About the Opportunity

Additional Locations: UK - Maidstone          

The Product Leader (“Berry Leader”) owns the strategic direction of Driscoll’s Berry Business. The Berry Leader is tasked with developing the vision, understanding the Customer and Consumer needs, developing the supply strategy and leading the cross-functional Berry teams ultimately responsible for executing against strategic supply priorities. The Berry Leader is accountable for designing the future of Driscoll’s supply to 1) meet the anticipated Customer demand and expectations of Consumers; 2) differentiate from competition and; 3) enable the growth and profitability targets established by the Managing Director of the business unit. This requires the Berry Leader to provide multi-faceted perspectives and insights to steer strategic priorities to deliver on the Company Mission and Vision. To do so, the Berry Leader must develop an intimate understanding of our Customers and Consumers, and the choices they face regarding competitive berries, other fresh fruit categories, and the broader impact of alternative food items. The Berry Leader must also possess a deep understanding of the interaction between current and future genetics, production technologies and geographies that in combination can deliver the strongest supply plan. The Berry Leader must have the leadership skills to influence resource prioritization across broad cross-functional groups within the Enterprise and to marshal investments across multiple stakeholder groups. This role can be done from any location in DEMEA at one of our offices.

Responsibilities

• Explore the Future: The Berry Leader has a passion for understanding our Consumers and maintains strong connections with Customers to understand their visions for the category. The Berry Leader is globally connected and understands the latest developments in production technologies, plant propagation and genetic development; as well as the application of geography/climate on the production of berries.
• Articulate the Vision: The Berry Leader applies his/her broad understanding of the category and all exploratory work to create a vision for his/her berry that drives the strategic planning process.
• Write 5-year Supply Plan: The Berry Leader is responsible for writing Driscoll’s five-year supply plan as part of the annual strategic planning process. This plan must identify the key priorities in solving supply gaps between current supply and desired future supply, including prioritizing investments in research, new geography expansion, and implementation of new production technologies. This includes identifying any investments Driscoll’s is required to make into the production of berries.
• Plan Implementation: The Berry Leader has final sign-off accountability for the varieties that get commercialized, planting material that gets ordered from the nursery and planted, and production region growth. The Berry Leader is consulted on changes to product packaging, enterprise business model and berry-specific marketing efforts (directionally).
• Research Priorities: In collaboration with Global R&D and business unit Applied Research Functions sets the research priorities for Breeding and Applied Research.
• Cross Functional Collaboration:  Collaborates with functional counterparts Finance, Operations and Sales & Marketing to ensure the Plan delivers against Market Objectives and Financial Targets for both Driscoll’s and Growers. Together with Supply Directors is accountable for delivering key assumptions around variety productivity and other metrics related to Enterprise Costs.
• Contributes to the Business Unit’s people priorities and objectives regarding: people leader effectiveness, engaged employees, and enabling others to perform.
• Recruit, onboard, and coach staff to ensure robust learning and career development consistent with the Company’s values and rapidly globalizing profile.
• Domestic and international travel required up to 30%.
• Represents Driscoll’s in an ethical and business-like professional manner in all interactions with growers, co-workers, suppliers, customers and the business community at large.

Candidate Profile

• A successful candidate will have a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness or related field and a minimum of 10 years relevant work experience in the areas of business development and/or production management.
• He/she must have excellent business acumen including intellectual curiosity, proven leadership capabilities, and strong analytical skills.
• Must be a creative and conceptual thinker able to envision future opportunities and mitigate threats.
• Must use sound judgment with ability to recognize and act upon good ideas, at times making competent decisions in a fast-paced strategic environment.
• He/she must have a demonstrated ability to define and lead strategic direction by engaging and managing cross-functional teams towards reaching common goals with broad financial and strategic implications, demonstrated excellence in process management and planning skills, and excellent written and verbal communication with strong presentation skills. 
• Bilingual candidates strongly preferred.
• Current driver’s license and the ability to be covered under company-sponsored vehicle insurance program.
• A valid passport and the ability to travel internationally without restrictions.
• Strong working understanding of Microsoft Office including Excel and PowerPoint

About Driscolls

Driscoll's is the global market leader for fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. With more than 100 years of farming heritage and hundreds of independent growers around the world, Driscoll's is passionate about growing fresh, beautiful and delicious berries. Our values of humility, passion and trustworthiness have guided our mission to delight consumers around the world.

Driscoll's exclusive patented berry varieties are developed through years of research using only natural breeding methods – meaning, no GMOs. From farm-to-table, we focus on delivering a high quality, premium berry experience with our many supply chain partners.

Driscoll's is the trusted brand for Only the Finest Berries™.

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Driscoll's es el proveedor líder en la comercialización de Fresas, Frambuesas, Zarzamoras y Arándanos Azules en el mundo. Con más de 100 años de herencia en agricultura y cientos de productores independiente alrededor del mundo, Driscoll's es una compañía apasionada por cultivar Berries frescas, hermosas y deliciosas. Nuestros valores de humildad, pasión y confianza han guiado nuestra misión de deleitar a los consumidores en el mundo.

Las variedades exclusivas de Driscoll's han sido desarrolladas a través de años de investigación usando sólo métodos de mejoramiento natural. De la granja a la mesa, nos enfocamos en ofrecer una experiencia de alta calidad con apoyo de nuestros socios de la cadena de suministro.

Driscoll's es la marca de confianza de sólo las mejores Berries.