Material Distribution Support

About the role

Sun World International is a global leader in the breeding, development, and licensing of premium fresh fruit varieties. We partner with growers in more than 30 countries to bring innovative table grape, stone fruit, and other produce varieties to market. Come grow with us! The Material Distribution Support role is responsible for supporting and executing the global distribution of Sun World varieties’ plant material in line with Sun World’s Intellectual Property and Commercial strategies. This role operationally ensures the effective and compliant placement of Sun World’s varieties in production countries, as well as in all countries where plant material presence is a prerequisite for IP protection as defined by Leadership and/or Legal Team. The incumbent is accountable for supporting and executing provided distribution strategies in line with variety evaluation goals, commercial goals, and intellectual property protection frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates the end-to-end supply chain, from source to quarantine, optimizing efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and scalability opportunities to meet commercial objectives.
• Collaborates with the Commercial and Licensing teams to ensure material distribution plan execution is fully aligned with commercial testing and/or commercial launch forecasts, market development goals, and licensee commitments.
• Keeps track of the status of each material in the different countries in pre‑commercial stages.
• Hands off Plant Material management to the licensing team after the Plant Material is released from quarantine and moved to either Phase 3b or Phase 4.
• Ensures all distribution activities rigorously adhere to Sun World’s intellectual property rights and contractual obligations.
• Ensures operational excellence in distributing material to target markets.
• Helps develop and apply established processes for material distribution from clean hubs to destination geographies.
• Ensures material harvest is conducted at optimal timing for arrival in proper conditions to the target geographies.
• Coordinates that discarded varieties are destroyed and disposed of in accordance with local procedures and in coordination with local teams.
• Maintains and enhances robust systems for tracking plant material requests, shipments, quarantine clearance, and inventory levels.
• Ensures compliance with all domestic and international phytosanitary and regulatory requirements for plant material movement in collaboration with the product management team.
• Fosters strong, collaborative relationships with internal stakeholders (Breeding R&D, Legal, Commercial, Finance) to ensure strategic alignment.
• Works closely with Licensing, GTS, and Marketing by supporting and tracking material distribution.
• Collaborates with breeding hubs to initiate budwood collection, packing, and shipping.
• Partners with Legal to support activities that align plant material movement and IP protection.

Requirements

Relevant degree or diploma in Business Administration, Agriculture, Commerce, Supply Chain, or Logistics. Minimum of 3 years’ experience in the fruit export industry with experience in plant material movement or import and export trade compliance.

Pay

This role pays an hourly wage of $26.00 to $30.00 per hour, depending on experience.

Schedule

This role will be onsite Monday through Friday at our Bakersfield office.