Pipeline Development Lead - Field Crops

About the Role

The Pipeline Development Lead is a strategic role responsible for driving alignment and operational excellence across the global Field Crops seed innovation portfolio. This role ensures that innovation investments are prioritized, resourced, and executed to deliver transformative solutions in seeds and advanced genetics technologies, aligned with long-term business strategy, global crop portfolio strategies, and market needs.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Qualifications

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

Skills

• 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.

Benefits

• Numerous development opportunities offered to build your skills.
• Health benefits for you and your family starting on your first day of employment.
• Four weeks of paid time off and two weeks of well-being pay per year, plus paid holidays.
• Excellent parental leave which includes a minimum of 16 weeks for mother and father.
• Competitive retirement savings plan and tuition reimbursement program.