Manager Research & Development (Agronomy)

Position Title: Manager Research & Development (Agronomy)

Position Type: Regular - Full-Time

Position Location: Mehsana

Requisition ID: 38281

We are passionate about food. But we’re even more passionate about our People!

About the role:

The position is responsible for new variety shortlisting, variety evaluation and agronomic trials, for new variety establishment, come up with recommendations for maximizing yield while maintaining quality. This information to be efficiently transferred to internal and external stakeholders. This is applicable for seed and ware potato programme. To experiment the future technologies and possibilities, not limited to farms but also in cold stores and commercial farms. Coordinate with global teams. Work on frequent, timely communication for relevant internal and external customers.

This position reports into Director - Agriculture.

Roles and Responsibilities & Key Deliverables:

Knowledge Transfer:

• Gain a comprehensive understanding of Agribusiness operations and objectives, including supplier contracts and the impact of raw quality.
• Utilize various communication and demonstration methods to advise and train the regional supplier group.
• Assist growers in identifying opportunities to improve crop yield and delivered quality by developing enhanced Package of Practices based on historical data.
• Support seed grower compliance with sustainability reporting through AgPortal, GMS, and other means, including pesticide records, fertilization records, and water usage. Maintain McCain GAP records.

Trials:

• Conduct variety evaluation trials for new variety establishment, address emerging seed issues and find effective solutions.
• Engage with McCain growers and the regional agriculture community to conduct research. Identifying and cross-checking disease and pest issues with relevant literature and institutes.
• Provide guidance on achieving optimal plant health and productivity through best practices related to crop nutrients, crop protectants, and storage management techniques.
• Assist in developing regionalized variety management profiles for testing on a commercial scale.
• Conduct sustainability and survey audits and promote practices to enhance sustainability, such as IPM adoption.
• Support and promote Decision Support Systems for disease management in the absence of alternatives, including maintaining weather monitoring where public systems are unavailable.

Networking:

• Attend and actively participate in local and national agricultural production education meetings to stay informed about current agricultural practices.
• Engage in research and collaboration with public research institutions and private companies to explore and develop new technologies.

Collaboration:

• Gather knowledge from various sources, including institutions, senior management, McCain Ag Net, SAU, and practical insights from farmers, to train the contract farming team effectively.
• Promptly seek input from the contract farming team to understand challenges and design yield improvement trials for practical solutions.
• Address potato storage-related issues, comply with local regulations, and conduct chemical trials or recommend best management practices to the supply team.
• Identify and diagnose storage-related diseases, conduct storage experiments using analytical experimental design, and propose appropriate solutions.
• Maintain a strong relationship with the operation team involved in processing potatoes to understand seed-related concerns.
• Provide efficient support to the supply chain team and contract farming team.

Team:

Skillfully train and engage the team to empower them to manage their responsibilities independently.

About You:

• Must have a Master/Ph.D. degree in Agriculture/Horticulture/ Applied Science with 8-10 years of experience in variety trial and or breeding and or crop production, preferably in potato crop.
• Should have min. 8 years’ experience in the Agriculture R&D preferably in Potato
• Should have previous experience in developing POP (package of practices) for crops and should have thorough knowledge of conducting agronomy trials.
• The Role requires mobility and extensive travelling during particular season / Project work.

Apply Now if you are looking to be part of a flourishing and energetic environment! Join a recognized brand known throughout households across the globe!

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McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company, we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

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