EMEA Production Operations Lead

Location : France, Portes lès Valences (26)

As the fourth-largest seed company in the world, Limagrain is an international cooperative group created and managed by French farmers. As a breeder and producer of plant varieties, Limagrain markets field crop seeds, vegetable seeds, and cereal products.

HM.Clause, a Business Unit Of The Limagrain Group, is a Global Leader in Innovation for the development, production, and marketing of vegetable seeds. HM.Clause is ranked among the top five vegetable seed companies worldwide. With more than 2,000 varieties across over 20 vegetable crops, HM.Clause provides innovative solutions to growers around the world.

HM.Clause is recruiting an EMEA Agronomic Production Operations Lead (M/F) based at our site in Portes-lès-Valence.

Reporting to the Global Agronomic Production Director, you are responsible for managing the Production Operations for HM.Clause in the EMEA Region, overseeing a team of Home Farm Managers and Field Reps in Spain, France and Kenya, and developing agronomic production operations in the region (France, Kenya, Spain), ensuring performance, quality, and compliance with Limagrain Group standards.

Responsibilities

Strategy & Steering

• Deploy and implement the production strategy (capacity, footprint, organization) aligned with the business line roadmap.
• Ensure the development and management of Home Farm and Grower Network production and lead projects and initiatives in the region in line with company strategy.
• Actively contribute to the global strategy within an international team.

Management & Organization

• Lead, motivate, and unite a team of country managers and production teams.
• Promote a strong management culture and support employee development.

Performance & Operational Excellence

• Set up performance indicators (KPIs) and drive continuous improvement.
• Implement an operational excellence roadmap to ensure ongoing improvement.

Budget Management

• Develop and manage OPEX and CAPEX budgets to achieve regional objectives.
• Ensure rigorous monitoring of investments and costs in collaboration with teams.

Safety, Compliance, Quality & Environment

• Ensure compliance with local regulations and group policies.
• Oversee incident management and associated action plans.
• Promote best practices and knowledge sharing across sites.
• Contribute to the deployment of the environmental roadmap.

Collaboration

• Act as an active member of the production team to foster synergies within the supply chain and with other business units of the group.

Education & Experience

• Master’s degree in agriculture, agri-food, horticulture, or a related field.
• 5 to 10 years of experience in the seed, horticulture, or agri-food sector, including proven experience in management and project management.

Required Skills

• Strategic vision and analytical capabilities.
• Proven leadership and experience managing multicultural teams.
• Strong technical expertise in seed production.
• Solid budget management skills.
• Excellent communication and coordination abilities.

Languages

• Fluent English is essential; Spanish would be a plus.

Mobility: 15 to 20% travel (France & international)

Benefits & Compensation

• Meal vouchers & company restaurant.
• Family health insurance and supplementary pension.
• Employee benefits (CSE).
• Fixed salary with a 13th-month bonus.
• Profit‑sharing bonus linked to company performance.
• Incentive bonus linked to Limagrain Group results.