Job Requisition ID: R0008250

About the Opportunity

The Senior Manager of R&D Greenhouse Operations, North America leads Global R&D sites, teams, and all parts of the R&D greenhouse processes for North America. This leadership position succeeds by embracing a highly collaborative work approach, planning and aligning with Breeding, Trait and Genomics, Farming, Nursery teams and others. The Senior Manager ensures that seedlings and various stages for all programs are produced on time, on quantity and on specification across all sites in Watsonville and Mexico, that all crossing, plant production and genotyping targets are fulfilled, for both vegetatively propagated as well as for hybrid programs. Robust adherence to an operational excellence culture, adoption and standard use of metrics to drive continuous improvement and talent empowerment, are both requirements as well as responsibilities for this role. The Senior Manager will set ambitious goals for talent development and career advancement, developing or using developed tools for continuous technical advancement, collaboration, grower alignment, and driving results. The alignment with Global R&D and Nursery Leadership are also core responsibilities of this role, resulting in on plan outcomes and deliverables across the different geographies.

Responsibilities

• Leads all crossing, seed production and germination, plant production and genotyping coordination across Driscoll’s greenhouse locations in Watsonville (California), Ciudad Guzman and Huamantla (Mexico).
• Oversees coordination, planning and aligning across Greenhouse Teams, Breeding, Farming, Nursery and Genotyping, cultivating a process-oriented organization.
• Develops, executes and oversees the annual budget across all sites.
• Continues the adoption and implementation of order-fulfillment and operational excellence culture, leading and encouraging problem solving and adhering to targets across all part of the process.
• Supports the on-going digitalization of information platforms, task management solutions and process management.
• Be an advocate for employee safety and work security. Leads by example and engages with Greenhouse Leaders and employees to maintain a safe work environment by training and participating in safety programs, including those driven by human resources.
• Closely collaborates and aligns with the Greenhouse Teams in EMEA and Peru, driving accountability towards common metrics, best management practices and plant manufacturing efficiencies.
• Ensures innovation stewardship across all parts of the crossing and seedling production processes by utilizing career experience background and new technologies to improve production costs, product quality and production targets.
• Maintains a deep understanding of Driscoll’s breeding and research programs, production systems and production environments, ensuring that these are well understood across the teams.
• Ensures the security of Driscoll’s confidential and proprietary information and materials.

Candidate Profile

• Degree in Agronomy, Plant Sciences, Agriculture Science, Horticulture, or related field required.
• 10+ years of work experience, preferably with an industry relevant background.
• 6+ years of experience leading teams and developing their talent potential.
• Robust experience leading seed and seedling production operations, preferably on both hybrid and vegetatively propagated crops.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and a track record of successfully directing, managing and motivating employees, as well as project teams.
• Experience developing knowledge transfer programs that respond to different types of fruit growers, and that deliver tangible results both in short-term applications (training programs) as well as in long term applications (development programs for key knowledge areas).
• Ability to mentor, teach and communicate with excellence and clarity.
• Courageous, creative and conceptual thinker with practical planning skills.
• Entrepreneurial attributes, not risk-adverse, notably humble and absolutely passionate about plants.
• Ability to work with key internal stakeholders and manage multiple projects across the enterprise.
• Ability to develop process, manage multiple projects, and measure results.
• Ability to work with others at a high and collaborative level.
• Ability to turn plans into reality.
• Bilingual skills in Spanish strongly preferred.
• A valid passport and the ability to travel internationally without restrictions are also required.

Compensation and Benefits

The following information is provided in good faith as a general description of the salary range and benefits for the position posted. The actual compensation offered to the successful candidate is dependent upon experience, skills, education, work location, internal pay equity, and other objective job-related factors.

Salary Range estimated for the Senior Greenhouse Operations Manager, North America role: $107,344.00/year to $173,428.00/year

Driscoll’s is committed to a culture of care and offers an attractive benefits package that includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, life insurance, and disability coverage for positions working more than 30 hours per week. Other benefits include: 401(k) with employer match, profit-sharing participation, paid sick time, paid vacation, paid personal and family care leave, and a free Employee Assistance Program (EAP). More detailed information regarding the benefits package, will be shared during the application process.

Application

Please click HERE to learn more and to apply online.

About Driscolls

Driscoll's is the global market leader for fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. With more than 100 years of farming heritage and hundreds of independent growers around the world, Driscoll's is passionate about growing fresh, beautiful and delicious berries. Our values of humility, passion and trustworthiness have guided our mission to delight consumers around the world.

Driscoll's exclusive patented berry varieties are developed through years of research using only natural breeding methods – meaning, no GMOs. From farm-to-table, we focus on delivering a high quality, premium berry experience with our many supply chain partners.

Driscoll's is the trusted brand for Only the Finest Berries™.