Director, Global Sustainable Solutions Business Units

at Valent BioSciences in Libertyville, Illinois, United States

Job Description

Valent BioSciences LLC

About Us:

Valent BioSciences LLC is a worldwide leader in the research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of biorational products for the agriculture, public health, and forestry markets. We have more than 60 years of experience bringing biorational products to market, and our products are used in sustainable operations in 95 countries around the world. Biorational products maximize plant quality, productivity, and sustainability.

As a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Chemical, Valent BioSciences LLC operates with the Sumitomo Spirit mindset, which means to benefit both self and others, recognizing that private and public interests are one and the same. It’s about contributing to society, as well as making a profit.

Description of Job: The Director of Global Sustainable Solutions Business Unit and Regional Business Managers, reporting directly to the Chief Commercial Officer, is a senior member of the commercial operations team and will be responsible for all aspects of implementing the global go-to-market strategy, launching new innovative next generation products, leading the charge to gain market share in determined target markets the company is looking to grow into, leading our organization’s efforts driving the global strategic direction and growth of our biorational solutions, fostering partnerships, and ensuring alignment with our core values, business objectives and goals. This position will work effectively within Valent BioSciences and with our Sumitomo Chemical Company (SCC) affiliates throughout the globe. This includes staff oversight, direction, development, evaluation, and performance. They will coordinate and help lead the development of annual global and regional business plans and direct the go-to-market strategy implementation. They will manage five Regional Business Managers and three Sustainable Solutions Business Unit leaders. Develop and manage the expense budgets. Maintain a strong understanding of technology and products in the biorational crop protection, crop enhancement, and biostimulant markets. Establish strong relationships with key accounts, opinion leaders, channel partners and other stakeholders. Understand and convey the Valent BioSciences value propositions throughout the stakeholder value chain. Work well in a matrix environment with R&D, Marketing, Customer Service, Regulatory, Finance, and IT.

Principal Responsibilities:

+ Achieve the global growth and profitability targets for the Valent BioSciences biorational business.

+ Execute and achieve near-, mid-, and long-term plans.

+ Execute goals and objectives to deliver cross functional support to achieve biorational sustainable solutions growth.

+ Lead cross-functional teams to identify opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement in sustainable biorational solutions and products.

+ Provide guidance and support to regional teams to ensure consistency and alignment with global objectives.

+ Focus on demand creation at the business unit, industry, channel, and grower levels.

+ Serve as a central hub to address strategic and operational needs for the regional Sustainable Solutions Business Units.

+ Expand the relevant markets and launch new products.

+ Provide team focus and determine resource allocation.

+ Refine/develop innovative go-to-market strategies that will accelerate growth.

+ Build trust and collaborate internally and externally.

+ Lead and manage five high-performing Regional Business Managers and three Sustainable Solutions leads. Develop the team, set budgets, conduct performance reviews, set annual goals, and provide career guidance, and development.

+ Develop and maintain relationships with key accounts, priority commercial customers, partners, and the industry at large. Represent the company in a manner that enforces our premium value position and promotes the company’s reputation as an industry leader.

+ Senior leader with a strategic mindset. Expand beyond our “core” customers/products and drive market share growth by educating our customers on our value proposition.

+ Develop and manage goals, budgets, MRPs, SRPs, LBEs, and objectives to obtain company goals and objectives and lead to growth.

+ Design and implement business plans and strategies to promote the attainment of goals, including market status, channel strategy, and opportunities for growth.

+ Direct the commercial strategy implementation with appropriate actions and tactics within Valent BioSciences and with global Sumitomo Chemical Company affiliates.

+ Gather, analyze, and interpret external and internal data and write reports.

+ Assess the commercial operations strategy and overall company performance against objectives.

+ Ensure adherence to legal rules and guidelines.

+ Oversee price schedules and customer rebates and incentives, working closely with Marketing, Finance, and the Customer Service Departments.

+ Evaluate and establish strong business relationships with channel partners, affiliates, government agencies, non-governmental entities, Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), and influencers to meet business expectations.

+ Work with Marketing & Strategy to evaluate customer preference analytics to determine focus of sales efforts.

+ Represent company at trade, professional, and scientific association meetings to increase Valent BioSciences’ brand awareness. Serve as a member of these types or organizations where appropriate and the opportunity exists.

+ Support Valent BioSciences Integrated Business Planning (IBP) process.

+ Lead team in forecasting efforts for LBEs, IBP, and year end projections.

+ Establish and enforce commercial policies.

+ Support internal customer complaint response and coordinate reply/outcome to the customer.

+ Monitor activities of competitor products and potential competitors in the marketplace, recommend actions.

Qualifications and Characteristics

Industry Experience: The ideal candidate has spent at least 10 years of his/her in career in the crop protection industry. They have experience with different sales channels, direct sales, and selling through distributors. Excellent working knowledge of US, LATAM, and European agricultural channels to market and distribution.

Leadership Experience: At least 10 years of business-to-business strategic sales experience, experience with managing diverse teams. The ability to interface with customers and Valent BioSciences’ employees at all levels of the organization. Has demonstrated successful leadership across diverse organizations globally. Ability to establish credibility quickly and build relationships. Can work effectively with customers, partners, and senior leaders in a wide range of roles. Team player that comfortable leading across a wide of geographies, businesses, and functional groups.

Growth and New Business: The ideal candidate has demonstrated success growing current and new business across diverse market opportunities. Strong track record of increasing market share, new product launch, and expanding into new channels/markets.

Performance Driven Metrics: Ability to establish a metric driven organization. It is important that this leader has developed and/or maintained and executed a successful year-over-year growth business. Defined expertise developing strategic KPI’s and metrics that drive performance (top- line growth, succession planning, etc.). Strong financial acumen and data analysis skills.

Executive Presence: Able to convey, externally and internally, an authentic belief in the

company’s vision, business model, and ability to succeed. Strong communicator who possesses the poise/ gravitas to ignite confidence in senior leaders and well as inspire followship across the company.

Culture Fit: They will have strong leadership capabilities and align with company ideals and culture. This person will be a self-starter, stron