At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product innovation in digital solutions for agriculture and R&D.
- Company: Join Syngenta, a global leader in agricultural innovation.
- Benefits: Make a meaningful impact while enjoying growth opportunities and a collaborative culture.
- Other info: Work on complex challenges with a focus on sustainability and innovation.
- Why this job: Shape the future of sustainable agriculture with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in leading cross-functional teams and product strategy.
The predicted salary is between 58349 - 71315 £ per year.
Syngenta Crop Protection is a leader in agricultural innovation, bringing breakthrough technologies and solutions that enable farmers to grow productively and sustainably.
We offer a leading portfolio of crop protection solutions for plant and soil health, as well as digital solutions that transform the decision-making capabilities of farmers.
Our 17,900 employees serve to advance agriculture in more than 90 countries around the world.
Syngenta Crop Protection is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, and is part of the Syngenta Group.
Our employees reflect the diversity of our customers, the markets where we operate and the communities which we serve.
No matter what your position, you will have a vital role in safely feeding the world and taking care of our planet.
Join us and help shape the future of agriculture.
Job Description
As Lead Product Manager, you will lead and own the R&D Activity Product-Oriented Delivery (POD) within CP R&D IT.
You will be accountable for a portfolio of digital products that enable R&D innovation across both laboratory and field environments.
You will shape the POD vision and multi-horizon roadmap, make prioritisation and investment decisions, define clear product boundaries, and drive measurable improvements in how R&D captures, manages, and uses data—from laboratory experimentation and assay workflows to field trials, sensors, imaging, and geospatial data.
This is a senior product leadership role.
You will lead a cross-functional team and may line-manage and develop Product Managers within the POD, ensuring scalable, sustainable, secure, and high‑quality digital products with clear business outcomes.
Key responsibilities
- Co-create the POD vision, value hypotheses, and multi-horizon product roadmap with business and technical stakeholders.
- Translate strategy into a coherent product portfolio aligned with business priorities, investment decisions, and enterprise architecture.
- Define product boundaries, ownership, taxonomy, interfaces, and dependencies across PODs.
- Establish and track POD-level success measures, including OKRs, KPIs, adoption, user outcomes, operational performance, value realisation, and total cost of ownership.
- Act as the senior voice of the customer, ensuring enterprise and user needs are understood, validated, and reflected in product direction.
- Lead stakeholder engagement across R&D, business, IT, data, security, architecture, quality, and compliance functions.
- Own product delivery governance, prioritisation cadence, backlog health, release planning, capacity allocation, and management of scope, time, cost, and value trade‑offs.
- Drive operational excellence through reliable product operations, incident and problem management, root‑cause analysis, and post‑launch value tracking.
- Manage POD-level risks, dependencies, data governance, security, regulatory constraints, and vendor or partner relationships.
- Ensure data solutions align with FAIR principles, data quality, traceability, provenance, auditability, metadata, and standardisation requirements.
- Partner with technical leads and architects to deliver scalable, reusable, secure, and enterprise‑aligned solutions.
- Monitor relevant market trends and emerging technologies across lab and field R&D, including LIMS/ELN, lab automation, instrument connectivity, mobile/offline solutions, Io T and sensors, geospatial/GIS, imaging, and digital phenotyping.
- Lead, coach, and develop Product Managers, strengthening product practice and delivery capability across the POD.
- Manage POD budget allocation, resource planning, and financial performance, ensuring optimal return on investment and cost‑effective delivery of digital solutions.
- Establish regular stakeholder communication cadences and reporting mechanisms to maintain transparency on product progress, risks, and business impact across the organisation.
- Leverage product analytics and data‑driven insights to inform prioritisation decisions, validate product hypotheses, and continuously optimise user experience and business outcomes.
Qualifications
- **Required:**
- Demonstrated experience leading product‑centric, cross‑functional teams and delivering measurable outcomes through Agile and Lean product practices.
- Strong product strategy skills, including vision setting, roadmap development, prioritisation, portfolio management, and value measurement through OKRs/KPIs.
- Understanding of digital R&D workflows in laboratory and/or field environments, including data capture, experimentation, trial execution, automation, sensors, imaging, geospatial data, and data standards.
- Knowledge of data integrity, discoverability, metadata, taxonomy/ontology, traceability, provenance, auditability, and quality controls across data pipelines.
- Experience working with data governance, security, architecture, quality, compliance, and regulatory requirements.
- Strong stakeholder management and change leadership skills, with the ability to influence without formal authority.
- Ability to navigate ambiguity, make sound trade‑offs, and communicate effectively with business and technical leaders.
- Strategic and systems‑thinking mindset, with the ability to simplify complex challenges whilst maintaining end‑to‑end design integrity.
- Bachelor's or advanced degree in IT, Engineering, Computer Science, Life Sciences, or a related field—or equivalent practical experience.
