Seed Category Manager

Job Title: Seed Category Manager Department: Small Scale Business Job Location: Kenya About the Role Our client is seeking is seeking to recruit a dynamic, commercially driven and results-oriented Seed Category Manager to lead the growth, product development and management of its seed portfolio. The successful candidate will be responsible for driving profitable category growth through product development, market expansion, strategic sales and marketing initiatives, and effective portfolio management. The role requires a strong combination of agricultural technical knowledge, market intelligence, product development expertise and commercial acumen to identify emerging opportunities, develop competitive seed solutions and achieve the company's revenue and market-share objectives. Key Responsibilities 1. Seed Portfolio & Product Development o Identify market opportunities, customer needs and gaps in the seed market to develop competitive product solutions. o Lead seed variety evaluation, field trials and performance assessments against competitor varieties. o Coordinate multi-location trials and prepare technical reports to guide product selection and commercialization. o Manage the seed portfolio, product positioning and product mix to maximize market potential and profitability. 2. Market Development & Commercial Growth o Develop and implement strategies to expand the company's seed market presence across different regions. o Identify new business opportunities, develop prospective customer accounts and strengthen existing customer relationships. o Drive product launches, market penetration, promotional campaigns and other go-to-market initiatives. o Develop and execute sales strategies, forecasts and annual revenue plans to achieve business targets. 3. Market Intelligence & Competitive Analysis o Monitor market trends, customer preferences, competitor products, pricing and marketing activities. o Gather and analyse customer feedback, field performance data and market intelligence to support business decisions. o Provide management and suppliers with insights and recommendations on product performance and portfolio development. 4. Sales Team Development & Stakeholder Management o Provide technical and commercial training to the sales team, customers and other relevant stakeholders on seed varieties and product applications. o Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, suppliers and strategic market partners. o Represent the company at agricultural exhibitions, trade fairs, field days, product seminars and other market-facing events. 5. Budgeting & Performance Management o Develop and manage annual sales revenue budgets, product forecasts and new product projections. o Monitor category performance against agreed sales, profitability and market development targets. o Lead departmental staff performance management, coaching and mentoring to ensure achievement of agreed KPIs. Benefits Qualifications & Experience • Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Horticulture or a related agricultural field. • Minimum of 5–7 years' relevant experience in the seed industry covering product development, seed trials, market development, category management and commercial sales. • Demonstrated understanding of seed varieties, crop production systems, product evaluation and market dynamics. • Proven experience in developing and executing sales and marketing strategies and achieving commercial targets. Key Competencies & Skills • Strong commercial and business development orientation. • Excellent agricultural technical knowledge, particularly in seed products and crop varieties. • Strong product and category management capabilities. • Market research, analytical and competitor intelligence skills. • Excellent negotiation, presentation and relationship management skills. • Strong budgeting, forecasting and business planning capabilities. • Ability to train, coach and lead a commercially focused team. • Excellent communication, interpersonal and report-writing skills. • Self-driven, innovative and results-oriented, with the ability to work independently and deliver measurable results.