Product Development Lead Herbicides at Mayfly Agri (Pty) Ltd

• An established manufacturer of specialised agrochemicals is seeking an experienced Product Development Lead to substantially contribute to the development of new and existing products within the designated portfolio through the meticulous planning, implementation, and management of approved projects, delivering comprehensive trial results for inclusion in dossiers compliant with Act 36 of 1947, within designated timelines, and in line with business targets and evolving global food safety trends.

Minimum requirements for the role:

• Must have a B. Sc. Degree in Agriculture or Natural Sciences with CropLife Basic Crop Protection accreditation; A post-graduate qualification would be advantageous
• SACNASP accreditation would be beneficial
• Minimum 5-years’ experience in agrochemical product development and/or a regulatory department
• Working knowledge of GHS Labelling requirements, GEP and GLP OECD principles are essential
• Comprehensive understanding of crop protection product registration requirements and processes in terms of Act 36 of 1947 is essential
• Above average knowledge of crops, crop protection (biological and chemical), crop nutrition as well as the general crop protection environment
• Must have technical project management skills
• Understanding of statistical methods and management of trial data on the ARM platform

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Planning, implementing, and managing the development trial programme for designated crops and portfolio products in line with product strategies and project scopes, as agreed with relevant local and global Product Managers.
• Coordinating, managing, and liaising with CROs for the timely execution of projects in accordance with timelines and budgets, ensuring accuracy of implementation and data generation, as well as concurrent report generation and reporting.
• Applying a deep understanding of GEP and GLP trial principles and executing OECD guideline-compliant studies.
• Using ARM extensively for designing, implementing, capturing, and analysing trial data.
• Applying strong scientific understanding of research principles and crop protection, drafting summaries to demonstrate trial objectives and propose amendments for further development work to ensure project objectives are achieved, and contributing to accurate, comprehensive, and concise registration dossiers demonstrating efficacy, selectivity, and residue compliance in support of commercial use.
• Participating in local, regional, and global portfolio meetings by providing accurate updates on technical trial results and sharing technical expertise to ensure product development remains aligned with market needs and optimised within the portfolio and global trends.
• Maintaining accurate updates across project management, budget tracking, and regulatory tracking platforms to ensure data integrity and transparency.
• Liaising with and participating in industry body committees, forums, and meetings to gather information and build networks on industry trends and knowledge transfer relevant to strategic business needs.
• Conducting regular visits to trial sites to ensure trial progress is aligned with planned timelines and objectives.