Country Seeds Head Türkiye

Syngenta Seeds is one of the world’s largest developers and producers of seed for farmers, commercial growers, retailers and small seed companies. Syngenta seeds improve the quality and yields of crops. High-quality seeds ensure better and more productive crops, which is why farmers invest in them. Advanced seeds help mitigate risks such as disease and drought and allow farmers to grow food using less land, less water and fewer inputs.

Syngenta Seeds brings farmers more vigorous, stronger, resistant plants, including innovative hybrid varieties and biotech crops that can thrive even in challenging growing conditions. Syngenta Seeds is headquartered in the United States.

Role purpose

Lead end-to-end commercial seeds business in Türkiye, driving market leadership through strategic growth, innovation, and operational excellence. Direct P&L responsibility for >$20M revenue, leading a team of >25 professionals across sales, marketing, technical, and regulatory functions.

• Leading the field crop seeds leadership team to define growth strategies on Sales, Marketing, Technical, Regulatory and Portfolio.
• Develop and execute comprehensive commercial strategy which fits all components of market, portfolio and organization.
• Drive data-driven market intelligence and competitive positioning
• Execute innovative go-to-market approaches
• Expand distribution network and enhance channel partnerships
• Responsible to deliver annual country P&L targets. Define budget contents and drive risk & opportunities to execute short term plans, as well as preparing for mid-long term.
• Conduct strategic collaborations.

Be representative in Finance, HSE, Procurement, R&D, Seedcare, CP, P&S internally. Drive communications via Official Authorities (MoA, TTSM, BUGEM..)  and key cooperatives (TKK, TB, KB, TAREX, TIGEM) as well as maintaining strong relation with customers (dealers, distributors) and relevant business partners.

Accountabilities

• Secure strategic alignment between portfolios and market requirements. Enable right definition of TPPs as well as their representations in seeds development processes (breeding to market)
• Lead to define right trialling strategy to enable executing long term targets. Make sure local team connected to regional strategies.
• Ensure robust registration compliance for product portfolio
• Define right GtM and business models. Manage sales team to execute sales plans in parallel to defined targets. Coordinate demand management.
• Actively monitor market conditions and modify strategic plans accordingly.
• Manage annual crop campaigns processes
• Lead to define marketing strategies both in conventional & digital.
• Lead “end to end” team to execute targets. Be representative in extended country leadership team and be representative in relevant official organizations (TSUAB, BISAB, ..)
• Develop pricing strategies aligned with market conditions, in line with regional expectations.
• Drive export opportunities to TR and neighbouring countries
• Ensure compliance with local seed regulations
• Actively and regularly monitor business operations and secure transactional discipline in the processes by the team (order management, financial updates, budget preparations, demand management, customer complaint management, AR plans, business plans, monthly reviews, registration, trial management, SFDC reporting, Enablon etc). Aim to coach team to sustain and improve operations continuously.
• Closely manage the effectiveness and compliance of all activities in seeds organization, manage the function expenses within BUD and in alignment with DoA/LoA, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure the safety and ethics compliance among FC Seeds organization. To be a role model to embed Syngenta culture in all daily activities
• Frequent review and provide support to ensure the improvement of all company processes and systems. Foster the innovation mindset in everything we do. Ensure right level of delegation.

Critical success factors & key challenges

• Proven strategic thinking, ability to lead and monitor works and people
• Strong in finance analytical ability, planning, budgeting
• Good on internal & external communication at all levels to ensure the messages are delivered properly.
• Ability to manage internal (cross functions, country/ regional/ global) leadership team as well as external stakeholders (distribution channel, authorities, etc)
• Leadership competency

Knowledge, experience & capabilities

Critical knowledge

• Good understanding about agricultural business, strong ability to develop & execute company strategies.
• Good knowledge of products to lead commercial team win the market
• Risk management expertise in agricultural business
• Financial modelling and forecasting capabilities
• Experience in developing and executing 3–5 year strategic plans
• Good knowledge of market development to consult channel partners to achieve sales target.
• Understand & clarify customer needs to fulfil Syngenta strategies.
• Understand the channel network and the key drivers in Seed industry to sustain long term business relationship.
• Understand of subordinates’ behaviors & performance and well people management.
• Understanding on product life cycles.
• End to end seeds business understanding.
• Excellent organization and planning skills

Critical experience

• 15+ years in agribusiness, with 8+ years in senior leadership
• Demonstrated success in market share growth
• In-depth industry knowledge and market dynamics
• Strong ability to understand market needs, structure, and business drivers
• Strong in people management and leadership skills
• Expert conflict resolution skills

Critical technical, professional and personal capabilities

• Process oriented and adapts to company procedures quickly
• Flexible in order to meet both customer and business needs
• Excellence in stakeholder management
• Negotiation skills
• Advanced English language skills
• Be able and efficient to work with analytics

Critical leadership capabilities

• Strategic vision and execution capability
• Result driven
• Leadership skill (communication, motivation, problem-solving, coaching & feedback)
• Advanced analytical, reporting and communications skills
• Able to work under time-pressure

• Status quo challenger, continuous improvement mindset
• Foster cross-functional collaboration
• Culture builder and talent developer

Additional information

• Position required to be based in Izmir, Türkiye
• Role requires travel within Türkiye and may require occasionally in AMEA
• Ability to work in the field conditions,
• Valid driving license. HSE mindset & safe driver.