Syngenta Group is one of the world’s leading sustainable agriculture innovation companies, with roots going back more than 250 years. Our 53,000 people across more than 100 countries strive every day to transform agriculture through tailor-made solutions for the benefit of farmers, society and our planet – making us the world’s most local agricultural technology and innovation partner.

Syngenta Group is committed to operating at the highest standards of ethics and integrity. This is a commitment that we are making to investors, customers, society and employees. Syngenta Group is also committed to maintaining a workplace environment free from discrimination and harassment.

Role purpose

This role is responsible for driving the safe and sustainable use of Syngenta’s portfolio and defend our freedom to operate by ensuring that relevant safe use programs are in place throughout AMEA (Asia, Middle East and Africa). This, in turn supports portfolio development.

A key part of the role is to establish and maintain partnerships to expand the program impact; develop programs that encourage the sustainable use of Syngenta’s portfolio, support business growth and help farmers to improve productivity and profitability.

Key Accountabilities

Safe and Sustainable Use

• Lead the S&RB network, develop & execute the strategy, prioritising goals and targets, taking into account local market dynamics and assuring deliverables are aligned with regional and country business strategy. Deployment of HQ S&RB agenda in the region and assure consistency and alignment across the region.
• Working closely with the S&RB network, especially those in the smallholder markets, to develop, implement and monitor our safe use programs and trainings for farmers and other key stakeholders.
• Work closely with regional product leadership teams and development teams to shape the portfolio and embed the sustainable innovation agenda by providing strategic and technically-robust advice to assure risk mitigation and opportunity capturing
• Ensure best practice approaches are identified and shared internally and externally, within the region and beyond.
• Ensure effective systems are in place to ensure Syngenta can anticipate, prevent or alternately effectively respond to external health or environmental incidents involving our products.
• Advance Syngenta’s interests on stewardship matters in key industry organization at regional level and ensure coordination across countries

AMEA Sustainability Strategy and Programs

• Support the Regional Head of Business Sustainability in the definition and delivery of the sustainability agenda for the region.
• Lead and/or contribute to working teams to define regional scope and strategy for specific sustainability topics
• Support stakeholder engagement and partnership development
• Responsible for ESG data reporting in accordance to global requirements

People & Capability Development

• Develop the capabilities of the team through training, coaching, and mentoring.
• Design and manage training programs for key business leaders as required to support the strategy, such as media training and presentation skills training.

Knowledge, experience & capabilities

Critical knowledge:

• Understanding of current sustainability issues and how these are relevant to Syngenta
• Knowledge of external stakeholders and influencers relevant to SRB.
• Networking, partnerships development
• Recognized expertise in one or several marketing, commercial, health, agronomy, social and/or farming competence areas.
• Understanding of contemporary approaches to training, communication and behavior change.
• Understanding of agronomic practices and technologies relevant for sustainable & responsible use.
• Knowledge of Syngenta’s portfolio of products, their safety profiles, risks, and how they are used

Critical Experience:

• Minimum 10 years work experience with background in several different relevant business functions.
• A university level degree in Agriculture/Farm management, Communication or Human/Social/Natural Sciences or a comparable business education/experience.
• Proven team leadership of senior positions. 
• Proven experience of successfully managing cross functional collaborations and understanding of the challenges in/from the “real” market place.
• Track record of successfully managing broad, complex projects, change projects and/or business processes.
• Proven ability to deal with complex issues, and develop effective strategies and solutions for managing them.
• Evidence of having developed innovative strategies to support Syngenta’s growth.

Leadership Capabilities

• Working in a truly multifunctional setting.
• Influencing
• Engage & Inspire.
• Exposure to market challenges.
• Leadership exposure.
• Contribution to business critical processes.
• Clarity of vision and ability to communicate internally and outside the organisation
• Ability to think strategically and see connections across the organisation
• Leads by example, able to work effectively across functions, high credibility with senior stakeholders
• Demonstrated leadership and people management skills gained through previous roles in a Crop Protection or a related industry
• Understanding of the cultural complexity and diversity of the region

Critical success factors & key challenges

• To evolve Syngenta’s business approach so sustainable and responsible business elements are seamlessly integrated into Syngenta core strategies, commercial delivery and potential in incentive plans.
• Effective internal network spanning key FtO functions including Commercial, Regulatory, Product Safety, CP Development, Legal, Marketing, Production & Supply.

Able to identify opportunities and potential risks in an increasingly challenging and unpredictable FtO environment