Sr. Soy Seeds Foundation Program Manager

Now hiring! Sr. Soy Seeds Foundation Program Manager

 

We are looking for a Sr. Soy Seeds Foundation Program Manager to join our Agricultural Solutions team preferably based in Champaign, IL. Also open to a remote option in Iowa or Illinois within proximity to Champaign, IL.

 

Come create chemistry with us!

 

BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division connects innovation, customers, partners and agricultural experts and integrates sustainability criteria into  all business decisions. We help farmers deliver the best possible  outcomes, working to achieve the balance between economic, environmental, and social value creation for sustainable and efficient  agriculture.

 

 

As a Senior Soy Seeds Foundation Program Manager, you will manage the U.S. soybean foundation seeds program, collaborating with plant breeding, sales, marketing, and agronomic services to enhance soybean varieties and increase parent seed stocks for commercial sales.

You will oversee third-party foundation seed partners in the U.S. and BASF’s counter-season partner in South America, as well as manage the new Soybean Foundation Seed production facility in Champaign, IL.

This role requires optimizing production processes with commercial soybean managers to ensure a reliable supply of high-quality seed, particularly for new genetics and regulated traits in BASF’s pipeline.

As a Sr. Soy Seeds Foundation Program Manager, you create chemistry by...

• Overseeing the soy foundation seed multiplication program for all commercial, licensed, and experimental soybean varieties produced in the U.S. and managing counter-season activities in Argentina, Chile, and Puerto Rico.
• Collaborating and assisting with the development of contract strategies, writing legal agreements, networking with legal, & leading contract negotiations with suppliers, and authorizing and approving all payments as it relates to soy foundation activities. Managing our foundation seed increases and varietal purification program for all in-licensed seed lines acquired from our genetics providers, and internally advanced lines from our BASF breeding programs. 
• Ensuring BASF’s seed quality, trait and varietal purity, and stewardship requirements are met and effectively communicated by our domestic and international foundation seed partners and the Champaign, IL facility.
• Managing the foundation seed increases and varietal purification program for in-licensed seed lines and internally advanced lines from BASF breeding programs.
• Developing strategies to ensure adequate capacity in the foundation seeds network for reliable supply of high-quality breeder/foundation seed including production and processing capabilities.
• Utilizing short- and long-term sales forecasts to develop a volume strategy for targeted quantities of foundation/breeder seed of soybean genotypes and trait platforms that meet quality and purity specifications.
• Producing soybean experimental candidates in South America to accelerate market introductions/launches, collaborating with legal and stewardship, international export logistics experts, etc. to ensure smooth flow of products to and from these countries. Participating as part of the US soybean portfolio management team to provide input to varietal selection and advancements as it relates to producibility.
• Providing oversight and direction to the Champaign site leader and team, including all field and plant activities conducted by full-time and contract employees at the Champaign, IL plant site.
• Being responsible for the OPEX CCEN budget development for the Soy Foundation Seeds Program, Argentina counter season program, and the Champaign IL foundation seed plant. Responsible for CAPEX planning as it relates to the foundation seed capacity and capability. Accountable for providing input into financial & business planning processes, including managing expenditures for OPEX, CAPEX spend, capacity planning, headcount projections, succession planning, and employee development as it relates to foundation seed production.

If you...

 

• Have a BA/BS in agronomy, seed science, plant science, agricultural economics, supply chain, or a related discipline (MS or MBA preferred).
• Hold 15+ years managing a foundation seed program, or in commercial seed production, or w