Requisition #: 14476BR
Title: Regional Director Africa
Functional Unit: Business Management
City: Nairobi
Country: Kenya
Position Type: Full-Time Regular
Hiring Manager Title: VP – Asia, China, Europe, Africa & Global Supply Chain
Job Description
Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., a DuPont business, is the world’s leading developer and supplier of advanced plant genetics to farmers worldwide. Pioneer develops, produces and markets a full line of top-quality seeds and forage and grain additives and provides services to customers in nearly 70 countries.
DuPont is a science company, delivering science-based solutions that make a difference in people’s lives in food and nutrition, health care, apparel, home and construction, electronics and transportation.
This Regional Director role, plans, organizes, directs and controls the activities of the Operations functions of Africa, with strategic responsibility for the management and total profitability of the reporting countries.
Establishes current and long-range objectives and operating plans for future developments and advancement of the ag industry in Africa.
Represents the Company and its values in its relationships with major customers, government agencies, business partners, and other groups. Partners with DuPont on Africa agriculture sustainability and increasing overall agriculture production.
Provides strong and visionary leadership to position the Africa region to increase overall agriculture productivity and to overcome the current constraints to advancing agriculture. Must have a thorough understanding of Africa.
Partners with the African trade industry associations, NGO’s and institutions working for the advancement of African agriculture. Creates a strong and public image for Pioneer/Dupont and ag.
Leads the establishment of strategic and long-term plans for the countries and region of Africa. This includes the advancement of the African seed industry, the advancement of agriculture technology (including biotechnology) seed policies, and agriculture sustainability. Understands the agriculture environment in Africa and develops strategies to contribute to the overall production agriculture sector and specific strategies for Pioneer/DuPont.
Develop technology adoption strategies and market expansion activities according to overall Pioneer/DuPont mission.
Develop, propose and monitor operating and capital budgets for each country ensuring financial targets for contribution and asset use are achieved on an annual basis.
Duties/Responsibilities
· Ensure growth and productivity plans receive proper support, funding and capital to meet the goals. Ensure agriculture technology and the appropriate products are available and accepted by customers. Lead the effort to establish agriculture development strategies to support overall growth strategies.
· Establishes and maintains a strong approach to all Core Values. Creates a culture that all core values are critical to business success.
· Manage reporting staff by developing and monitoring annual performance plans; providing on-going feedback, coaching and collaboration on issues resolution; and communicating Company business objectives and values to ensure business goals are achieved. Ensure succession plans are in place for every country and every critical position. Utilize top talent concepts to lead to a highly productive team.
· Develop, negotiate and nurture relationships with key business contacts like government agencies, industry groups, and key customers in order to build the Company’s businesses in reporting countries. Establish and maintain a positive public image. Understands and has a strategic approach with all stakeholder groups, including customers, NGOs, local government agencies, Pioneer functions and DuPont.
· Ensures any mergers and acquisition effort supports the region strategy and contributes to overall success and growth.
· Approve and participate in the development of operating policies and procedures in reporting countries to ensure Company values/strategies/business needs are supported, and to ensure compliance with local laws and regulations.
· Develop technology adoption strategies and market expansion activities according to overall Pioneer/DuPont mission.
· Develop, propose and monitor operating and capital budgets for each country ensuring financial targets for contribution and asset use are achieved on an annual basis.
· Ensure growth and productivity plans receive proper support, funding and capital to meet the goals. Ensure agriculture technology and the appropriate products are available and accepted by customers. Lead the effort to establish agriculture development strategies to support overall growth strategies.
· Establishes and maintains a strong approach to all Core Values. Creates a culture that all core values are critical to business success.
· Manage reporting staff by developing and monitoring annual performance plans; providing on-going feedback, coaching and collaboration on issues resolution; and communicating Company business objectives and values to ensure business goals are achieved. Ensure succession plans are in place for every country and every critical position. Utilize top talent concepts to lead to a highly productive team.
· Develop, negotiate and nurture relationships with key business contacts like government agencies, industry groups, and key customers in order to build the Company’s businesses in reporting countries. Establish and maintain a positive public image. Understands and has a strategic approach with all stakeholder groups, including customers, NGOs, local government agencies, Pioneer functions and DuPont.
· Ensures any mergers and acquisition effort supports the region strategy and contributes to overall success and growth.
· Approve and participate in the development of operating policies and procedures in reporting countries to ensure Company values/strategies/business needs are supported, and to ensure compliance with local laws and regulations.
Education and Experience
· MBA (or equivalent experiences) with courses in international business and agriculture.
· Experience with multiple stakeholder groups and the ability to influence multiple stakeholder groups.
· Experience working in developing countries.
· Experience with developing a position and communicating with internal and external stakeholders.
· 15 or more years of experience in operations management including experiences in production, administration and marketing/sales groups. Must have significant previous P/L responsibility.
Competencies
· Strong business acumen. Must be able to convert opportunities into realities.
· Ability to take sensitive issues and turn them into positive outcomes.
· To have a positive public presence.
· Excellent communication/relationship skills including negotiation and staff management skills with individuals of diverse backgrounds.
· Strong analytical and reasoning abilities.
Join the Pioneer team and you’ll become part of an organization that has continued to advance agricultural production for nearly 100 years.
Pioneer is among the most respected businesses in agriculture. We are the world’s leading developer and supplier of hybrid seed corn and branded varietal soybean seed. We use our unique germplasm with tools such as biotechnology to create a rich pipeline of superior products for our customers. Pioneer provides seed that contains the most highly developed technologies for growing corn, soybeans, sorghum, sunflower, alfalfa, rice, canola and wheat, among others.
These crops don’t just feed the world. Fuel and fiber crops have both industrial and human uses. We market forage and grain additives, crop protection products and offer a variety of services and expertise to help farmers succeed in nearly 70 countries worldwide, including three key regions: North America, Europe and Latin America/Africa/Asia Pacific.
We work with many crops, varying climates and different agronomics with all types of farmers with different production systems. While our approach varies around the world, our commitment to the best products, service, business partners and employees remains constant.
All applications must be done online at www.pioneer.com/careers.
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