Crop Management Specialist

At Syngenta, our goal is to build the most collaborative and trustworthy team in agriculture, providing top-quality seeds and innovative crop protection solutions that improve farmers' success. To support this mission, Syngenta is seeking a Crop Management Specialist in El Ejido, Almería, Spain.

You'll lead trials that directly impact farmers' success across Spain and beyond, managing everything from greenhouse operations to cutting-edge precision agriculture technologies.

This is a hands-on role where you'll own trial delivery, drive continuous improvement, and work with global teams to advance horticultural innovation.

Accountabilities

Lead Vegetable Agronomy Operations:

• Plan and manage breeding, trait development, and marketing trials from planting through harvest.
• Oversee irrigation, fertilization, pest control, and equipment maintenance across development and production trials.
• Own and optimize trial and nursery delivery through data-driven decisions, ensuring quality, quantity, and timeliness while incorporating precision agriculture and leading technologies.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret quantitative and qualitative data to build actionable insights, hypotheses, and recommendations that drive continuous improvement.
• Coordinate and supervise Syngenta employees and third-party labor, functioning as an integral member of the site Operations team with focus on agronomic activities, training, and maintenance.
• Ensure implementation of existing and future tools, propose infrastructure investments aligned with R&D strategy, and actively participate in global networks to advance agronomy practices and standardization.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Agronomy, Horticulture, or related field
• Proven greenhouse crop management experience: you know what it takes to grow high-quality horticultural crops.
• Strong understanding of plant breeding principles and local agricultural regulations.
• Excel proficiency (pivot tables, data analysis) and comfort with digital trial management tools (e.g., Smartsheet)
• Operational Excellence (OpEx) mindset and experience with continuous improvement methodologies
• Good command of English, equivalent to at least B2 level.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with hydroponic systems and precision agriculture.
• Track record coordinating teams and managing data collection in agricultural research or production.
• Knowledge of sustainability practices, robotics, or automation in agriculture.
• Cross-functional collaboration experience (R&D, Marketing, Sales).
• Leadership experience with direct and indirect reports.
• Background in biosafety protocols and HSE policy implementation.

• A culture that promotes work/life balance and celebrates diversity.
• Extensive benefits package including a pension plan scheme, bonus, life insurance & a pool of flexible benefits to choose (Ticket Restaurant, WellHub, etc.)
• A role that contributes to valuable and impactful work in a stimulating and international environment.
• Learning culture and a wide range of development options, including access to learning platforms (Degreed and LinkedIn Learning)

Equal Opportunity
Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.