals.
• Participate in R&D project meetings, tracking product development status, trial results, and timelines for product release.

Training & Communication

• Coordinate product training across sales teams, including agronomic, application, and value proposition aspects.
• Develop clear, technically sound product literature, presentations, and data sheets.

Skills and Capabilities

• Strong technical writing and communication skills.
• Ability to translate technical data into commercial value.
• Organised, detail-oriented, and proactive.
• Able to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Collaborative with excellent interpersonal skills.

Minimum Requirements:

Qualifications

• Degree in Agriculture, Plant Sciences, Agronomy, or related field. A postgraduate qualification is an advantage.

Experience

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in agronomic product development, technical sales support, or product management – preferably in biostimulants, crop inputs, or plant nutrition.
• Solid understanding of the agriculture industry, crop production systems, and biological product performance dynamics.
• Experience interfacing with R&D and commercial teams.
• Strong project management and coordination skills.