Crop Protection Procurement Manager

Overview of Role

Working as an integral part of our Crop Inputs team you will be responsible for managing the Crop Protection team and overall business. The team currently consist of three crop input specialists who will be your direct reports. The Crop Protection business is circa £60m annually and in an integral part of the overall AF group offering. The role will require managing the annual budgets, monthly forecasts and forging relationships with the distribution base and manufacturer relationships. A key part of the role is to provide a proactive member interface ensuring both farmer members and independent agronomists are well briefed in both the technical and commercial strategy of the group going forward.

Duties and Responsibilities

·      The agricultural environment is constantly changing with new technologies, consolidation and legislation. You will be expected to have an in-depth knowledge of these changes and help evolve the overall Crop Protection strategy to respond to the challenges and opportunities ahead.

·      Adopt and implement the 5 year strategic plan for the AF business.

·      Team management – be responsible for managing individuals in the Crop Inputs team and helping develop their own career plans and increasing their business knowledge

·      Identify growth opportunities from existing and new potential members.

·      Develop and build relationships with AF key account members, becoming their primary point of contact for Crop Protection inputs.

·      Identity opportunities to grow business in collaboration with other UK buying groups.

·      Manage supplier accounts, agreeing forecast plans, commercial terms, price adjustments and end of season rebates.

·      Manage strategic plans with Crop Protection manufacturers and technology providers to help develop a clear strategy including commercial support programs

·      Identify market research opportunities to secure income from AF’s bank of transactional data.

·      Working with the communications team develop AF Crop Protection marketing campaign to promote and increase our exposure across the UK and support business growth outside of East Anglia.

·      Building relationships with key independent agronomists across the UK. We work with over 100 who require regular communications from the AF business.

·      Identifying and developing new business opportunities with these agronomists.

·      Attending industry, events, and technical meetings to represent AF. and ensure we are up to date on the latest developments. 

Person Specification

The Crop Protection Procurement Manager should have an in-depth knowledge of the agricultural industry with both technical and commercial acumen. They should have the ability to work on their own initiative, whilst also supporting the overall Crop Inputs team. They will also be excellent communicators, have an unrivalled ability to work with many stakeholders, both internally and externally, and have a passion for giving everyone they deal with the best possible customer service.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Strong IT and data presentation/analytical skills, including Microsoft Office – especially Excel.
• Confidant at communicating pleasantly and professionally with all of our stakeholders.
• Excellent attention to detail, together with a ‘can-do’ attitude are both essential for this busy and varied role
• Team orientated, able to establish rapport and become part of an engaging team
• Experience of the arable inputs supply chain or arable farming.
• Good knowledge of the Crop Protection industry and associated technologies. 

·      BASIS and FACTS qualifications

Personal Qualities

 ·      Drive, enthusiasm, and resilience - we work in a multi-faceted and challenging environment

·      Sense of ownership and pride in your performance and its impact on company’s success

·      Commitment to attain delivery goals and personal objectives

·      Strong interpersonal skills.

·      Friendly and approachable personality, expert at building rapport

·      Initiative and self-confidence

·      Experienced user of Microsoft Office packages, especially Excel.

·      Views problems as challenges that we work together to resolve

·      Patient, good at planning and methodical in your approach to work

·      Pro-active in your work and always thinking ‘what’s next to do’ and ‘what can I improve?’

Salary: Up to £70,000 per annum, plus £6500 car allowance per annum

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Additional Benefits:

• 8% employer pension contribution
• 26 days holiday per annum, plus bank holidays. This rises with each years service by an additional day, up to 7 extra days
• Have your birthday off as an extra days holiday, if it falls on your working day
• Free cooked lunch daily from our onsite Café
• AF Membership (giving discounts at hundreds of retailers and suppliers)
• Life assurance
• Health Insurance
• Discounted gym membership
• Cycle to work scheme
• Hybrid working
• Free onsite parking