Technical Field Expert at Syngenta

Job Description

Role purpose

• To provide Technical Support to the Commercial Unit and key external clients (distribution & agents). The Technical Services department has a commerical focus and helps to create a higher demand for Syngenta products in the market. To launch relevant new products into the market involving all applicable departments in the company.
• Play a strategic role in defining what technical activities (e.g. demonstration trials) should be conducted as part of Customer Marketing annual campaigns.
• The crop focus would be Maize, Soy (Summer row crop) Wheat, Barley, Canola and Deciduous fruit.

Accountabilities

Technical Support and Leadership:

•  Provide training internally and externally on technical topics (crop and product) as and when it is required and needed, translating technical information into understandable language for clients/customers/colleagues
•  Handling of technical queries from internal and external customers on a daily basis
•  Fast handling of product complaints when required to become involved
•  Active participation and liaison with industry research bodies (e.g. Agricultural Research Counsil, industry research bodies, Universities, Croplife, IRAC, HRAC, FRAC) where applicable and relevant
•  Monitor Crop Protection product recommendations in the market and ensure they are used in a responsible and sustainable manner
•  Building of relevant technical ‘stories’ to support Marketing Campaigns and Sales strategies
•  Propose new crop protection solutions in a changing crop/pest environment.

New Product Introductions:

•  Provide input into Business Cases (done by Customer Marketing) which are relevant for new products to be introduced
•  Gain insight into and knowledge of new products while developed and registered by R&D
•  Lead the Technical Launch project team (consisting of R&D, Marketing, Area Sales Manager and other relevant stakeholders) for proper new product introductions
•  Drive actions as decided on in the project team that will ensure successful product launches
•  Perform internal and external trainings on new products at relevant time points to ensure successful launches.

Technical activities linked to Customer Marketing campaigns:

•  Together with Customer Marketing and the Area Sales Managers decide on technical activities (e.g. Demonstration Trials) to be performed every season to support the annual campaigns
•  Perform the planning for agreed technical activities and consult with the Technical Manager on the budget requirements
•  Communicate the plans of these technical activities to the relevant stakeholders (e.g. Sales Promoters) for the proper execution of the plans
•  Ensure the activities are executed by tracking progress on a regular basis
•  Summarise final results of activities and provide Customer Marketing and Sales with ‘Technical Stories’ to be used successfully in the field.

Qualifications

Critical success factors & key challenges

•  Become the ‘to-go-to’ person for technical matters in the individual’s field of responsibility
•  Successful launches of new products in the market for increased profit and sales in the individual’s field of responsibility
•  Compiling of successful technical ‘stories’ that can differentiate Syngenta from our competitors and can be used by customer marketing and sales colleagues.

Knowledge, experience & capabilities

Critical knowledge

•  Relevant tertiary qualification (e.g. entomology, plant-pathology, weed science, plant production)
•  Proven in-depth knowledge of the relevant crop, relevant pests and relevant control strategies
•  Thorough understanding of technical characteristics of relevant crop protection products.

Critical experience

•  Substantial technical market/industry understanding with proven and applied experience
•  Relevant practical crop experience in the agrochemical industry
•  Established relationships/networks and memberships with key crop, academic and government institutions
•  Experience in product development, products screening and agronomic research.

Critical technical, professional and personal capabilities

•  Customer focus
•  Ability to work autonomously and in cross function teams
•  Analytical skills
•  Execution skills
•  Results oriented
•  Strong verbal and written and interpersonal skills
•  Creative problem solving abilities
•  Project management skills
•  Train the trainer experience
•  Strategic thinking
•  Negotiation skills.
•  Ability to interact and build relationships effectively, at all business levels, both internally and externally.