Agricultural director

A company specializing in plant-based products and managing the entire supply chain (integrated agriculture)—from harvesting to processing—offers diverse career opportunities, spanning agriculture, industry, and commercialization.

Reporting to the CEO and serving as a member of the executive committee, the Agricultural Director independently oversees the group’s agricultural operations, from defining strategy to implementation. Their primary mission is to ensure year-round supply of agricultural products to the company’s processing sites, sourced from the group’s managed crops in France and internationally.

Key Responsibilities of an Agricultural Director

• Determine and optimize crop allocation, contracts, and procurement, ensuring smooth operations.
• Define agronomic research priorities and guide future varietal selections.
• Select and manage a network of partners and suppliers (farmers, cooperatives, technology and agricultural equipment suppliers).
• Lead and manage their team: recruit, train, unite, delegate, set objectives, and ensure follow-up.
• Develop and oversee the budget, proposing strategic investments to top management.
• Ensure compliance with industry regulations (pesticides, environmental laws, etc.) through continuous monitoring.
• Coordinate R&D in agriculture, agricultural mechanics, and agricultural production.
• Address strategic challenges: water management, regulatory constraints, orphan crops, technical issues, and recruitment of qualified experts and managers.

Required Skills for an Agricultural Director

With a background in agriculture (ideally as an agronomic engineer), the Agricultural Director has experience in crop production, providing both hands-on expertise and the ability to develop strategic supply chain plans for processing plants. They possess in-depth knowledge of agricultural techniques (crop management, farming environments, harvesting methods) and collaborate daily with farmers and cooperatives. A strong leader and organizer, they excel in team management and stakeholder coordination.