Global Agronomy Operations Manager

Organizational Context & Scope

Member of the 4-FTE Global Agronomy Core Team; peer to the Global Head of Agronomy Excellence and PMO & Agronomy Performance Manager; direct report to the Сhief Agronomy Officer.

• Line manages Country Agronomy Leads in India and Kenya - the primary conduit between global strategy and country-level execution.

• Direct manager of Country Pilot Agronomists and Field Agronomists during LATAM and SE Asia 5-farm pilot phases; no additional central headcount is allocated to pilots.

• Primary Agronomy interface with Finagra Logistics (input supply chain) and Finagra TECH (FMS operational requirements, farm-onboarding gate compliance).

• Manages farm-count threshold transitions (5 to 30 to 100 to 300 farms per country) that trigger structural and staffing changes per the TOM.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

TOM Implementation & Operational Compliance

• Own end-to-end implementation of the Finagra Agronomy Target Operating Model across all active countries and pilot geographies.

• Conduct structured quarterly operational reviews with each Country Agronomy Lead: TOM compliance, headcount adequacy, REP performance, farm onboarding pipeline.

• Identify operational deviations at country and cluster/regional level; issue formal corrective requirements with deadlines; escalate non-compliance to the CAO.

• Manage all farm-count milestone transitions: validate staffing readiness, role introduction triggers, and structural changes at 5-, 30-, 100-, and 300-farm thresholds.

• Ensure FMS onboarding gate compliance - every farm must satisfy all four gate criteria (FMS active, REP certified, SOPs live, farm data complete) before portfolio entry.

Country Agronomy Lead Management

• Line manage the India Agronomy Lead and Kenya Agronomy Lead - performance direction, resource advocacy, and operational problem-solving.

• Set measurable operational KPIs for each Country Lead aligned to TOM expectations: farm onboarding rate, REP compliance score, agronomic calendar execution rate, escalation response time.

• Conduct annual performance appraisals; provide developmental feedback and identify succession pipeline for critical country-level roles.

• Serve as primary escalation channel from Country Leads to the CAO for issues beyond country-level authority - resource gaps, structural changes, systemic execution failures.

New Market Pilot Management (LATAM & SE Asia)

• Personally and directly manage all new-country 5-farm pilot operations from Day 1 through to permanent Country Lead appointment - active management, not remote oversight.

• Lead recruitment of Country Pilot Agronomists and Field Agronomists for LATAM and SE Asia pilots; validate local agronomic credentials, regulatory knowledge, and farmer relationship competency.

• Enforce non-negotiable pilot entry standard: FMS readiness, REP certification, and SOP activation fully completed before the first farm enters the portfolio.

• Monitor pilot performance against yield plan, input compliance, and FMS data quality; produce structured pilot evaluation reports at 3-farm and 5-farm milestones.

• Recommend - with evidence - transition from pilot to 30-farm structure (cluster/regional design and staffing plan) to the CAO and Global Head of Agronomy Excellence.

Logistics & Technology Interface

• Primary Agronomy contact for Finagra Logistics: align agronomic input schedules, delivery windows, and seasonal procurement plans.

• Escalate input supply failures and critical material shortages from country operations to Finagra Logistics at portfolio level.

• Partner with Finagra TECH on FMS operational requirements; translate field-reported platform inefficiencies into structured product improvement requests.

• Ensure all REP engagement terms include Finagra Tech data ownership clauses as mandated by TOM Section 10.3.

Qualifications & Experience Profile

Essential Academic Credentials

• M.Sc. in Agronomy, Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, or Operations Management - required.

• MBA or postgraduate qualification in agribusiness management is a significant advantage.

• B.Sc. Agronomy with 15+ years demonstrated multi-country farm portfolio scaling may be considered in exceptional cases.

Essential Professional Experience

• Minimum 12 years in agronomy or agribusiness operations, with at least 5 years in a multi-country portfolio management role with direct line management of country or regional teams.

• Demonstrable experience designing and enforcing farm onboarding or operational gate frameworks across a geographically dispersed farm network.

• Track record of personally managing new-market agricultural operations - building local teams, establishing operational standards, and delivering first-season results - in at least two distinct markets.

• Proven ability to integrate cross-functional operations: supply chain, technology platforms, and agronomic execution working in parallel.

• Experience in a lean, technology-first agricultural business model where digital platforms carry primary monitoring responsibility.

• P&L literacy: experience interpreting farm-level financial performance, input budget variance, and yield-vs-forecast data in operational decision-making.

• Operational experience in India, Kenya, East Africa, LATAM, or SE Asia with direct understanding of smallholder or contract farming models.

• Fluent English at executive level; working proficiency in Hindi, Swahili, Portuguese, or a SE Asian language is an advantage.

Competency Profile (Korn Ferry Lominger Framework)

• Drives Results: Translates strategic TOM design into measurable operational outcomes at country and cluster level.

• Plans & Aligns: Manages multi-country operational complexity - farm-count milestones, seasonal calendars, pilot phases - with precision.

• Manages Ambiguity: Operates effectively in new-market pilots with incomplete information and evolving conditions.

• Interpersonal Savvy: Builds credibility with Country Leads, local agronomists, and REPs across multiple cultural contexts.

• Situational Adaptability: Flexes between TOM compliance monitoring and hands-on pilot management with equal effectiveness.

• Courage: Holds Country Leads accountable and escalates non-compliance without hesitation.

What We Offer

• Operational ownership of a global farm portfolio scaling across four high-growth markets.

• Direct report line to the CAO - real authority, no bureaucratic intermediary.

• The opportunity to shape how Finagra enters and scales in new countries from day one.

• Competitive compensation aligned with senior global operations leadership.

• Flexible, remote-first working with structured international travel.