Director Strategic Agricultural Development

At Sensient Technologies, we are experts in the science, art and innovation of color and flavor. We are market-savvy and visionary. We are problem solvers. And we will be better with you.

We are looking for a Director of Strategic Agricultural Development to join our team. In this role, you will provide effective leadership and overall direction for the selection, development and management of a stable grower base and the delivery of raw materials in support of the Company’s business strategies and business objectives.  This includes seed and production crops. This role will assume responsibility for Field Operations in the absence of the Director of Field Operations. This position works closely with internal functions such as HR, Finance, Engineering, R&D and Quality.

What you’ll do:

• Develop an Annual Crop Plan alongside various departments that will meet the company’s needs for the annual sales of Onion, Garlic Parsley and Chili. 
• Directly responsible for planning, organizing and scheduling all aspects of contracting fields and to communicate such plans as necessary. 
• Maintain and develop strategic alliances with growers to deliver crops that meet quality and quantity expectations of the Company.
• Provide leadership and direction to field representatives ensuring responsive and proactive crop management. Ensure specific objectives relating to all aspects of crop management are understood and work toward minimizing risks to crop and company.  
• Ensure adequate training of employees which will meet all requirements of operations including Safety, and Job Safety Analysis training.
• Communicate as necessary to all contacts inside and outside the Company, which are necessary to achieve safety, quality, production and cost on a frequent basis. 
• Position must aggressively participate with multiple key associates on a daily basis. Key associates may include: harvest supervisors, field coordinators, maintenance staff, director of field operations, field representatives, seed department personnel, growers, growers’ contacts, research personnel, administrative personnel, etc.  Participation must be thorough and effective, analytical and interpretive in nature.  
• Directly manage all aspects of grower relation operations including direct responsibility for all Field Representatives and the Seed Department. 
• Perform crop inspections and yield estimates.  Use the information gathered from these inspections to better forecast crop yield. 
• Be vigilant about communicating known or potential crop issues to growers and the business. Sharing proactively current, emerging and potential issues related to crop production including but not limited to crop condition, grower practices, etc.
• Maintain positive relationships with all the growers.  Prospect new growers and new areas where we do not currently grow.
• Collect the information for and create field maps.  Accuracy and timeliness of our maps is critical to success.
• Participate with other members of Field Department management group to develop plans and coordinate department resources to meet both short term (i.e. harvest schedules) and long term (i.e. future year acreage and raw material needs) objectives.
• Facilitate the collection of information from our growers.  Food Safety, Sustainability and Organic programs all require paperwork and sampling.  Mentor our growers on the paperwork process.  Ensure all samples are taken and delivered in the appropriate manner.
• Facilitate meetings to provide yield estimations and crop updates on a regular (weekly) basis to Finance, Field Operations, Production Operations and General Manager.
• Work in a variety of environments throughout the year including the office; the Field / Research compound; and grower locations throughout California and other bordering states. Time spent in each environment will vary greatly depending on the time of year and current activities.  Significant travel throughout growing regions is required. Overnight travel is expected to be 30-60 nights per year.
• Constantly work toward the improvement of safety, quality and production.
• Promote department and divisional constant improvement efforts as assigned.
• Performs all other duties assigned.

What you’ll bring:

• B.S. in Agriculture or related field, or, three to five years’ experience in agricultural harvesting position in row crops.
• Knowledge of both row crop and seed crop production from field selection / preparation to harvest; agricultural contracting; costing of seed programs; and vegetable production and processing as related to crop requirements.
• Excellent analytical, interpretative and problem-solving skills are required to evaluate and interpret information and data from multiple and varying sources to establish criteria, refine methods and develop solutions.
• Sound planning skills including the ability to effectively allocate resources to develop and maintain schedules for multiple projects (i.e., planting, harvest, milling and cracking schedules); develop crop projections; and most importantly develop and maintain an effective LRP (21%-35%)
• This position requires a great deal of independent choice.  Substantial use of individual creativity and independent thinking to develop plans and methods will be expected regarding such activities as grower and land selection, production practices, etc. (50%-75%)
• An above average ability to provide effective leadership to numerous personnel within field operations. A high level of leadership skills is required to align personnel and various contacts with immediate and long-term goals and objectives. 
• A detailed understanding of revenue streams and the ability to provide planning, direction and leadership to all inside and outside contacts which further revenue accountability. 
• Strong understanding of downstream impacts of a crop plan. Decisions made pertaining to crop size and acreage regions can affect the economics of direct and overhead associated costs. Creativity and proper judgement must be used to reduce processing and production costs and improve finished product quality either directly or indirectly. Best-fit decisions through organization, attention to detail and scheduling will affect overall harvest and production costs. Ability to focus on these “best-fit” decisions is a must. 
• Strong communication skills and the ability to establish relationships and remain in close contact with various internal and external stakeholders and entities including field department staff, plant operations, R&D, quality control, accounting, and HR as well as growers, haulers & trucking companies, State & County agencies, consultants, outside contractors and university personnel.
• Strong Computer skills.

What you’ll get:

• Opportunity to collaborate with your colleagues, onsite 5 days per week 
• An excellent salary, benefit offering and development opportunities 
• A thorough and effective training experience during onboarding and beyond.

About Sensient: 

Sensient Technologies Corporation is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of colors, flavors, and extracts. Sensient employs advanced technologies at facilities around the world to develop specialty food and beverage systems, cosmetic and pharmaceutical systems, specialty colors, and other specialty and fine chemicals. The Company's customers include major international manufacturers representing most of the world's best-known brands.

About Sensient Natural Ingredients:

Sensient Natural Ingredients is one of the largest producers and distributors in the world of dehydrated onion and garlic products as well as chili powder, paprika, chili pepper and dehydrated vegetables such as parsley, celery, and spinach. These ingredients are used in many of today's popular convenience foods. The Natural Ingredients unit is located in Turlock, California. 

The salary range for this position is $173,000 - $210,000 USD.  Pay within the range is based on several factors, which may include, but are not limited to, education, work experience, specialized training, and labor market conditions.  In addition to salary, Sensient is proud to offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits program to support the holistic well-being of our employees and their families. This position is also eligible for performance-based incentive pay. 

SPONSORSHIP: Due to our inability to offer visa sponsorship, we can only consider candidates who are authorized to work in the US without the need for employment visa sponsorship. 

RELOCATION: We are unable to offer relocation assistance. The successful candidate will be expected to work at Turlock, California and must reside in the area or be willing to commute. 

THIRD PARTY AGENCY: Any unsolicited submissions received from recruitment agencies will be considered property of Sensient Technologies and will not be liable for any fees or obligations related to those submissions. 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

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