Hazera is a global leader in the vegetable seed industry. Hazera brings expertise, commitment, and support, combined with decades of experience with state-of-the-art technology. Hazera breeds, develops, produces, and markets varieties and seeds in a wide range of vegetable crops around the world. Hazera’s headquarters are in both Israel and The Netherlands, with subsidiaries in twelve countries and an extensive distribution network providing services in over a hundred additional markets globally.

PD Manager – USA & Canada

Preferred location: California, though this is not a strict requirement.

We are seeking a highly experienced and dedicated PD Manager to lead our pre-commercial trials from inception to completion. This role involves meticulous planning, data analysis, and value creation and delivery in alignment with our growth plan for the USA and Canadian vegetable seed markets. The ideal candidate will possess a strong agronomical background with at least 10 years of experience in the vegetable seed business, demonstrating deep market knowledge and a robust industry network. Technical proficiency in trial evaluation tools and advanced Microsoft Office skills are essential. We value analytical thinkers with excellent decision-making capabilities, customer focus, and a proactive, entrepreneurial approach to strategic planning. Strong collaboration and communication skills are crucial, as the role requires working closely with local and global colleagues, distributors, and farmers. Additionally, the PD Manager will be an integral part of the subsidiary Management Team, reporting to the general manager, and contributing to broader strategic decisions. We are looking for a people’s person who can build strong relationships and foster a collaborative environment. At Hazera, and our parent company Limagrain, we pride ourselves on being a farmers' corporation owned by farmers, maintaining a strong seeds company culture rather than a corporate environment. We value boldness, progress, perseverance, and cooperation, and we are looking for someone who embodies these qualities and is passionate about contributing to the progress of food and building a sustainable future.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Responsible for all PD (pre-commercial) trials in the USA and Canada from beginning to end in collaboration with our PD Specialists.
• Collect and process all subsidiary trial evaluation data, conduct detailed analyses, and convert findings into value propositions for our customers.
• Develop and execute a strategic PD plan for the USA and Canada, including market, pipeline, and competitive analysis.
• Collaborate with local subsidiary Territory Managers, Ops, Logistics, and F&A to align activities and streamline processes to improve customer satisfaction. Work closely with global colleagues from Marketing and R&D to establish trial goals for pre-commercial varieties.
• Manage sample seed availability and its distribution to the PD team for targeted slots.
• Allocate resources effectively, create and track KPIs for the PD team and their trial data, and report effectiveness periodically to Territory Managers and the Subsidiary GM.
• Outline distributor trial plans, identify and address portfolio gaps, and work closely with distributors to fill those gaps and generate grower demand.
• Support and participate in commercial demonstration trials, field days, and events. Represent our product offerings alongside commercial colleagues in both field settings and formal environments such as meeting rooms, conventions, and conferences.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Science or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years' experience with an agronomical background in the vegetable seed business.
• Deep understanding of the USA and Canadian vegetable seed markets at both the grower and distributor levels, with a strong network in the industry.
• Proven knowledge of field trials and greenhouse operations, including trial setup and field evaluations.
• Experience working with cucurbits, solanums, alliums, and brassicas is a plus.
• Technical savviness, demonstrating ease in using tools such as trial evaluation apps.
• Advanced expertise in Microsoft Office, particularly PowerPoint and Excel, with proficiency in complex formulas, pivot tables, XLOOKUP, and the ability to navigate AI tools like CoPilot to ensure continuous efficiency improvements and simplify work processes.
• Analytical skills, being organized and possessing strong decision-making capabilities.
• Commercial aptitude, self-driven, with the ability to lead change.
• Entrepreneurial approach to strategic planning and engagement.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, both external and internal.
• Willingness to travel at least 50% of the time, and to work under variable environmental conditions associated with field trial work.
• Flexible working hours throughout the seasons.
• Proficient in English (spoken and written).
• Driver’s license.

Interested?

Are you enthusiastic about joining a growing organization? Please send your cover letter and resume to info@us.hazera.com