The APAC Biological Product Science & Technology (BPS&T) Strategy Leader provides a critical link between the Regional Commercial Units (RCUs) and the Crop Health, Product Science & Technology (CH PS&T) R&D global function. With the direction of the PS&T R&D LT, the APAC BPS&T Strategy Leader coordinates the design and execution of Product Science & Technology R&D activities aligned with research projects spanning discovery through post-launch stages.
The incumbent will define and conduct research across multiple project areas using in-depth knowledge and proactive application of scientific principles, theory and experimental design. In addition, the incumbent will perform research across multiple disciplines while developing and implementing technical solutions through hands-on experimentation.
Core Responsibilities:
· Understands RCU strategies to ensure that CH PS&T is aligned and resourced to deliver. Communication channel from the RCU back to the CH PS&T function to strengthen the functions’ ability to contribute. Effectively works with leaders in both organizations to resolve conflicts.
· Assesses and interprets RCU goals and initiatives into functional strategies and competencies for the broader CH PS&T function and deliver the results required.
· Develops robust communication strategies and implements a range of effective communication methods that inform and influence; effectively utilizes organizational networking to influence decision making.
· Facilitates the evaluation of new product technologies to meet RCU business needs and interfaces with the CH PS&T Global Formulation Portfolio Leaders to communicate these opportunities. Responsible for the effective communication of specific RCU needs to the CP PS&T Global Formulation Portfolio Leaders to ensure needs are incorporated into product development.
· Develop expertise within the APAC PS&T RL team for biologicals product & Integrated solution development.
· Implement capabilities at Singapore Lab to support these RD projects.
· Leads multi-disciplinary teams of scientists to deliver key technical milestones of large projects.
· Participates in the innovation process as it applies to specific projects and contributes to the innovation process through new opportunity identification. Collaborates with other functions in PS&T R&D and across R&D to explore, test and reduce to practice novel delivery concepts.
· Develops value-creating solutions for our customers and stakeholders (manufacturing, regulatory, biology, commercial) in response to presented problems with broad scope and impact.
· Supports and participates in PS&T peer reviews and other inclusive processes to ensure diversity of thoughts and robust participation of functional partners benefits the projects and RCU.
· Coaches others in identifying opportunities and how to understand and articulate value of Corteva Agriscience technologies in different concepts. Coaches and mentors junior level researchers and technologists in the areas of technical and career development.
· Develops strategies for using external contact network; demonstrates influence to external organizations that impact and contribute to business success.
· Partners with regulatory functions to identify and address regulatory constraints and requirements and communicates proactively with PS&T project leaders to ensure these constraints / requirements are incorporated into product design.
· Drives the definition of the molecule support requirements for the RCU, anticipates product support needs and implements steps to use product support to differentiate Corteva Agriscience from the competition. Works closely with the PS&T Product Technology Expertise Center Leader to ensure molecule support needs are adequately resourced.
· Monitors the competition and market trends in the RCU and communicates the information to PS&T project leaders and CH PS&T Global Formulation Portfolio Leaders.
· Maintains university / 3rd party research organizations contacts to keep technologies at state-of-the-art level and bring suitable technologies in house.
· Participates in organizing and chairing industry conferences and committees and influences key outcomes from those organizations.
Qualifications:
Educational Requirements:
· Ph.D. in chemistry, chemical engineering, material science or related field
· Fluency in English is a must for this position. Additional language skills (e.g. Chinese or Japanese) would be an advantage.
Technical / Functional Knowledge:
· Minimum of 10 years expertise in crop protection or biological formulation design and development.
· A solid track record of documentation. Ability to work independently and drive projects to completion. Demonstrated significant involvement in designing studies, carrying out experiments, interpreting data, etc. to meet project milestones.
Organizational Knowledge:
· The incumbent needs to be familiar with the R&D organization and the roles performed by each R&D function. The incumbent needs to be familiar with the Operations organization and Commercial organization for Agriscience.
Innovation:
· An ability to think ‘out of the box’ to develop novel, creative solutions for product and regulatory challenges and to inspire innovation in others is critical, as innovation will be the key to future breakthrough improvements in product development.
Interpersonal Effectiveness:
· Strong interpersonal and leadership skills. Build extensive network outside the CH PS&T R&D function. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to delivers presentations that distill complex ideas and proactively communicates results and progress to technical teams, supervision, management, and business leadership.
Leadership:
· Ability to successfully partner with team members and stakeholders from multiple backgrounds and cultures.