QC Manager Seed Health Testing

About Syngenta

As global demand for food and fuel continues to rise, we are dedicated to our purpose: Bringing plant potential to life. Syngenta is one of the world’s leading companies with more than 28,000 employees in over 90 countries. We work in a collaborative and inspiring culture where personal contribution is rewarded and growth and development are at the heart of our culture.

Through our world-class science, global reach and commitment to working with our customers, we help to increase crop productivity, protect the environment and improve health and quality of life.

There’s never been a more important time to join Syngenta.

For more information about us please visit

www.syngenta.com

Role purpose:
This position provides technical oversight for Seed Health Quality Control Testing for North America Vegetables, Diversified Field Crops, and Cereals (VDFCC) and ensures all testing protocols, meet company standards and are in compliance with state, federal and international seed regulatory requirements. The incumbent will interact with global Syngenta pathologists to optimize processes and information exchange, and represent the company in professional societies and affiliations.

Accountabilities:
Provide technical leadership on Seed Health Testing; work with vendors, internal quality control laboratory and sales and marketing team in the areas of testing portfolio, process controls, data interpretations and reporting to ensure compliance with global regulatory agencies and Syngenta’s Codes of Practice

Coordinates Seed Health testing activities both internally and with 3

rd

party laboratories to maintain company quality standards, and assure that these standards reflect or exceed industry levels recognized by National Seed Health Systems (NSHS) and International Seed Health Initiative (ISHI) agencies

Maintain NSHS accreditation for the Nampa Seed Health testing program

Maintain documentation for seed health testing processes, and update documentation as processes change

Monitor all on-site Seed Health testing activities including seedling evaluation, liquid wash assay, PCR, ELISA and other diagnostic methods for accurate execution and interpretation

Works in conjunction with the global PPT Q&AD team to develop and validate internal testing protocols

Conduct diagnostic testing and field investigations for seed health related customer complaints and inquiries

Provide support to field production and plant conditioning in areas of technical expertise (i.e. protocols and training for disease inspections, seed health repair and interpretation of results)

Oversee the receipt and handling of pathogenic/non-pathogenic isolates from domestic or international sources

Obtain and maintain appropriate USDA PPQ 526 permits for domestic and international movement of samples for diagnosis

Represent the company interests at an industry level to communicate and influence change regarding seed regulatory and testing issues

Participate in referee testing and experimentation to identify new test methods

Perform other duties as assigned

Critical success factors & key challenges:
Highly organized and capable of managing conflicting priorities to accommodate multiple stakeholders

Strong quality mind-set

Close cooperation with 3

rd

party laboratories, Quality Control Manager for Internal testing and Vendor Management and Quality Management and Planning and Logistics Teams

Proactive in driving continuous improvement

Qualifications

Knowledge, experience & capabilities:
Critical knowledge:
Strong understanding of seed health testing and all aspects of seed quality control testing

Knowledge of National and International Seed Laws and Quality Standards

Experience with PCR, ELISA, liquid plating and other diagnostic methods

Experience in an international work environment; ability to deal with various and diverse cultures and work habits.

Understanding of vendor management practices including referee test design and analysis and auditing procedures

Critical experience:
Minimum of M.S. in Plant Pathology, Microbiology or Molecular Biology, Ph.D. preferred

Experience in seed health or plant pathology testing laboratory

Proficient with Microsoft office suite

Experience with SAP preferred

Experience with experimental design and statistical analysis software such as JMP or SAS

Critical technical, professional and personal capabilities:
Good communication skills

Analytical skills well developed

Intercultural sensitivity

Customer Focused

Quality conscious and service minded

Able to cope with pressure and conflicting demands

Good organizational skills

Problem solving ability and decision making

Additional behaviours critical for this role:
Ability to deal with multicultural differences

Ability to deal with internal customers

Ability to deal with complex business activities

Ability to influence people

Critical leadership capabilities:
Sets direction: Communicates effectively – Organize the SC information flow and network with business partners; Results oriented – Align action to the business strategy and stay focused on goal achievements

Create edge: Trusted – Support disclosure and transparency

Drives Results: Customer focused – Making customer and their needs primary focus of one’s actions, developing and sustaining productive customer relationships; Decisive – Identify issues, problems and opportunities

Liberate Potential: Team oriented – Support team process improvement and engage all team members. Collaborate effectively across organizational and functional boundaries; Innovative – Evaluate multiple solutions and think expansively.

Additional information:
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Position may require up to 20% travel

Position requires being able to lift 60 lbs

Position requires working 7 days a week during critical time of year

Position requires travel by car/pickup during certain periods of year

Position requires the ability to operate and be forklift certified

WORKING CONDITIONS WHILE PERFORMING ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Position may require being able to walk seed production fields in any weather

Position requires be able to work in dusty, hot, and cold conditions

Office environment a portion of the year

OTHER:
Must have a valid driver’s license

All applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S.

Two years current position preferred. Candidates who have been in their current position a minimum of one year will be considered if they have the approval of their current business unit leader and hiring business unit leader.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work only. They are not an exhaustive list of all required responsibilities, duties, and skills. Other duties may be added, or this description amended at any time.

Ensure in its respective area of responsibility and in close cooperation and alignment with Legal and Taxes and other expert functions, Syngenta’s full compliance with the applicable legal and regulatory framework as well as Syngenta’s own legal and ethical, HSE, Corporate Security, Risk Management and Corporate Governance standards.

Syngenta Contact Information:
If you need assistance during the application process, please contact the Service Desk at

na.sta_pc_team@syngenta.com

.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Poster – Link (http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/posters/fmla.htm)

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) poster – Link (

http://webapps.dol.gov/elaws/firststep/poster_direct.htm

)

Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Poster – Link (

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/posters/eppa.htm

).

Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

Primary Location

:

USA-Idaho-Nampa

Work Locations

:

V47

6338 Highway 20-26

Nampa

83687

Job

:

Quality