At BASF | Nunhems, it is our ambition to make healthy eating enjoyable and sustainable. Together and in collaboration with partners we are eager to improve our vegetable varieties and solutions for our customers, the vegetable value chain and consumers worldwide. To further develop and grow this ambition we are looking for a Product Development Area Manager Iberia & Maghreb (Almeria or Murcia – Spain)
Your Job
The Product Development Area Manager is responsible for managing and overseeing the Product Development specialists and trialing team. This role ensures the effective implementation of crop strategies while driving excellence in all PD processes, digitalization, operational excellence, and innovation in product development efforts.
Contributing significantly to the Regional PD community, the PD Area Manager collaborates closely with the Head of PD.
Facilitating collaboration across functions within the area, this position ensures efficient execution of PD activities, data-driven decision-making, and successful introductions of new varieties, ultimately enhancing customer satisfaction.
Working closely with Country Managers, the PD Area Manager aims to maximize collaboration between PD Specialists, Trial Team and the sales team at the customer level, boosting demand creation and contributing to the achievement of Marketing & Sales (M&S) KPIs for the area.
Additionally, seamless collaboration among PD Specialists, Trial Teams, breeding teams, PD Crop Leads, and other key stakeholders is essential, enabling effective information exchange between countries and the region to maximize PD output.
Main Accountabilities
* Manage, mentor and develop a motivated PD Specialist & Trial Team focused on achieving business objectives and delivering exceptional customer service
* Build and coach a professional team that delivers efficient and effective results, ensuring that the operational needs of the crops to implement their PD plans are met
* Oversee the design and implementation of PD activities that align with crop strategies and regional business priorities, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness in all PD efforts
* Ensure accurate collection, analysis, and transformation of data into actionable insights to support robust elevation proposals and drive informed decision-making
* Guide PD Specialists in defining and communicating clear value propositions and market positioning for varieties to enhance competitive advantage
* Exchange best practices across areas and functions within the area
* Drive customer engagement initiatives in partnership with the sales team to create demand for new varieties and strengthen customer relationships
* Act as a functional link with other departments to ensure PD processes are well-integrated across functions and continuously improved
* Lead change management initiatives within the PD Specialist & Trial team, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and innovation
* Drive efforts towards efficient and effective trialing while developing excellence, digitalization, and innovation throughout the Trial organization to enable better elevation decisions and successful variety introductions
Your Profile
* BSc in Agriculture related field with 10 years of relevant experience or;
* Msc with 8 years of applicable experience, PhD with 6 years of experience
* Experience in leading and coordination of a team of product development professionals (17 FTE)
* Strong communication and presentation skills in English, French is a big plus
Do you recognize yourself in the following competencies?
* Collaboration, you have the ability to build relationships across disciplines, units and levels
* Result driven and you take initiative and act autonomously with a focus on agreed KPI's
* You show decisiveness and assertiveness and you take accountability & ownership
* Customer oriented with a commercial mindset
Interested in this job?
Interested and ready to join and lead this product development team and contribute to our ambition to make healthy eating enjoyable and sustainable for everyone worldwide? Send us your resume (CV) and motivation letter by clicking the 'Apply' button.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Michiel Weijters, Senior Global Talent Acquisition Specialist via
What's in it for you?
Adding value to our customers begins with adding value to you. At BASF we believe that people are the key to our long-term success and that talent is in everyone. That's why we empower you with the tools, guidance and opportunities you need to advance and succeed in work and life.
Giving you the support that you need to be your best and fulfill your personal ambitions is what helps us achieve our ambitions. After all, our success is linked to yours. Whatever path you envision, BASF is a great place to build a rewarding, successful career.
For BASF, diversity is one of the essential keys to business success and the well-being of our employees. We promote an inclusive culture that accepts the diversity of people, experiences and capabilities. By embracing talents and abilities of all kinds, we aim to boost creativity and motivation, and enhance our teams' performance.