Seed Supply Manager

Position Title: Seed Supply Manager

Position Type: Regular - Full-Time

Requisition ID: 42345

The Seed Supply Manager is accountable for securing a competitive, reliable and sustainable seed potato supply aligned with EMENA sourcing, product and commercial strategies.

The role creates long term cost, quality and varietal advantage by:

• Piloting strategic and commercial relationships with seed growers, suppliers and breeders,
• Translating product, commercial and portfolio needs into coherent seed strategies,
• Ensuring alignment between seed availability, variety characteristics and market requirements.

The position acts as the EMENA authority on seed potatoes, operating at the intersection of Agriculture, Product, R&D and Commercial teams to enable variety growth, portfolio evolution and risk controlled execution.

During the peak operational season (February – end of May), the role is highly hands on and operational, directly supporting seed execution and issue resolution.

Responsibilities:

• Define and execute the EMENA seed potato strategy, aligned with sourcing needs, product roadmap, commercial strategy and long term competitiveness objectives.
• Secure a reliable, high quality and cost competitive seed supply to support ~1.7 million tons of potato sourcing annually across EMENA.
• Pilot the commercial relationship with seed growers, suppliers and breeders, establishing long term partnerships, commitments and priority access to strategic varieties.
• Ensure strong alignment between seed supplier capabilities and EMENA product & commercial needs, including variety traits, flesh type, quality, performance and volume requirements.
• Work closely with R&D, Variety Development and Commercial teams to shape the seed portfolio and enable growth, transitions and innovation of potato varieties.
• Translate product, recipe and market decisions into integrated short and long term seed supply plans, including phase in / phase out scenarios and risk mitigation.
• Govern variety licensing, commercial use and royalty obligations, ensuring full compliance with breeder agreements and plant breeders’ rights.
• Drive continuous improvement of seed quality, productivity and resilience through trials, BMPs, supplier performance management and innovation.
• Oversee and coordinate operational seed activities (procurement, logistics, storage, cutting, budget and risk management), with hands on involvement during peak season (Feb–May).
• Act as the EMENA subject matter expert for seed potatoes, interfacing with Agriculture leadership, Product, Commercial and global stakeholders.

Requirements:

• Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture or related field
• 10+ years in agriculture, seed potato business or variety management
• Strong background in seed production, licensing, procurement and logistics
• Proven leadership in complex, multi country environments
• Strategic planning and supply chain optimization
• Commercial and contract management
• Budget ownership and financial discipline
• Strong analytical and decision making capability
• Operations management
• Languages: Fluent in English. French, Dutch and/or German preferred

McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company, we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know *and we will work with you to find appropriate solution