Executive Director, Crop Protection Portfolio - GROWMARK, Inc. - Bloomington, IL

SALARY RANGE: $160,350.00 - $232,500.00

GROWMARK is an agricultural cooperative serving almost 400,000 customers across North America, providing agronomy, energy, facility engineering and construction, and logistics products and services, as well as grain marketing and risk management services. Headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois, GROWMARK owns the FS trademark, which is used by its member cooperatives. GROWMARK also owns and operates SEEDWAY, the largest full-line seed company in the United States. More information is available at growmark.com.

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY STATEMENT

Responsible for the crop protection product portfolio and how it goes to market across the GROWMARK System: manufacturer and supplier relationships, portfolio strategy, pricing and programs, product positioning, and crop protection marketing. Owns the branded, post-patent, proprietary, and private label crop protection offering, including adjuvants, biologicals, and specialty products, and is accountable for the portfolio's margin and competitiveness in support of Crop Protection divisional income targets and sales growth.

SUPERVISION AND LEADERSHIP

Supervises, leads, and develops the Director, Proprietary Portfolio; Senior Manager, Crop Protection Marketing; and Manager, Registration and Specialty Products. Leads cross-functional work with crop protection operations, sales, seed portfolio, Agronomy Services, and Enterprise Marketing.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Accountable for crop protection gross margin, product line profitability, and portfolio competitiveness, and contributes to Crop Protection Division sales, share, and divisional income targets.

Negotiates and administers supply, rebate, and program agreements with crop protection manufacturers and suppliers, in coordination with the VP, Crop Protection and Seed and Legal, and manages the supplier portfolio to balance access to leading chemistries and technologies, competitive economics for member companies and growers, and the System's long-term position.

Directs the administration of all manufacturer programs, including goal negotiation, tracking, and communication with member companies, and oversees the Crop Protection Task Force.

Sets crop protection product line pricing and grower programs at levels that support System profit standards and competitiveness and communicates product mix and volume needs to Crop Protection Operations to inform procurement and supply plans.

Directs product registration, regulatory compliance, and stewardship for crop protection products in the U.S. and Canadian markets served by the System, and directs the development, testing, registration, and commercialization of the proprietary and private label crop protection portfolio, including post-patent offerings, proprietary adjuvant brands, biologicals, and specialty products, and the supplier partnerships that support it.

Partners with the Executive Director, Enterprise Marketing and Agronomy Marketing Strategist to develop long-term and annual marketing plans and product positioning messages aligned with the enterprise marketing framework, which communicate branded, generic, and specialty product messages across all core and expanded geographies.

Partners with the Executive Director, Crop Protection and Seed Sales on program execution, field positioning, and new product launch, and provides product and adjuvant training and support in conjunction with Agronomy Services to strengthen the System's crop protection position.

Coordinates with the Executive Director, Seed Portfolio on integrated seed and crop protection offers and shared manufacturer relationships.

Develops annual and long-range crop protection marketing goals, portfolio plans, and marketing inputs to sales, gross margin, and selling expense budgets, and reports regularly to the VP, Crop Protection and Seed on portfolio performance, supplier position, pricing and program results, market trends, and financial results.

OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS

Analyzes market conditions, competitor activity, post-patent opportunities, regulatory developments, and industry trends to guide portfolio decisions.

Develops and maintains manufacturer and industry relationships, represents GROWMARK at crop protection industry events, and serves on association boards and committees as assigned.

Visits member cooperatives and non-member customers to strengthen business relationships and inform portfolio and program design.

Implements credit procedures and protocols for non-member business that meet GROWMARK standards.

Maintains crop protection sales history and product line reporting, and encourages and supports innovative practices, ideas, and technologies within the team.

Follows GROWMARK’s Code of Conduct and Corporate Compliance Program, Environmental Health and Safety, OSHA and DOT policies and procedures, as they apply.

Responsible for encouraging, supporting, and promoting innovative practices, ideas, and technologies within the team.

Performs all other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS

Normally requires a college degree in agronomy, ag business, ag economics, marketing, or a related field, or the equivalent thereof, and nine years or more of related experience demonstrating crop protection portfolio, marketing, or product management leadership.

Demonstrates essential abilities including business knowledge, collaboration, communication, customer focus, decision making and skill development.

Advanced understanding and experience with crop protection marketing, price strategy, manufacturer programs and rebates, procurement, distribution, inventory and risk management, negotiation, product registration, and compliance.

Demonstrated experience negotiating and administering supplier agreements and managing a multi-supplier portfolio, including proprietary or private label product development.

Strong analytical skills, including portfolio profitability analysis and financial modeling.

Proven leadership skills including staffing, coaching, performance evaluation, and the ability to achieve results through others, including leaders who do not report directly to the position.

Proven communication, interpersonal, and persuasion skills, and the ability to work independently and in a team-oriented environment.

Demonstrated planning, organization, problem-solving, and project management skills.

Must have and maintain a valid driver's license and satisfactory driving record, a valid passport, and the ability to travel independently and overnight as needed.

Ability and willingness to participate in required training that may include education on GROWMARK's policies and procedures and additional training as it relates to the requirements of the position.

At GROWMARK, we are dedicated to supporting the long-term financial well-being of our employees through a fully funded pension, a cornerstone benefit that ensures security for the future. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, along with a variety of supplemental plans like accident, critical illness, disability, hospital indemnity, and identity theft protection. To promote a healthy work-life balance, employees enjoy generous paid time off (PTO), paid holidays, and parental leave, giving you time to recharge and focus on what matters most. Additionally, our 401(k) plan with company matching helps you plan for retirement, while our free Employee Assistance Program (EAP) supports your overall well-being. Whether you're starting your career, balancing family life, or planning for retirement, our company is committed to providing employees with a comprehensive and competitive Total Rewards package that meets your needs at every stage. Benefits eligibility may vary depending on the position.

Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, location, and other factors permitted by law. In addition to base pay, certain roles may be eligible for bonuses, incentives, and commissions.

We are an equal opportunity/Disabled/Protected Veteran Employer. All individuals, regardless of demographic or other background, are encouraged to apply. Further, as a federal, state, and local contractor, we comply with government regulations and executive orders as applicable, including affirmative action responsibilities for qualified individuals with disability and protected veterans.

Employment is contingent on, among other things, receipt of an acceptable and job-related background check, drug test, motor vehicle report, and/or reference check, as applicable and permissible by law.