Commercial Sales & Marketing Director

Advanta is a global seed business adapting to rapidly increasing food insecurity and climate change by providing farmers with innovation and new technologies. As part of UPL Group, Advanta aims to deliver high quality seeds with excellent agronomic practices and crop protection solutions. Advanta operates in over 80 countries under global brands of Advanta, Alta and Pacific Seeds. Advanta holds a leadership position in tropical and sub‑tropical geographies in corn, grain and forage sorghum, sunflower, canola, rice, and a variety of vegetables. With over 60 years' experience in plant genetics, Advanta provides seeds technology that ensures crop performance and farmers prosperity.Reports ToSub-Regional Lead and North American Managing DirectorPosition OverviewThe Head of Sales & Marketing is responsible for defining and executing the commercial sales strategy for the company's sorghum and sunflower Portfolio. The position is a critical leadership role and a key member of the Senior Leadership Team. The position is responsible for business growth and leadership of the company's sales, marketing, and operations planning. This role owns portfolio P&L, revenue growth, market expansion, brand leadership, and customer engagement while ensuring alignment between sales execution, marketing strategy, product development, and supply alignment. The position combines strategic leadership with hands on commercial execution in a highly specialized agricultural seed market.Commercial Strategy & Business LeadershipDefine and implement the overall sales and marketing strategy for sorghum and sunflower seed portfoliosDrive profitable growth through market share expansion, pricing discipline, and portfolio optimizationTranslate company vision into clear commercial objectives, annual operating plans, and KPIsProvide strategic input to the leadership team and support long term business planningOwn revenue forecasts, commercial budgets, and return on investment decisionsLead, structure, and develop US sales teamDesign and manage distributor, dealer, and key account strategiesOversee territory planning, incentives, performance metrics, and sales capability developmentLead negotiations for strategic accounts, large growers, and commercial partnershipsEnsure accurate demand forecasting and alignment with production and supply planningMarketing, Branding & Demand GenerationEstablish strong product positioning and value propositions for sorghum and sunflower seed offeringsLead product launches, lifecycle management, and portfolio prioritizationOversee marketing communications, branding, and demand creation initiativesSupport field marketing activities including trials, demonstrations, field days, and grower meetingsEnsure consistent, agronomically credible messaging across all markets and channelsMarket & Product DevelopmentMonitor market trends, grower needs, competitor activity, and regional production dynamicsCollaborate closely with R&D, breeding, and agronomy teams to shape the product pipelineProvide commercial input into hybrid advancement, trait development, and market suitabilitySupport stewardship, product quality, and regulatory compliance in commercial operationsCross Functional CollaborationPartner with Supply Chain on production planning, inventory levels, and allocation decisionsWork with Finance and Product Management on pricing strategy, margin management, and performance trackingCollaborate with HR on talent development, leadership succession, and organizational capabilityAlign with Quality and Operations teams to ensure compliant commercializationQualifications & ExperienceEducationBachelor's degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Business, Marketing, or related fieldMBA or advanced degree preferredExperience12+ years of progressive commercial experience in the seed or agricultural inputs industryDemonstrated leadership experience in sales, marketing, or general management rolesStrong experience with sorghum, sunflower, or comparable row‑crop seed marketsProven success managing dealer/distributor networks and key accountsP&L ownership and strategic planning experience strongly preferredCore Competencies & SkillsStrategic commercial sales leadership with strong execution focusDeep understanding of crop production systems and grower decision makingExcellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skillsStrong negotiation and pricing strategy capabilitiesData driven mindset; experience with CRM, forecasting, and analytics toolsAbility to balance long term portfolio strategy with short term market realitiesWillingness to travel extensively (30–50%)Revenue growth and profitabilityMarket share gains in sorghum and sunflower seedNew product adoption and portfolio performanceForecast accuracy and inventory optimizationCustomer, dealer, and distributor satisfactionSales and marketing team engagement and developmentWhat We OfferCompetitive compensation package with performance incentivesVehicle, travel, and benefitsOpportunity to shape the long term direction of a specialized seed businessLeadership role with visibility, influence, and growth potentialWe are one team, for maximum impact. One team with shared goals. We all play for the team and no one plays against the team. We have a laser-like focus on what our customers need and want, on anticipating their future needs and on how we can create innovative solutions and experiences for them.#J-18808-Ljbffr