Product Development Manager

General information

Organisation

About Vilmorin-Mikado

Vilmorin-Mikado is a Franco-Japanese seed producer that has specialized in creating, producing, and selling vegetable seeds for professionals since 1743. As a responsible partner in the vegetable food chain, Vilmorin-Mikado is committed to helping better nourish people everywhere. Our wide range of unique, original seeds is distributed on five continents in more than 100 countries. Vilmorin-Mikado has more than 1,000 employees and recorded sales of €230 million in , of which 15% was entirely devoted to research. World leader in carrots and witloof chicory, Vilmorin-Mikado is also a major player in salads, tomatoes, sweet peppers, kabocha squashes, daikon radishes and bunching onions. Nearly three centuries ago, Vilmorin-Mikado's founders began our Tree Seeds work, which actively contributes to rebuilding sustainable forests. - #VilmorinMikado

Vilmorin-Mikado is part of Limagrain, an agricultural cooperative and an international seed group owned by French farmers. Limagrain breeds, produces, and distributes field seeds, vegetable seeds and agri-food products. Focused on the genetic progress of plants, Limagrain is the fourth largest seed group worldwide. - #Limagrain

Reference

Location

Casablanca

Employment Type

Regular Full Time

Contractual hours

Full-time

Function

SUPPORT FUNCTIONS - STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT & FORESIGHT

Main Goal

The Product Development Manager plays a crucial role implementing our marketing and sales strategies at local level. This customer-oriented position leads the team offering strategic guidance on trial strategies, product launches, priorities setting and use of digital tools. The role supports the development and local implementation of the company's strategy, providing valuable market intelligence insights. Success in this role is achieved through the co-construction and execution of sales campaigns targeting direct and indirect customers, utilizing the marketing mix (4Ps) and managing the local portfolio life cycle.

Job description

• This position reports to the General Manager of the subsidiary and is part of the Vilmorin-Mikado Steering Committee in Morocco

• Manage and lead the development team, establishing and monitoring priorities and fostering talent development.

• Conduct and update market research studies (segmentation, competition analysis, tracking dynamic forces) to continuously enhance market knowledge with PMs by customer typologies, contributing to business and 4Ps tactical plans.

• Develop and implement generating demand and achieving sales targets.

• Develop strategies for scheduling, coordinating and implementing development Trial Plans with DV team and the support of the sales team.

• Manage DV Forecast.

• Manage product life cycle for both DV and commercial local portfolios in alignment with the Marketing department.

• Prepare, develop, implement and follow up local product launches.

Skills: what we expect of you

o   Strong agronomical knowledge (field and/or vegetable seeds)

o   Proven people Management experience

o   Forecast experience related to key company processes (S&OP, Budget…)

o   Strong communication skills in English (this will be tested during the interview process)

o   Local market, Food Chain and Customer knowledge (direct and indirect)

o   Marketing mix (4Ps): Theoretical knowledge and practical use of 4Ps 

o   Microsoft Office package, especially EXCEL + PowerPoint for internal and external presentations

o   Experience with CRM and Trial app

o   Knowledge of digital tools and applications (incl. social networks)

Key competencies:

o   Strategic mindset

o   Business and result oriented

o   Organization, planning, coordination

o   Priority and time management

o   Analysis and synthesis

o   Management of a large team including ability to manage different profiles and to delegate

o   Leadership, team spirit

o   Strong interpersonal communication skills and ability to influence internally and externally

o   Entrepreneurship and customer orientation

·

Education and Experience

o   Degree in agricultural studies or similar (Licence / Bachelor or equivalent / Bachelor's degree)

o   Minimum 5 years

 Languages

o   Proficiency in English:

o   Fluent French

o   Fluent Arabic

Others

o   Available to travel extensively (nationally, internationally)

o   Driving licence

Your benefits and working environment

The organization offers a comprehensive benefits package with medical and life insurance and a competitive fixed + variable pay structure. A company vehicle is also provided with this position. 

As part of the Limagrain Group, top world player in the vegetable seed market, our environment is dynamic, diverse and challenging. We value Progress, Cooperation, Innovation and Boldness and we expect all our collaborators to work together with respect, collaboration, accountability and entrepreneurship in order to produce the best individual and collective performance.

Company

VILMORIN ATLAS

Job location

Middle-East/North Africa, Morocco

Location

Casablanca - Maroc

Candidate criteria
Minimum level of education required

Bachelor's degree

Minimum level of experience required

5 years or more

Languages

• English (3 - Professional)
• French (4 - Fluent)
• Arabic (4 - Fluent)

Position start date

01/08/2025

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