Material Distribution Support

Sun World International is a global leader in the breeding, development, and licensing of premium fresh fruit varieties. We partner with growers in more than 30 countries to bring innovative table grape, stone fruit, and other produce varieties to market. Come grow with us!

The Material Distribution Support role is responsible for supporting and executing the global distribution of Sun World varieties’ plant material in line with Sun World’s Intellectual Property and Commercial strategies. This role operationally ensures the effective and compliant placement of Sun World’s varieties in production countries, as well as in all countries where plant material presence is a prerequisite for IP protection as defined by Leadership and/or Legal Team. The incumbent is accountable for supporting and executing provided distribution strategies in line with variety evaluation goals, commercial goals, and intellectual property protection frameworks.

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities:

1. Leadership & Distribution Management

· Co-ordinates the end-to-end supply chain, from source to quarantine optimizing efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and scalability opportunities with the role to meet commercial objectives.

2. Commercial & IP Integration

· Collaborates with the Commercial and Licensing teams to ensure material distribution plan execution is/are fully aligned with commercial testing and/or commercial launch forecasts, market development goals, and licensee commitments.

· Keep track of the status of each material in the different countries in precommercial stages

· Hand off Plant Material management to the licensing team after the Plant Material is release from quarantine and to either Phase 3b or Phase 4.

· Supporting that all distribution activities rigorously adhere to Sun World’s intellectual property rights and contractual obligations.

3. Operational Excellence & Process Improvement

· Ensuring operational excellence in distributing material to the target markets

· Help develop and apply established processes for material distribution from clean hubs to destination geographies

· Ensure material harvest is conducted at optimal timing for arrival arrives in proper conditions to the target geographies

· Co-ordinating that varieties that are discarded are destroyed and disposed in accordance to the local procedures and in coordination with the local teams.

· Maintains and enhances robust systems for tracking plant material requests, shipments, quarantine clearance, and inventory levels.

· Ensures compliance with all domestic and international phytosanitary and regulatory requirements for plant material movement in collaboration with product management team.

4. Stakeholder & Team Leadership

· Fosters strong, collaborative relationships with internal stakeholders (Breeding R&D, Legal, Commercial, Finance) to ensure strategic alignment.

5. Key Working Relationships

· This is a highly collaborative position that works closely with:

o Licensing, GTS, and Marketing by supporting and tracking material distribution

o Breeding hubs to initiate the budwood collection, packing, and shipping

o Legal, supporting activities that align plant material movement and IP protection

REQUIREMENTS:

· Relevant degree or diploma in Business Administration, Agriculture, Commerce, Supply Chain, or Logistics.

· Minimum of 3 years’ experience in the fruit export industry with experience in plant material movement or import and export trade compliance.

WORK SCHEDULE: This role will be onsite Monday through Friday at our Bakersfield office. 

Sun World International LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we value diversity. The company does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic forbidden under federal, state or local law.