Pipeline Development Lead - Field Crops

Innovation Portfolio Leadership & Strategic Enablement

Translate enterprise strategy into actionable innovation roadmaps across R&D. Lead long-range planning and partner with internal stakeholders on R&D investment prioritization. Oversee Field Crops R&D pipeline optimization and lifecycle management of pipeline innovations. Lead business case development for each project in partnership with finance, portfolio analysis, and global portfolio leads. Lead cross-functional teams through stage-gate processes and commercialization milestones.

Innovation Governance & Operational Excellence

Steward innovation management systems and planning cycles. Ensure consistency and simplification across resource costing, data inputs, and reporting. Partner with finance and R&D sub-functions to align budgets and capacity planning.

Stakeholder Engagement & External Partnerships

Build strategic relationships with industry partners, research organizations, and academic institutions. Represent the organization in innovation forums, conferences, and public engagements. Partner with R&D leadership teams to identify external collaboration opportunities aligned with innovation strategy.

Leadership & Change Management

Champion innovation culture and organizational transformation. Mentor cross-functional teams and embed innovation management principles across the organization. Drive change initiatives that enhance strategic alignment and employee engagement.

Preferred Skills And Qualifications

• Keen understanding of agricultural industry, global seed markets, market dynamics, and customer needs, and the overall business
• Strong innovation mindset to think creatively and differentiate our product portfolio in a global market
• Business financial acumen; demonstrated experience in building project business cases and financial metrics, e.g., NPV, IRR, ROI
• Demonstrated ability as a thought leader, challenging status quo and driving investment prioritizations to enable business success
• Demonstrated ability to influence others, working collaboratively across functions toward an aligned business strategy
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and guide cross-functional teams towards common goals
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of building strong relationships both internally and externally

Education

• Advanced degree (M.S., MBA, or Ph.D.) preferred in Plant Science, Genetics, Agronomy, Business, or related field

Experience

• 5-10 years of scientific experience in breeding, advanced genetics, biotechnology, regulatory, or technical agronomy
• 5-10 years of commercial or relevant industry experience in sales agronomy, product development, product management, marketing, or sales
• Scientific or commercial leadership experience with the depth and breadth of technical expertise to solve complex technical problems and deliver comprehensive solutions
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects, prioritize tasks, and make data-driven decisions