Operations Lead

Description

The Operations Lead is responsible for providing strategic leadership, direction, and oversight for all research activities in location site and production. This includes meeting operational, agronomic, and administrative needs while ensuring full compliance with internal and external regulations.

The position entails leadership in several related areas such as budget management, 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 Operations Lead directly collaborates with the research projects present at the site. The position will work closely with the Program Supervisor to achieve the planned outcome of assigned tasks while promoting a safe workplace and teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership and Coordination: responsibility for ensuring that the planning, control and coordination of all projects align with the needs of internal and external customers.
• Planning: plan, organize and direct research operations to ensure the most effective use of assets while meeting business and research objectives; may include but is not limited to management of personnel, equipment, facilities and land use.
• Developing the Site Leadership Team: cultivate a strong leadership team that operates and communicates at a high professional standard, setting and supporting individual and team performance goals that are achievable and aligned with business strategy.
• Monitoring Research Progress and Solutions: monitor research progress, identify challenges and develop solutions to achieve project and R&D objectives.
• Efficient Administrative Execution: comply with administrative tasks efficiently, in accordance with project and site requirements. Ensure full compliance with internal and external regulations.
• Budget Management: manage operational and capital budgets for the site.
• Resource Optimization: develop and execute an optimal resource plan (including labor, infrastructure, land, machinery) to meet project and site objectives.
• Activity-Based Planning and Efficiency: coordinate the activity-based planning process and monitor process efficiency and unit costs.
• World-Class Workforce and Culture: foster a people-centered, team-oriented culture. Recruit, hire, mentor, supervise, develop, and evaluate employees.
• Training and Goal Alignment: work with the leadership team to implement training and development plans for all staff.
• Effective Communication: spend significant time with project leaders and staff to improve communication and understanding of goals, needs, and priorities.
• Risk Management and Stakeholder Relations: maintain an up-to-date risk management plan, focusing on land strategy, community relations, environmental management, and regulatory compliance.
• Technology Knowledge: stay up to date on new technologies by participating in professional meetings and fostering knowledge sharing within research activities.
• People Management: must develop strong interpersonal skills to enable effective communication and collaboration between people. These skills facilitate understanding, empathy, and positive interactions, which are crucial in a variety of contexts, including the workplace, personal relationships, and community involvement.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in research, agronomy, or site management is required. A PhD in biological or plant sciences or a Master's degree will be an asset.
• Knowledge of the seed business and practical knowledge of agricultural realities.
• At least 5 years of technical and managerial experience related to research or production operations.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills to influence, negotiate, and maintain public relations.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully manage large, complex, and growing research organizations.
• Demonstrated strategic leadership skills, including the ability to develop strategic and operational objectives.
• Familiarity with product development and applied research.
• Fully bilingual (Spanish-English).
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel within the state of Chiapas and Campeche, occasionally to other regions of Mexico and Colombia. Up to 25% of the time on trips in some periods of the year.