Business Head - Agri

About the role

Responsibilities

Head AgriFresh - AP

Strategic Leadership and Vision:

• Develop and articulate the strategic direction for the organization, with a focus on the broader vision.
• Drive organizational growth by identifying and leveraging market opportunities, aligning resources, and implementing innovative practices.
• Establish and monitor organizational KPIs, ensuring performance across core functions.
• Lead the transition to sustainable and scalable business practices, prioritizing efficiency, waste reduction, and market responsiveness.

Operational Oversight and Coordination:

• Oversee end-to-end farming, storage, and distribution operations, ensuring consistent quality and timely delivery of perishable goods.
• Lead optimization of the performance of critical infrastructure such as cold storage facilities, controlled atmosphere storage, grading equipment, and distribution networks.
• Develop and enforce standardized operational procedures to maintain quality, safety, and efficiency across all processes.
• Coordinate with engineering and operations teams to ensure peak season readiness and effective resource allocation.

Commercial and Financial Management:

• Lead the development of annual budgets and financial forecasts, ensuring alignment with business goals.
• Monitor financial performance, identifying cost-saving opportunities and driving profitability across all business functions.
• Oversee pricing strategies, market positioning, and profitability analysis to enhance competitiveness in the market.
• Develop business cases for capital investment in technology, infrastructure, and market expansion.

Quality Assurance and Compliance:

• Champion the implementation of quality assurance protocols to ensure the highest standards of product freshness and safety.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards, food safety regulations (e.g., FSSAI), and environmental guidelines.
• Develop risk management strategies to address operational, regulatory, and financial risks effectively.
• Conduct audits at frequent interval and implement corrective actions to maintain quality and compliance.

Sales and Marketing Leadership:

• Drive sales strategies to penetrate new markets, strengthen relationships with key customers, and achieve revenue targets.
• Oversee marketing initiatives, including branding, promotions, and market research, to enhance visibility and consumer engagement.
• Collaborate with sales and marketing teams to develop campaigns and strategies for peak seasons and new product launches.

Team Leadership and Development:

• Build and lead a high-performing leadership team across all functions, fostering collaboration, accountability, and innovation.
• Contribute to development of talent management programs to enhance technical and leadership capabilities across the organization.
• Create a culture of continuous improvement, encouraging feedback, innovation, and empowerment at all levels.

Technology and Process Innovation:

• Drive digitization initiatives to enhance operational efficiency, including ERP systems and supply chain technologies.
• Evaluate and adopt emerging technologies to improve farming, storage, and distribution processes.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration to implement innovative solutions for process optimization and waste reduction.

Stakeholder and Community Relations:

• Act as the organization’s representative with external stakeholders, including farmers, distributors, regulatory bodies, and industry associations.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with local communities, government authorities, and sustainability organizations.
• Mediate and resolve escalated issues related to procurement, labor, and industrial relations in collaboration with HR and operational leaders.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

Internal Stakeholders:

Sales

Operations

Procurement

Legal

HR

Corporate Services

Finance

Distribution Centers

Central Finance

IT

ABEX

Terminal Heads

External Stakeholders:

Vendors

Distributors

Auditors

IT

Regulatory Authorities

Qualifications

Educational Qualification:

Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Horticulture or a related field, MBA in Agri-Business, Marketing or a related field.

Work Experience:

Relevant experience of 16-18 years, preferably in a leadership position in a similar role with a proven track record in driving organizational growth and strategic management.

Preferred Industry:

Experience in the food industry or perishable goods industry is preferred.