Product Category Manager, Seed

Company Overview 

Farmers Business Network®  (FBN®) is on a mission to power the prosperity of family farmers and rural communities around the world, transforming how the world farms with an integrated, technology-enabled agricultural platform.

We offer high ROI farm inputs, fintech and sustainability products and services powered by network data, and farm-tested insights from our global farmer community.  Our platform helps FBN® members make confident decisions to ensure the economic viability of their farms, while also empowering them to be a part of the solution as the global community confronts its most pressing issues: providing food security for a growing population, transitioning to more sustainable agriculture, and responding to climate change.

We are a dynamic, innovative, and mission-driven AgTech company that offers competitive compensation and benefits as well as boundless career mobility. We are backed by top investors, including Fidelity, ADM, Google Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, DBL Partners, T Rowe Price and Temasek. We have been featured in these articles by the Wall Street Journal and Forbes, and were also named "One of the 50 Most Innovative Companies in the World" by Fast Company Magazine.

The Role: 

The Product Category Manager, Seed will work cross-functionally with seed supply chain managers (current year and future year), strategy and business operations, sales, accounting and finance, product marketing and technology teams (breeding/data science) to develop and execute the overall business plans and seed strategy. This role will be responsible for managing all seed brand portfolios (including product, volume and price) to deliver the annual operating plan (AOP) aligned with the FBN growth projections. The primary product categories to be managed include, not necessarily limited to, all FBN current crops (corn, soybean, sorghum, alfalfa) across all seed brands. 

The successful candidate will: 

• Align brand portfolios with commercial leadership objectives (AOP) including sales volumes, product mix, trait mix and price and enhance the near and long term Seed product strategy. 
• Establish product lifecycle (new launches, growth, mature, decline, phaseout, and retire) for all crops and seed brands. 
• Develop Y+1 sales forecasting process and framework (timelines, product lists, lifecycles, process documentation, presentation to sales, and FBN Direct leadership). 
• Establish Y+1 sales forecast in collaboration with field sales (DSMs / AEs) for each crop and variety by sales territory. 
• Create a pricing and margin model that optimizes sales and aligns with current commercial objectives as well as long-term objectives for FBN Direct. 
• Monitor in-season product performance and competitive position and establish competitive response in collaboration with marketing and field sales. 
• Actively analyze industry market dynamics with the Marketing team, and tailor business response in coordination with the Sr Product Marketing Mgr.
• Actively manage stakeholder relationships with R&D (Breeding and Data Science teams) on advancement and deployment of new products. 
• Leverage BI tools and data analytics to combine data and maximize insights from R&D, Tableau/Spotfire, and other data sources (e.g. NetSuite). 
• Provide guidance to Item Masters and ERP architects for seed item creation and item management. 
• Support Sales and Marketing in initiatives which improve CB, Dealer, and Customer/Brand experiences. 
• Analyze and track sales revenue, COGS and updated P&L statement throughout the year and provide leadership updates.
• In collaboration with SBO develop S&OP process for the Seed business. ● Manage the D&O budget, reserve and alignment with controlling. 
• Serve as the primary liaison between FP&A and Seed Business.

Qualifications

• BS degree in agriculture economics, business administration, finance, agriculture marketing or related-field 
• 8+ years of relevant experience in agriculture/seed business 
• Deep comprehension of customer buying and servicing behaviors, including regionality and seasonality factors affecting product purchase and usage, and an understanding of the games typically played by competitors
• Seed genetic and trait industry knowledge and experience
• Experience with operating a business model based on customer experience & business development with a strong technology focus
• Demonstrated ability to influence key internal and external stakeholders 
• Proven process orientation, especially around sales processes and portfolio optimization
• Strong relationship skills, history of working closely with internal stakeholders
• Experience in various systems and technologies, including ERP/MRP (e.g. NetSuite)
• Ability to travel up to 20% of time