What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Product Development position at Proven Winners, LLC?
About Us:
Proven Winners is a global plant and gardening brand that introduces the industry's leading annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, and houseplants to the market through a network of top propagators. It combines extensive experience, innovative thinking, and world-class customer service to ensure professional growers and home gardeners have the most efficient tools and dynamic growing solutions for ongoing success.
Team Overview:
As a key member of the Proven Winners North America LLC (PWNA) team, the Director is responsible for the oversight of the various Proven Winners’ stock facilities, coordination between the North American propagators, and development of cultural information and training for our products. The Director will also act as a key member of our product management team and assist in management of our plant breeder partners and other roles as assigned by the Vice President of Product Development.
Responsibilities:
Supply Chain Oversight - Organize all stock facility activities for the PWNA propagators. This includes minimizing any issues in the supply chain, ensuring the varieties are grown with best practices, are pathogen free, and true to type.
New Products Testing - Coordinate the testing for potential new products. This may include disease screening, cultural requirements, industry comparisons, and the true to type process. When applicable, develop conclusions and distribute them across organizations.
Grower Tech Support - Manage internal communications among our grower groups and stock sources. Arrange weekly to monthly conference calls among growers and stock facilities to ensure communication among these groups; bring forward issues and oversee completion of actions steps. Arrange trips or visits by this group as needed to labs or production sites to benefit the group. Manage the development of all cultural information and draft product related information releases in conjunction with the product management team, breeders, and marketing).
Marketing and Sales Tech Support - Train the Proven Winners partners, licensees and their staffs in our products, their features, and benefits, and how to grow them. Travel to partner and licensee sites to provide other custom training as needed, including Proven Winners’ annual sales meeting.
Product Development Team Support - Participate in the Proven Winners product management team. Provide input as a Proven Winners industry voice in order understand products. As a member of this team, travel to visit breeders on behalf of Proven Winners.
Qualifications:
Education- B.S. or Master’s degree in a horticultural or agricultural science.
Experience-A minimum of 15 years of industry experience is required. Direct experience as a grower of floriculture plants and business management skills are also very beneficial.
Knowledge
- Knowledge of plants, plant genera, their origins and development.
- In depth knowledge of vegetative stock management.
- Ability to speak comfortably in front of large groups.
- Established track record in the ability to train others successfully.
- Understanding of the professional, retail, and consumer flowering plant marketplace preferred.
- Business management skills a plus.
Skills and Attributes
- Ability to get things done quickly; self-motivated.
- Skilled at building long term relationships.
- Detail oriented.
- Willingness to travel.
- Good communicator.
- Friendly and outgoing.
- Ethical.
Work Environment: Ability to work in a variety of indoor and outdoor settings including but not limited to greenhouses; growth chambers, labs, and office areas. Exposure to seasonal high temperature.
Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
- Regularly required to talk and hear.
- Active position requiring standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, and crouching.
- Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: This is a full-time position, 40 hours per week. The position requires the ability to work extended hours during peak seasons in accordance with business needs.
Travel: Both local, out-of-state, and international travel for up to two weeks at a time will be required at certain times of the year.