Senior Agronomist

POSITION DESCRIPTION Position Title: Senior Agronomist, BCFoods, IndiaReports To: Hardik Patel, BCFoods India General Manager Hai Su, Business Development DirectorLocation: Mahuva, Gujarat, India POSITION SUMMARY: The Agronomist - Crop Development & Sustainability is responsible for supporting BCFoods India's agricultural sourcing, crop development, and sustainability strategy. This role focuses on onion, garlic, bell pepper, and carrot crops used in dehydration operations, with a core objective of developing farm bases, preparing audits for certifications, improving agricultural yield, total solids, quality consistency, and long-term supply sustainability. The role serves as the primary agronomic and technical resource mainly for onion and garlic in India and acts as the local lead for sustainability initiatives, working closely with BCFoods and multinational customers' sustainability teams.

MAJOR DUTIES: Agronomic Development & Field Execution:o Develop and improve agronomic programs for onion and garlic focused on total solids and dehydration efficiency.o Identify, recruit, onboard and manage farmer group in consultation with our consultants.o Build long-term relationships with farmers through regular field engagement.o Support bell pepper and carrot crop development for dehydration.o Design and manage field trials and R&D plantings.o Analyze agronomic data and provide actionable recommendations.o Provide hands-on agronomic support to growers. Sustainability Leadership:o Lead implementation of agricultural sustainability initiatives for onion and garlic in India, and future expansion to other crops.o Collaborate with BCFoods global sustainability teams.o Promote sustainable practices including water efficiency and soil health.o Lead greenhouse emission reduction objectives. o Support sustainability documentation, traceability, and audits.o Support certification like FSA. Collaboration & Reportingo Collaborate with procurement, quality, operations, and supply chain teams.o Build relationships with growers, suppliers, and research institutions.o Deliver training, field days, and technical communications.o Prepare regular agronomic and sustainability reports. Crop Advisory & Yield Improvement:o Provide technical guidance on: Seed selection & varieties (garlic/onion) Sowing cycles and crop planning Irrigation and fertigation practicesCrop disease and pest monitoring and control advice o Improve yield per acre and reduce variability vs benchmarks (China/global) Procurement Coordination: o Work closely with procurement team for: Crop estimation Harvest planning Aggregation logistics o Ensure timely supply to processing units (Mahuva / future plants)Skills and Qualifications: Strong leadership and management skills. Strong analytical and data interpretation skills. Field-oriented problem-solving approach. Effective communication skills. Ability to work independently and in cross-functional, multicultural teams. Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills. Ability to make timely and informed decisions under pressure. Strong communication and interpersonal skills. Experience in food industry is important. Time management, effectively managing time and resources to meet deadlines. Must be able to work independently with limited supervision. Proficiency in relevant software and systems.Education and/or Experience: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Agronomy, Agriculture, or related field. - Minimum two (2) years of agronomic or field-based experience. - Experience working directly with growers. Preferred: - Experience with onion and garlic for dehydration. - Knowledge of dry matter or total solids optimization. - Master's degree in Agronomy. Must be fluent in English, both speaking and writing. Also, must be able to fluently communicate in English, both speaking and writing. Acute attention to detail and able to work well in a fast-paced environment. Strong organizational, problem-solving, and analytical skills. Confidentiality is a critical qualification. Flexibility and the willingness to work within an environment of changing priorities with enthusiasm. Must have good work habits including working extra hours as needed. Microsoft Office Experience is a must (Excel, Word, Power Point, etc.)