- **Preferred:**
- Proven experience in product analytics, data‑driven decision‑making, and continuous optimisation of user experience and business outcomes.
- Demonstrated capability in budget allocation, resource planning, and financial performance management to ensure optimal return on investment.
- Experience managing vendor relationships, third‑party integrations, and partner collaborations within complex technology environments.
- Knowledge of incident and problem management frameworks, root‑cause analysis methodologies, and post‑launch value tracking processes.
- Familiarity with FAIR principles (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, Reusability) and industry‑standard data frameworks relevant to R&D environments.
- **What will make you successful**
You are a collaborative, curious, and value‑oriented leader who sees digital technology as an enabler of meaningful R&D and business outcomes.
You are comfortable operating in a fast‑paced, evolving environment, balancing strategic ambition with delivery discipline, and bringing diverse teams together around a shared product vision.
Additional Information
Why Syngenta?
- Meaningful impact: help build technology that supports scientific innovation and sustainable agriculture.
- Complex, modern challenges: work on high‑scale platforms and systems with room for technical judgement.
- Collaborative environment: partner with global engineering, R&D and product communities.
- Growth: broaden your influence through challenging work, visible outcomes and a global network.
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Lead Product Manager in Warfield employer: Syngenta Group
At Syngenta, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, fostering a collaborative and inclusive work culture that prioritises professional development and work-life balance. Located in Huddersfield, our team is dedicated to making a meaningful impact in sustainable agriculture, offering extensive benefits including a generous pension scheme, private medical insurance, and up to 31.5 days of annual leave. Join us in our mission to revolutionise plant protection while enjoying a supportive environment that values diversity and empowers employees to grow.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Product Manager in Warfield
✨Connect with Local Farmers and Co-ops
Don't underestimate the power of local connections in agriculture. Get involved in local farmers' markets or agricultural co-ops. These are great places to meet potential employers and get the inside scoop on job openings before they're even advertised.
✨Get Involved in Agricultural Events
Keep an eye out for agricultural fairs, conferences, and workshops in your area. These events are golden opportunities to network with industry professionals and showcase your passion. You might even stumble across job boards or companies actively looking to hire!
✨Volunteer for Relevant Experience
Consider volunteering with organisations focused on agriculture, sustainability, or community gardening. This not only boosts your CV but also expands your network. You never know who might be watching your hard work and dedication!
✨Keep an Eye on Job Listings at Industry-Specific Websites
Be sure to check out agriculture-focused job boards and websites regularly. Companies like Syngenta Group often post opportunities on their own sites before anywhere else, so don’t miss out! Apply directly through us to increase your chances!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Product Manager in Warfield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:When applying for a role in agriculture, it's crucial to highlight any hands-on experience you have in farming, crop management, or sustainable practices. We want to see how your background aligns with the role you're after, so be specific about the responsibilities you've had and any tools or techniques you've used.
Certifications Matter:In agriculture, relevant certifications can really give your application a boost. If you have any qualifications related to agricultural practices, pest management, or environmental regulations, make sure to mention them! They're great indicators of your commitment and expertise in the field.
Tailor Your CV to the Agriculture Sector:Your CV should reflect your passion for agriculture. Structure it to emphasise your field experience and any relevant projects you've been involved in. Don't forget to highlight your soft skills, like teamwork and communication, which are essential in this sector.
Passion is Key in Your Cover Letter:Since this is a full-time position, we want to feel your enthusiasm for agriculture in your cover letter. Share why you're drawn to this industry and mention any long-term goals you have that align with what Syngenta Group does. This can really set you apart from other candidates.
How to prepare for a job interview at Syngenta Group
✨Get Familiar with Agricultural Technologies
Make sure you're up to speed with the latest agricultural technologies and tools that are commonly used in the field. Whether it’s precision farming tools or crop management software, being able to discuss these effectively during your interview with Syngenta Group will show that you're technically savvy and ready to contribute from day one.
✨Showcase Your Practical Experience
Since agriculture is a hands-on industry, be prepared to share any practical experiences you've had. This could be through internships, volunteer work, or even personal projects. Discussing specific challenges you faced and how you overcame them can really impress the interviewers, especially in a full-time role at Syngenta Group.
✨Understand the Sustainable Practices
Sustainability is a hot topic in agriculture right now, so it's important to understand current practices and regulations in the industry. Familiarise yourself with concepts like crop rotation, organic farming, and environmental impact. Having informed opinions on these topics can set you apart from other candidates during your interview.
✨Practice Common Industry Scenarios
Expect to tackle a few scenario-based questions that mimic real-life challenges in agriculture. For instance, you might be asked how you would handle a pest infestation or manage resources during a drought. Practising these scenarios will help you respond confidently and showcase your problem-solving skills during the interview with Syngenta Group.
