Technical Biologicals Manager

SUMMARY:

One of the leading companies serving agricultural sector based in Western Cape is currently looking to hire a Technical Biologicals Manager with the following skills and experience:

POSITION INFO:

• Identifying new in-house product development opportunities and for developing marketing strategies on existing products.
• Responsible for driving the Biological sales strategy with the Biological Specialists.
• Responsible for the quality management of the cultivated micro-organisms at the Biocult plant and maintenance of the mother cultures.

Required outputs: Functional

Product Maintenance - (Existing): 

• Regularly engage with the Biological Technical Team to ensure flow of knowledge.
• Manage the team and processes responsible for maintaining viable mother cultures of mycorrhizae and Trichoderma
• Engage with the Lab Technical Team on Solvita and Mycorrhizal root staining interpretation of reports.
• Engage with the Solvita research samples keeping track of records of associated costs to be redeemed and reporting back to key stakeholders.
• Monitor sales and prepare sales reports.
• Drive sales strategy alongside key stakeholders, i.e. Regional Managers, Agents, Technical Advisors and Agronomists.
• Maintain and manage relationships with technological partners.
• Engage with the design and management of product presentations (packaging, etc).
• Drive integration with the NuWay approach.

New Product Development:

• Engage with the key stakeholders during the development of project.
• Providing inputs with the write up of registration trial protocols (DAFF acceptable standard).
• Engaging with the R&D team responsible to initiate trials needed to support the registration dossier.
• Engaging with the trial maintenance team to ensure the correct use of fertilizer, herbicides, insecticides and fungicides for biological trials.
• Managing the collection of data into summary reports in line with company Laboratory specifications and liaison with Bemlab, as supporting documentation to the registration dossiers.
• Ensure that data is captured in a user-friendly manner in order for the Development Team Leader to perform statistical analyses and summarising reports for DAFF submission.
• Ensure that data is collated, maintained and captured in a user-friendly manner in order for the R&D team to perform statistical analyses and for writing up screening trials.
• Regularly engage with the company Technical Team to ensure flow of knowledge.
• Regularly engage with the Maintenance team to ensure a good, clean trial tunnel.
• Evaluate gaps in the Biological portfolio.
• Identify new actives, products and co-workers to complete the biological portfolio.
• Negotiate terms and conditions with technological partners of biological portfolios.
• Research and draw up potential market analysis to calculate ROI.

Current Product Development:

• Providing inputs with the write up of registration trial protocols (DAFF acceptable standard).
• Engaging with the R&D team responsible to initiate trials needed to support the new claims.
• Engaging with the trial maintenance team to ensure the correct use of fertilizer, herbicides, insecticides and fungicides for biological trials.
• Managing the collection of data into summary reports in line with company Laboratory specifications and liaison with Bemlab, as supporting documentation to the registration dossiers.
• Providing inputs and interpretations in writing up of trial reports and prepare PowerPoint presentations (generation of marketing material as well as registration dossiers).
• Organise the Biological Specialists, capturing and maintenance of data and co-ordinating the write up of NuWay/Demo trials for marketing materials.
• Regularly engage with the Biological Specialist to ensure flow of knowledge.
• Regularly engage with the Maintenance team to ensure a good, clean trial tunnel.
• Drive new innovative projects to ease application of products in the field.
• Drive new innovative projects to support the penetration into new markets.

Technical Support:

• Ensure the organisation of Farmers Days and Agent visit trials for good company field presentation.
• Ensure the organisation of proper training days for Farmers and Agents as a guide on application methods.
• Regularly present feedback at Area meetings.
• Provide support to the Biological Specialists for presentation ensuring good company presentation in the field
• Engage in the management of the seed treatment machines.
• Reviewing trial reports.
• Create marketing brochures and presentations.

Customer Service:

• Prioritise addressing customer complaints that may lead to a claim following the correct claim procedure to log a claim.
• Manage the process of product shelf-life testing, Mycorrhizae root colonisation analysis and Solvita soil health testing.
• Plan, organise and execute Biological Specialist roadshows per area.
• Integrate and support the Biological Specialist to align goals.
• Support the physical sale of products.

Financials: 

• Provide input on new budget planning with the financial team.
• Provide input on product costing.

Logistics:

•  Support the logistical positioning of products.
• Support the management of returned or written off stock.
• Participate and assist to maintain SHEQ Management Systems certifications/standards.
• Ensure total compliance and adherence to all SHEQ rules and regulations as per company policy.
• Manage the staff complement under the incumbent’s control as per the organogram
• Adhere to all internal control policies as directed by Management.
• Undertake any legal ad hoc tasks for which the incumbent is competent as directed by Management.

Qualifications and expertise required (Must)

• Minimum educational requirement Grade 12 with post matric tertiary qualification of a B.Sc. or M.Sc.
• Management/Supervisory skills diploma
• Must be computer literate MS Office (Excel/Word/PowerPoint and Outlook) as well as statistical programme for Labs.
• Must be able to work independently as well as within a team, be deadline driven and use own initiative.
• Must possess strong technical knowledge.
• Must possess good communication (verbal and written), planning, organisational, presentation, report writing, people and customer relationship skills.
• Must be in possession of a valid driver’s license, have own reliable transport and be medically fit to drive.
• Must be able to gauge the level of understanding of the client in respect of new technology.
• Knowledge of SHEQ Management Systems (e.g. ISO, etc) standards and requirements advantageous.

NB! This job is now closed. You can apply for other jobs by uploading your CV.