Head of Trials EMEA North - BASF Nunhems

About the Company

At BASF Nunhems it is our ambition to make healthy eating enjoyable and sustainable. Together and in collaboration with partners we are eager to improve our vegetable varieties and solutions for our customers, the vegetable value chain and consumers worldwide.

About the Role

The Head of Trials leads, builds and coaches a professional and customer centric trial-organization and local Product Development organization in EMEA North. You will ensure crop strategy implementation through closely collaborating with the Specialists in Product Development (SPD) to meet operational needs. You drive efforts towards efficient and effective trialing, whilst developing excellence, digitalization and innovation throughout the wider trial organization. In this way you enable better data-based elevation decisions, successful variety introductions and customer service/satisfaction. You promote collaboration and best practice sharing, across functions, crops and countries. You understand the business priorities to manage the trial-budget with accountability, allocating resources in close alignment with Regional Head of PD and stakeholders, maximizing efficiency & effectiveness in trial activities.

Responsibilities

• Coach and develop the Trial Team and specialists in Product Development in EMEA North and lead the change management in the Trial organization.
• Ensure the operational needs are met of the different crops to implement their product development plan.
• Foster a sense of purpose in the Trial organization as part of the wider PD community.
• Drive efforts in the Trial Team focusing on excellence, digitalization, customer focus, people and collaboration, supporting the overall PD agenda.
• Coordinate with Regional SPD's and other stakeholders to understand well the needs of each crop in the countries and regularly evaluate the satisfaction of the crop teams with the work of the trial teams.
• Analyze the functional strength of the Trial organization in the area. Evaluate competences of the Trial team.
• Connect with other departments in the region making sure all Trial processes are well engrained across functions and contributes to constant improvements.
• Design and organize the training for the Trial team together with the Regional SPDs and fosters the exchange of best practices among crops, participating in the regional PD community.
• Make sure the PD policies, procedures, systems and tools are aligned across crops and properly implemented in the Trial team in the region.
• Align with the Regional Head of PD to manage the flow of people within the Trial organization and collaborates as required with HR.
• Support the Regional Head of PD to budget, allocate and then implements Trial resources in close collaboration with the Regional SPDs to support the crop strategies & business priorities in the region.

Qualifications

• Master's degree with at least 7 years of relevant experience.
• Bachelor's level educated in a relevant discipline with 10 years relevant experience.

Required Skills

• Proven track record in managing and leading a team of professionals, also remote teams.
• High level of English.

Preferred Skills

• Well developed management competences.
• Strong stakeholder management.
• Excellent cross functional and cross crop collaboration on all levels.
• Building a strong sense of purpose and belongingness in the trial organization.
• Inspiring high sense of ownership and accountability on all levels in the trial organization.

Pay range and compensation package

This position requires domestic and international travel to visit teams and external/internal stakeholders and extended - and flexible working hours as required. In this role you are successful when you can improve efficiency & effectiveness of the trial resources and raise the 'competence level' of the trial team. Through effective change management you reach a high percentage of successful introductions.

Equal Opportunity Statement

For BASF, diversity is one of the essential keys to business success and the well-being of our employees. We promote an inclusive culture that accepts the diversity of people, experiences and capabilities. By embracing talents and abilities of all kinds, we aim to boost creativity and motivation, and enhance our teams' performance.

Interested in this job?

Are you the candidate with strong result orientation and with the ability to create a motivated trial organization in the area, focused on supporting PD plans, crop strategy implementation and achieving business objectives? Ready to lead this team of professionals and contribute to our ambition to make healthy eating enjoyable and sustainable for everyone worldwide? Send us your resume (CV) and motivation letter by clicking the 'Apply' button, before May 5th, 2025. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Michiel Weijters, Senior Global Talent Acquisition Specialist via .

What's in it for you?

Adding value to our customers begins with adding value to you. At BASF we believe that people are the key to our long-term success and that talent is in everyone. That's why we empower you with the tools, guidance and opportunities you need to advance and succeed in work and life. Giving you the support that you need to be your best and fulfill your personal ambitions is what helps us achieve our ambitions. After all, our success is linked to yours. Whatever path you envision, BASF is a great place to build a rewarding, successful career.