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 Company’s 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 Company’s 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 Company’s 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)