Seeds Supply Chain Management Lead

Location: Kyiv (work on-site)

About the Role

As the Seeds Supply Chain Lead for Ukraine, you will be the strategic and operational leader responsible for managing the complete seed supply chain for Syngenta's Commercial Unit. This critical role encompasses the entire supply chain lifecycle - from planning and inbound logistics through order-to-cash processes to final distribution - ensuring products reach customers efficiently, compliantly, and on time.

You will align the local supply chain strategy with regional objectives, building the capabilities within a big supply chain team (4 direct, totally 40 indirect reports) to deliver excellence in a complex and dynamic market environment.

As a key member of the Ukraine leadership team, you will drive operational performance while ensuring full regulatory compliance.

This is a high-impact leadership position for an experienced supply chain professional ready to shape the future of agricultural supply chain operations in Ukraine.

Accountabilities

• Product Delivery & Customer Satisfaction
  Establish and maintain capabilities to deliver products on time and in full, ensuring exceptional customer satisfaction at optimal cost across Ukraine.

• Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP)
  Lead the end-to-end S&OP process, chairing monthly forecast meetings to align demand, supply, and financial plans while optimizing inventory levels.

• Demand Planning & Market Intelligence
  Monitor market dynamics, coordinate demand and supply planning, and lead supply chain transformations aligned with business strategy and the 5-year plan.

• Order & Warehouse Management
  Oversee daily order entry and management operations. Manage on-site warehouse operations, drive logistics KPIs, and implement technology solutions to improve efficiency.

• Supplier & Logistics Governance
  Manage supplier relationships including warehouse operators, transportation providers, and cross-border service partners. Drive HSE standards and transportation safety improvements.

• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
  Champion a culture of continuous improvement by identifying optimization opportunities, aligning IT tools with business needs, and leading initiatives that drive sustainable efficiency gains.

• Financial Management
  Manage departmental budget, identify cost-saving opportunities, support financial reporting and controls, and oversee annual inventory counts.

• Team Development & Leadership
  Build team capabilities through coaching and training, develop succession plans, and lead the professional growth of supply chain staff.

• Compliance & Licensing
  Ensure full regulatory compliance across all supply chain activities and secure Syngenta's license to operate in Ukraine.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  Build strong relationships with customers and internal stakeholders. Maintain end-to-end connectivity from regional teams to customers, and coordinate customer complaint resolution with sales teams.

• Master's degree in Agriculture, Engineering, Supply Chain, Business Administration or other relevant field 
• 5-10 years of progressive supply chain experience in planning, logistics, or supply chain management roles in matrix organization
• Understanding of agribusiness and Seeds supply chain
• Proven experience managing teams
• Experience with continuous improvement methodologies (Lean Six Sigma, OpEx, or similar)
• Strong data analysis capabilities to form insights, reach conclusions, and make strategic recommendations
• Knowledge of sales, marketing, finance, procurement, and production processes; ability to communicate with government officials and external partners
• Advanced level of English (written and spoken) is essential

Key Competencies

• Ability to work under pressure and time constraints while maintaining decision quality
• Holistic view of end-to-end supply chain operations
• Strong commitment to follow-through and execution
• Understanding of HSE and Quality management systems
• Capability to represent supply chain function to customers, leadership, and external stakeholders