Overview:

The SC Agro Sr. Supervisor will lead the operations of the Zahura mini-tuber facility, focusing on team development, quality assurance, production management, facility expansion, and compliance. The role will also involve managing the aeroponic mini-tuber potato seed production facility and introducing new potato germplasm from PepsiCo Rhinelander, USA to PepsiCo India.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Team Leadership:Develop and manage a team of professionals,  to ensure operational excellence and continuous improvement.
2. Quality Assurance: Ensure adherence to standards for mini-tuber/product quality, purity, hygiene, and safety for uninterrupted operations.
3. Production Management: Oversee mini-tuber production and delivery to meet domestic and export requirements.
4. 4. Facility Management:Manage the aeroponic mini-tuber potato seed production facility, including importing new potato germplasm with support from National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi  & Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI) Shimla, HP.
5. Protocol Development: Develop protocols for maintaining germplasm of existing and new clones, ensuring disease/virus-free mini tubers through pathological testing.
6. TPM Implementation:Drive Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) culture for effective planning and achievement of production targets, aligned with AOP and PSP.
7. Capacity Expansion: Expand facility capacity by establishing key performance indicators for cost and production efficiencies, while meeting statutory requirements and future/PSP needs.
8. Germplasm Bank Maintenance: Maintain the germplasm bank and facility according to international standards.
9. Training and Support: Develop training manuals and provide technical support and training to field staff for extension services.
10. HR Management: Recruit, lead, manage, and direct a team for the Zahura facility, conducting regular performance reviews, providing feedback, and identifying development opportunities in consultation with HR.

Qualifications:

- Educational background - PhD in Agriculture or related field (Soil Science, Plant Breeding, Biotechnology, Agronomy, Plant Pathology preferred)

- 10-15+ years of experience

- Strongly preference for candidates with experience in potato minituber production

- Must have led large teams

- Strong communication: comfortable and effective in communicating (verbal and written) with stakeholders internally and externally across all levels

Key Skills/Experience Required:

- Uses a mixture of analysis, experience, and data when making decisions

- Can get things done through formal and informal channels; can effectively gather information from others in order to achieve project objectives

- High integrity and won’t compromise values to get results

- Perseverant and resilient in the pursuit of objectives, willing to take on new challenges, works to resolve tough issues

- Ability to analyze information to draw conclusions and find actionable solutions

- Works well with others, including internal and external stakeholders to deliver results and keeps others informed to avoid unnecessary surprises

Main Interactions:

- Reports to Head- Agro R&D

- Interacts with Agro Regional Managers, India Agro Head, and BU’s leadership

- Collaborates with R&D, Seed Manager, and Regional teams situated in key growing areas

- Interacts extensively with CPRI, ICAR, Ministry of Agriculture, PPV & FRA, NBPGR for support and approvals