Starke Ayres: Product Manager (Tomatoes & Brinjals)

Introduction:

Starke Ayres is the foremost African specialist and global supplier of premium vegetable, flower and lawn seed varieties both for commercial and home garden planting. The following position has become available for a Product Manager, based in Kempton Park, with area of specialisation in tomatoes.

Description:

Starke Ayres is the foremost African specialist and global supplier of premium vegetable, flower and lawn seed varieties both for commercial and home garden planting. The following position has become available for a Product Manager, based in Kempton Park, with area of specialisation in tomatoes.

Purpose: To maximise the returns from the sales of Starke Ayres approved range of seed products within his/her portfolio by coordinating and managing the Companys national technical / marketing service programme of that portfolio, within the framework of Company policy as determined from time to time.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Evaluates Starke Ayres seed product range, on an on-going basis and identifies actual and potential weaknesses. Recommends new cultivar introductions to and deletions from the product range.
• Liaises with Research Services / Suppliers in the identification of new, improved cultivars for testing and evaluation.
• Foster good relationships with plant breeders and suppliers and advise on customer / industry requirements and trends to assist with assessing the viability of products in local and International Breeding programmes.
• Monitor National Unit Budgets and stock planning for the portfolio
• Manage and co-ordinate the receipt of trial seed and allocation thereof for trials in the various regions.
• Plan and oversee the planting and evaluation of screening and phase 2 trials at strategic regions and customers (as identified in conjuction with the sales teams) and present the final results and recommendations at Range planning meetings.
• Conducts co-operative cultivar demonstrations and evaluates new potential cultivars.
• Motivate and introduce semi-commercial trials to sales teams with the necessary supporting documents and trial results
• Supply sales teams with a comprehensive product marketing strategy for his current product portfolio, as well as for the introduction of new products, and is responsible for the implementation of such a strategy.
• Launch new commercial products to the sales team and supplies the necessary product launch documents and strategies.
• Develops and implements a comprehensive technical service programme (e.g. growing guidelines) for the Companys sales and customer service personnel as well as its customers.
• Supervises and controls the production and distribution of all product and technical literature.
• Provides input with regard to the determination of the market potential of the Companys seed products and the establishment of the sales budget.
• Monitors unit budgets and advises the Operations Department when changes need to be made with regards purchases and allocations.
• Compiles a customer list per crop and identify potential new customers per crop.
• Annually submits a financial budget based on projected technical / marketing expenses and capital expenditure.

Requirements:

REQUIREMENTS:

Qualifications:

• Grade 12 (essential)
• B Agric (essential)
• BSc Agric (ideal)

Experience:

• 3+ Years sales/marketing (essential)