Entomologist at MECS (Pty) Ltd

Key purpose: To provide strategic direction and advice to ensure product strategies are delivered as planned and contribute to the achievement of African objectives in terms of product development targets, portfolio expansion and technical support to sales.

Qualifications and experience:

• Degree in Entomology, Biology or a BSc degree
• High level of knowledge of insect and rodent biology and thorough understanding of the technical characteristics and use of vector & pest control products
• At least 5 years’ experience in the Professional Pest Management industry
• Experience of developing and managing technical presentations
• Thorough understanding of the technical characteristics and use of control products
• Detailed knowledge of Professional Pest Management industries
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
• Ability to produce reports of a high scientific standard related to development and technical issues of the product portfolio

Responsibilities:

• Primary function of role is to ensure that relevant trial programs are completed on time and of appropriate quality to support both local product registration dossiers and to support global product dossiers, as needed.
• This will be focusing on but not limited to the Vector Control market.
• This position has primary responsibility for Product Development project management.
• Utilize technical knowledge and resources available locally and globally to develop market-leading commercial technical support capacity for the South African business and Southern African Business
• It is expected that the outcome will strengthen key-account relations and an increased ‘pull effect’ in product sales.
• Expected areas of delivery include customer technical support, promotion, training, products defence & stewardship and sustainable development initiatives.
• Initiate & manage product development trials required for registration purposes for Vector Control and other market segments.
• Maintain relationships with existing partner research organization and, as necessary, identify new external partners which allow the company to complete product development trial plans on time and to an appropriate quality.
• Undertake field trials to support the efficacy dossiers of the core product range.
• Providing biological trial data necessary for new projects, re-registrations, label extensions and geographic extension of existing products.
• Manage the Product Development budget.
• Responsible for complaint handling support in terms of product performance.
• Responsible to support Marketing team with technical tools/knowledge in order to add value to customer interactions aligned with Business Strategy.
• Manage the dissemination of wider training to customers as required.
• Represent the business on relevant external technical committees or expert groups with the aim of influencing others to defend the company interests.
• Participate in the stakeholder engagement activities and form and maintain close cooperation from key industry influencers, representatives or bodies.
• To work closely with Market Development functions to support exploration of new opportunities, this might lead to new product developments.
• This function would assume responsibility for driving such development projects at a local level once market development has confirmed the value to do.