Head of R&D - Global Agriculture

SUMMARY:

A market leader in agrochemical products is seeking an exceptional, forward-thinking leader to head global R&D in agriculture. This executive role drives next-generation fertiliser and bio-stimulant innovation to address food security, climate resilience, and sustainable farming. The successful candidate will translate business strategy into a high-impact innovation pipeline, lead cross-regional teams, and position the organisation as a leader in agricultural technology through scientific excellence, commercial insight, and strategic partnerships.

POSITION INFO:
Minimum requirements for the role: Must have a PhD or Master's degree in Agronomy, Plant Science, Chemistry, Biotechnology, or a closely related scientific discipline Minimum 8-12 years' progressive R&D experience specifically within fertilisers, bio-stimulants, or agro-inputs Proven track record leading global or multi-regional R&D programmes across different geographies Demonstrated success in product innovation and bringing new agricultural solutions from ideation to commercial launch Hands-on experience with product lifecycle management and stage-gate portfolio governance processes Deep technical expertise in formulation technologies, agronomic solutions, and agricultural innovation platforms Strong understanding of global regulatory environments governing crop inputs, including fertilisers and bio-stimulants Proven ability to integrate scientific rigor with strong commercial acumen and business strategy Demonstrated global mindset with cross-cultural leadership experience and the ability to manage diverse international teams Excellent stakeholder management, executive communication, and change leadership capabilities The successful candidate will be responsible for: Defining and executing a global R&D strategy aligned with business growth, sustainability goals, and innovation objectives. Identifying priority crops, emerging technologies, and solution platforms tailored to key markets in Southern Africa, Australia, USA, and Brazil. Translating high-level strategic objectives into actionable regional research programmes that deliver measurable impact. Serving as a trusted advisor to the executive leadership team on innovation trends, agronomic challenges, and market opportunities. Leading the full innovation lifecycle, managing short-, mid-, and long-term pipelines for new fertiliser and bio-stimulant products. Implementing structured stage-gate governance processes to evaluate project viability, regulatory readiness, and commercial potential. Making data-driven decisions on project prioritisation, acceleration, termination, and portfolio balancing (incremental, breakthrough, and climate-smart solutions). Overseeing global research initiatives, including laboratory, greenhouse, and multi-location field trial programmes. Ensuring high standards of scientific excellence through consistent data generation, rigorous analysis, and knowledge-sharing frameworks. Fostering seamless cross-functional collaboration with marketing, regulatory, supply chain, and commercial teams to accelerate technology transfer and commercialisation. Building and managing strategic partnerships with universities, research institutions, technology providers, and industry ecosystems. Ensuring full compliance with global regulatory frameworks for fertilisers, bio-stimulants, and biosafety while anticipating future regulatory shifts. Upholding the highest standards of intellectual property protection, scientific integrity, and ethical research practices. Leading, developing, and inspiring high-performing global R&D teams across multiple regions and cultures. Managing global R&D budgets, optimising resource allocation, and defining long-term infrastructure and research investment strategies. Please note that subsequent to the screening and shortlisting process, all further communication will be entered into only with the shortlisted candidates. If you do not receive any feedback from us within 2 weeks of applying, please consider your application unsuccessful.