Site Lead / Site Manager – Palmas

Description

The site/location lead is responsible for providing strategic leadership, direction, and oversight for all research activities based at the Palmas location. This includes meeting operational, agronomic, and administrative needs while ensuring full compliance with internal and external regulations.

The position involves leadership in various related areas, such as budget administration, alignment of HR practices, supply management operations, farm and infrastructure maintenance/development, machinery and equipment upkeep, seed handling and packaging activities, agronomic practices, import/export logistics, safety, phytosanitary and regulatory compliance, and management systems. Additionally, the site leader collaborates directly with research projects present at the site.

To maintain a professional work environment, the site manager leads the different teams established at the site, particularly the Palmas Leadership team. A strong focus on community relations is essential to maintain a consent-to-operate environment through effective communication and outreach initiatives to stakeholders.

In addition, the position will work closely with the program supervisor to achieve the planned outcome of assigned tasks while promoting a safe workplace and teamwork.

It is hereby stated that the position is of exclusive trust for the company.

Duties/Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Coordination: Lead the Palmas Location, ensuring that planning, control, and coordination across all projects align with internal and external customer needs.

Site Leadership Team Development: Cultivate a strong Palmas site leadership team that operates and communicates at a high professional standard.

Research Progress Monitoring and Solutions: Monitor research progress, identify challenges, and develop solutions to achieve project and R&D goals.

Efficient Administrative Execution: Accomplish administrative duties efficiently, in line with project and site requirements. Ensure full compliance with internal (Safety, Security, CAMS/RMS – ISO 9000, BIO ETS, etc.) and external (SAG, Phytosanitary, etc.) regulations. Proactively monitor compliance-related systems.

Budget Management: Manage operating and capital budgets for the location, collaborating closely with the Palmas leadership team and SPD finance leadership.

Resource Optimization: Develop and execute an optimal resource plan (including labor, infrastructure, land, machinery) to meet project and center objectives. Focus on maintaining high-performance planning activities with the Palmas leadership team.

Activity-Based Planning and Efficiency: Coordinate the Activity-Based Planning process and monitor process efficiencies and unit costs.

World-Class Workforce and Culture: Foster a people-focused and teamwork-oriented Palmas site culture. Recruit, hire, orient, supervise, develop, and evaluate employees. Monitor and evaluate the individual and collective performance of the team, providing constructive feedback. Ensure full adoption of Corteva culture and compliance at the site.

Project Accountability and Collaboration: Collaborate with project leaders to establish common goals and ensure project successes.

Training and Goal Alignment: Work with the Palmas leadership team to implement training and development plans for all staff. Lead and supervise the team in charge, establishing goals and objectives aligned with the site’s strategy. Establish clear and consistent site goals aligned with internal and external customer needs.

Effective Communication: Spend significant time with project leads and staff to enhance communication and understanding of objectives, needs, and priorities. Foster a collaborative and motivating work environment, promoting effective communication and teamwork.

Risk Management and Stakeholder Relations: Maintain an updated Risk Management Plan, focusing on land strategy, community relationships, environmental stewardship, regulatory compliance, and GMO understanding. Act as a key spokesperson for the company locally. Site Lead will need to be well connected with Corteva Communications personnel and the Corteva Brazil business.

Technology Awareness: Stay current on new technology by participating in professional meetings and encouraging knowledge sharing within research activities.

PROBLEM SOLVING

Personnel Management: The site manager must develop strong interpersonal skills to enable effective communication and collaboration between individuals. These skills facilitate understanding, empathy, and positive interactions, which are crucial in various contexts, including the workplace, personal relationships, and community engagement. By developing strong interpersonal skills, individuals can build trust, resolve conflicts, and create harmonious connections with others.

Community and Stakeholder Relations: Given the company’s significant impact in size, employment conditions, and the current GMO status in the country, maintaining positive relationships with the community and key stakeholders in Palmas is critical. Coordinating meetings and planning efforts is necessary to address concerns and foster collaboration.

Technical Leadership Skills: In addition to interpersonal abilities, strong technical leadership skills are essential. The site lead should be adept at solving complex technical challenges, making informed decisions, and guiding research projects effectively.

DECISION MAKING

Resource Prioritization: Prioritize the utilization of shared resources at the site, considering global research initiative priorities. By establishing the correct priorities and involving local project managers in these decisions, we can significantly enhance resource efficiency.

Technology Implementation: Develop, monitor, and adjust the necessary steps to successfully implement new technologies or processes.

Task management: Tasks organization based on team planning.

Qualifications

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, COMPETENCIES AND EXPERIENCE

Substantial related research, agronomic, or site management experience required. A PhD degree in biological or plant sciences or an M.S. degree is a plus.

Understanding of the seed business and practical knowledge of agricultural realities.

At least 10 years of management and technical experience related to research or production operations.

Demonstrated interpersonal skills for influencing, negotiating, and maintaining public relations.

Proven ability to successfully administer large, complex, and growing research organizations.

Demonstrated strategic leadership skills, including the ability to develop both strategic and operational goals.

Ability to interact with and effectively lead a diverse workforce.

Demonstrated leadership and supervisory skills.

Familiarity with product development and applied research.

Exposure to intercultural and international contexts.

Fully bilingual (Portuguese-English).

Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Corporate Competencies

Focus on customers, act courageously, collaborate, value difference, think big, innovate, own results, adapt.

People Leader Competencies: Instill Trust, develop talent, drive engagement.