Supply Directors provide cohesive, crop-specific leadership by authoring singular supply plans and strategies for the DOTA business unit and conducting their implementation.
Supply Directors work to develop Driscoll's future fruit supply, giving category focus and prioritization to regional and functional production efforts in the Americas. They use deep knowledge of supply variables to combine geographies, production systems, genetics and technology to effect coordinated supply growth and development for each of Driscoll’s fresh berry categories.
Supply Directors use their unique position in the company to solve production challenges and find strategic solutions that remove obstacles to planned future fruit supply within the context resources constraints, economic drivers and key production challenges.
Supply Directors help inspire a strategic vision for their crop that looks 5 to 10 years into the future to provide industry leading berries.
This position can be based in Watsonville, CA or Central Mexico.
Planning and Supply Strategy - Supply Director is responsible for developing Driscoll’s 5 Year Supply Plan in support of PBM demand request and for coordinating its forward implementation. Identifies and prioritizes DOTA supply needs and develops plans to close gaps between existing and desired fruit supply. Publishes key supply strategies in the Berry Business Plan. Brings people together to incorporate assumptions and revisions to the plan. Responsible for developing volumes for the annual budget.
Plan Implementation – Orchestrates execution of the Supply Plan within DOTA. Provides company-wide definition and context for regional efforts to execute their portion of the overall Plan, giving continuity to overall supply effort. Enforces adherence to the Plan and approves modifications. Fosters production knowledge transfer within and between districts, functional areas, and business units. Helps PBM Prioritize Functional Work Group activities for the crop in support of supply and berry business plans. Works closely with PBM to actively administer plans and work groups and helps Regional management prioritize efforts toward fulfilling FWG plans.
Commercialization (Live Variety Society - LVS) – Lead the crop LVS group as the means to commercialize new berry cultivars. Follow LVS process and clearly document status of near commercial genetics. Clearly document and communicate all LVS decisions and key meeting notes.
Nursery Collaboration and Plant Requests (Dead Variety Society - DVS) – Works in close partnership with Nursery to efficiently produce planting material according to plan and plant request per DVS process, tools, and timelines. Responsible for synthesizing and delivering annual nursery orders and plant need projections to the DVS group pursuant to supply plan. Adjusts to regional planting commitments and revises plant requests to minimize nursery waste. Creates alignment in the decisions to eliminate varieties in accordance with supply plans. Authorizes activities in partnership with RAD team relating to Plant Order, Allocation, Assignment, and Plant Fee Exceptions in accordance with SOP’s and Driscoll’s Delegation of Authority.
Matrix Crop Leadership and Global Awareness – Supply Directors anchor Driscoll’s functional and regional supply networks that combine to implement the strategic plan. Must maintain fluid understanding of current developments at the frontiers and share learning and knowledge that allows Driscoll’s global enterprise to gain from its breadth of experience and avoid mistakes of the past. Help promote the circulation and extension of global supply knowledge, key strategies, and sound production practices.
Represent Driscoll’s – Acts in an ethical and business-like professional manner in all interactions with growers, co-workers, suppliers, customers and the business community at large. May be required to manage or assist in managing or mentoring support staff or other associated supply team members. Acts in accordance with Driscoll’s values at all times.
This job description is intended to describe the general nature of the work performed by employees in this job. It is not an exhaustive list of all the job's responsibilities. At Driscoll’s, all of our jobs include broad responsibilities for continually improving the processes we use to develop our products.
- Crop expertise and demonstrated category leadership
- Must have a minimum of 5-10 years of continuous dedicated year-round production agriculture experience, including extensive previous planning experience
- Detailed knowledge of Driscoll’s Research, Breeding, Nursery and Production functions
- Broad industry knowledge including awareness and understanding of competitors, global genetic tools and cultural systems
- Must be an excellent communicator, with ability to convey strategy and a clear plan across functional areas of the DOTA business unit—must be a credible advisor to Driscoll’s globally
- Must be able to collaborate with diverse teams towards advancing strategic objectives
- Must have a working understanding of genetics and plant physiology and the ability to use that knowledge to partner with research, nursery and production colleagues
- Solid understanding of grower economic drivers and farming economics is essential
- Capable of taking difficult stands in support of the plan and it’s execution and explain the reasons
- Ability to articulate the company’s Mission and coach colleagues to understand the business
- Must maintain a California driver’s license and the ability to be covered under company-sponsored vehicle insurance program
- Requires a valid passport and the ability to travel internationally without restrictions—up to 25%
