Manager, Flowers R&D Operations North America

Company Description

Syngenta Flowers North America is one of the largest wholesale breeders of hybrid flower seed and cuttings in the world – developing and producing flower seeds and cuttings for growers internationally.
Syngenta Flowers is dedicated to the breeding innovative flower varieties that offer outstanding performance in the professional greenhouse, at retail, in the landscape and in the home garden. In addition to legendary genetics, we support industry professionals with world-class customer service, in-depth cultural information, flexible and exciting marketing programs, and a deep understanding of plants from many points of view.
Syngenta Flowers has garnered more than 35 international awards for introducing hybrid annuals to the world, including such garden mainstays as Calliope® Interspecific Geraniums, Diabunda™ Dianthus, Endurio™ Violas, Sparkler™ Cleome, and Magellan™ Zinnias. 

https://www.syngentaflowers-us.com/

Job Description

The Gilroy, CA station Manager for Flowers R&D Operations NA is responsible for the management of functional and operational activities at the Gilroy research site including but are not limited to the following:

• Effectively leading the execution of trialing for breeding and marketing, starter material, and operational activities at the site in a timely, accurate, and in a cost-effective way to deliver a healthy product pipeline
• Developing staff, improving processes, and driving adoption of new technologies, in daily operations to bring the highest quality products to market in an efficient, safe, and environmentally sound manner of a research facility
• Infrastructure and capital improvements, rolling trialing’s and quality operations for the Gilroy site

In this position, you are responsible for the ongoing development, upkeep and maintenance of the Gilroy site and all its assets to meet the needs for Syngenta Flowers site and all functions that utilize the site in a manner that represents the Syngenta brand appropriately.

Accountabilities

Work in a team-based environment to effectively manage and deliver site level capabilities that allow delivery against commercial portfolio targets:

Resources

• Site operational budget: Plan, execute and deliver works to defined R&D standards, within allocated budget
• Ensure/propose investment in capabilities and infrastructure at site level in alignment with R&D strategy and successfully gaining approvals through R&D capital matrix guidance/DOA processes
• Define site level resource availability, align resources and work plans according to strategic priorities, and assure that demand and resources are well balanced within your station
• Oversee CBRE site services and collaborate with SDM/FM to set discuss priorities and issues, shares upcoming workload for the site, standards of housekeeping, maintenance and excellence in site operations
• Contribute to develop and continuously update unit costs for all operational tasks conducted at the site level

Operations

• Ensure all regulatory requirements (business license, permits, etc.) are in place and lead official inspections (Cal Osha, City, State and Ag) for the site
• Ensure proper implementation and timely execution of trialing (breeding and marketing) and starter material operations on site
• Own and optimize trialing and starter material delivery at the site level (Quality, quantity, and timeliness)
• Participate in cultivation evaluations and make sure that improvements and findings regarding process improvement from those evaluations are being included in the operations protocols
• Lead QM and Continuous Improvement
• Ensure delivery according to plan for all crop activities
• Ensure operational activities at the site are conducted in accordance with company HSE & phytosanitary standards
• Facilitate site level alignment meetings and team meetings, including tiered meetings
• Conduct time studies and guide the team in labor planning
• Delivery of KPI’s to measure work performed, assess/analyze, and use this information to propose productivity improvements
• Facilitate the development of high throughput phenotyping and automation at the station

People

• Line management of the trialing/growing team, starter material, operational, and Tissue Culture teams on site
• Ensure motivation and engagement of the site community in collaboration with other functions and support sustainability programs for the site
• Ensure people management processes, people capabilities and succession plans are in place
• Ensure good project management and people interactions.
• HSE and Code of Conduct responsibility for the operations team.
• Continuous impr