Product Development and Innovation Manager
AgLink Australia · Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Apply & track with Apply EdgeAre you an experienced agronomist or agricultural technical professional who wants to influence what comes next in Australian agriculture?AgLink Australia is looking for a Product Development & Innovation Manager to lead our national Product Development Programs and work alongside our members to identify, evaluate and accelerate the adoption of the next generation of agricultural products and technologies - helping position AgLink members at the forefront of agronomic innovation.AgLink is owned by 13 leading independent rural businesses operating across Australia. Our role is to connect those businesses with leading agricultural suppliers and create value through commercial relationships, technical collaboration, product development and shared capability.This is a unique role.You won't be representing one manufacturer or selling one company's portfolio. Instead, you will work across the industry with AgLink members, agronomists, suppliers and commercial teams, providing independent technical leadership and helping determine which new products and technologies deserve the attention of our network.What you'll doYou will take ownership of AgLink's Broadacre, Horticulture and Seed Product Development Programs, working with suppliers and member agronomists from early-stage evaluation through commercial launch and adoption.That will include:· identifying promising new products within supplier pipelines;· coordinating trials, demonstrations and product-development activities across our member network;· working with agronomists to ensure trials generate credible and useful information;· helping suppliers better understand product fit within Australian farming systems;· turning trial results into practical information that agronomists can actually use;· facilitating technical discussions, field walks, product-positioning workshops and training;· creating opportunities for members to gain early exposure to new products and technologies and build technical confidence ahead of commercial launch; and· building stronger links between technical development and commercial opportunity.You will also lead AgLink's evaluation of biologicals, biosolutions and other emerging agricultural inputs.There is a lot of noise in this space. Part of your job will be helping us filter it - identifying the products with genuine potential, determining what deserves further evaluation and giving our members credible, independent guidance.Who we're looking forWe are looking for someone with experience in Australian agriculture and a strong technical or agronomic background.You could currently be working in agronomy, product development, technical services, crop protection, seed, agricultural inputs or a related field.More important than your current title is your ability to:· understand Australian farming systems;· evaluate products objectively;· design and interpret meaningful field work;· communicate technical information simply and practically;· build credibility with experienced agronomists;· work effectively with agricultural suppliers;· influence people without needing authority over them; and· turn good technical work into something that creates real value in the paddock.You will need to be comfortable travelling throughout Australia and spending time with our member businesses, agronomists, suppliers and trial collaborators.Why AgLink?This is an opportunity to occupy a fairly unusual position in Australian agriculture.You will have exposure to products and technologies from across the industry, access to some of Australia's leading independent agronomy businesses and the freedom to approach product development from an independent, technically credible perspective.The successful candidate will have considerable scope to shape the role, strengthen an already established Product Development Program and build new ways of connecting suppliers, agronomists and emerging technology across the AgLink network.