Global Agronomy Operations Manager

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT & SCOPE Member of the 4-FTE Global Agronomy Core Team; peer to the Global Head of Agronomy Excellence and PMO & Agronomy Performance Manager; direct report to the Сhief Agronomy Officer. - Line manages Country Agronomy Leads in India and Kenya - the primary conduit between global strategy and country-level execution. - Direct manager of Country Pilot Agronomists and Field Agronomists during LATAM and SE Asia 5-farm pilot phases; no additional central headcount is allocated to pilots. - Primary Agronomy interface with Finagra Logistics (input supply chain) and Finagra TECH (FMS operational requirements, farm-onboarding gate compliance). - Manages farm-count threshold transitions (5 to 30 to 100 to 300 farms per country) that trigger structural and staffing changes per the TOM. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES TOM IMPLEMENTATION & OPERATIONAL COMPLIANCE - Own end-to-end implementation of the Finagra Agronomy Target Operating Model across all active countries and pilot geographies. - Conduct structured quarterly operational reviews with each Country Agronomy Lead: TOM compliance, headcount adequacy, REP performance, farm onboarding pipeline. - Identify operational deviations at country and cluster/regional level; issue formal corrective requirements with deadlines; escalate non-compliance to the CAO. - Manage all farm-count milestone transitions: validate staffing readiness, role introduction triggers, and structural changes at 5-, 30-, 100-, and 300-farm thresholds. - Ensure FMS onboarding gate compliance - every farm must satisfy all four gate criteria (FMS active, REP certified, SOPs live, farm data complete) before portfolio entry. COUNTRY AGRONOMY LEAD MANAGEMENT - Line manage the India Agronomy Lead and Kenya Agronomy Lead - performance direction, resource advocacy, and operational problem-solving. - Set measurable operational KPIs for each Country Lead aligned to TOM expectations: farm onboarding rate, REP compliance score, agronomic calendar execution rate, escalation response time. - Conduct annual performance appraisals; provide developmental feedback and identify succession pipeline for critical country-level roles. - Serve as primary escalation channel from Country Leads to the CAO for issues beyond country-level authority - resource gaps, structural changes, systemic execution failures. NEW MARKET PILOT MANAGEMENT (LATAM & SE ASIA) - Personally and directly manage all new-country 5-farm pilot operations from Day 1 through to permanent Country Lead appointment - active management, not remote oversight. - Lead recruitment of Country Pilot Agronomists and Field Agronomists for LATAM and SE Asia pilots; validate local agronomic credentials, regulatory knowledge, and farmer relationship competency. - Enforce non-negotiable pilot entry standard: FMS readiness, REP certification, and SOP activation fully completed before the first farm enters the portfolio. - Monitor pilot performance against yield plan, input compliance, and FMS data quality; produce structured pilot evaluation reports at 3-farm and 5-farm milestones. - Recommend - with evidence - transition from pilot to 30-farm structure (cluster/regional design and staffing plan) to the CAO and Global Head of Agronomy Excellence. LOGISTICS & TECHNOLOGY INTERFACE - Primary Agronomy contact for Finagra Logistics: align agronomic input schedules, delivery windows, and seasonal procurement plans. - Escalate input supply failures and critical material shortages from country operations to Finagra Logistics at portfolio level. - Partner with Finagra TECH on FMS operational requirements; translate field-reported platform inefficiencies into structured product improvement requests. - Ensure all REP engagement terms include Finagra Tech data ownership clauses as mandated by TOM Section 10.3. QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE PROFILE ESSENTIAL ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS - M.Sc http://M.Sc. in Agronomy, Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, or Operations Management - required. - MBA or postgraduate qualification in agribusiness management is a significant advantage. - B.Sc http://B.Sc. Agronomy with 15+ years demonstrated multi-country farm portfolio scaling may be considered in exceptional cases. ESSENTIAL PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE - Minimum 12 years in agronomy or agribusiness operations, with at least 5 years in a multi-country portfolio management role with direct line management of country or regional teams. - Demonstrable experience designing and enforcing farm onboarding or operational gate frameworks across a geographically dispersed farm network. - Track record of personally managing new-market agricultural operations - building local teams, establishing operational standards, and delivering first-season results - in at least two distinct markets. - Proven ability to integrate cross-functional operations: supply chain, technology platforms, and agronomic execution working in parallel. - Experience in a lean, technology-first agricultural business model where digital platforms carry primary monitoring responsibility. - P&L literacy: experience interpreting farm-level financial performance, input budget variance, and yield-vs-forecast data in operational decision-making. - Operational experience in India, Kenya, East Africa, LATAM, or SE Asia with direct understanding of smallholder or contract farming models. - Fluent English at executive level; working proficiency in Hindi, Swahili, Portuguese, or a SE Asian language is an advantage. COMPETENCY PROFILE (KORN FERRY LOMINGER FRAMEWORK) - Drives Results: Translates strategic TOM design into measurable operational outcomes at country and cluster level. - Plans & Aligns: Manages multi-country operational complexity - farm-count milestones, seasonal calendars, pilot phases - with precision. - Manages Ambiguity: Operates effectively in new-market pilots with incomplete information and evolving conditions. - Interpersonal Savvy: Builds credibility with Country Leads, local agronomists, and REPs across multiple cultural contexts. - Situational Adaptability: Flexes between TOM compliance monitoring and hands-on pilot management with equal effectiveness. - Courage: Holds Country Leads accountable and escalates non-compliance without hesitation. WHAT WE OFFER - Operational ownership of a global farm portfolio scaling across four high-growth markets. - Direct report line to the CAO - real authority, no bureaucratic intermediary. - The opportunity to shape how Finagra enters and scales in new countries from day one. - Competitive compensation aligned with senior global operations leadership. - Flexible, remote-first working with structured international travel.