Product Portfolio Manager (H/F/X)
Home-based, with occasional site and regular field visits
Ready to take ownership of a strategic product portfolio in a pivotal, cross-functional role at the intersection of research, variety breeding and the market? Your ability to bring teams together and turn market needs into clear development priorities will directly help shape the sugar beet varieties of tomorrow.
About United Beet Seeds
United Beet Seeds (UBS) is one of the world’s leading sugar beet seed companies. From genetic research and breeding to seed production, treatment and commercialisation, UBS covers the entire development process. Headquartered in Belgium, the company operates in more than 50 countries and employs around 900 people worldwide. Its site in Gomiécourt, in the Pas-de-Calais region of France, is strategically located in the heart of Europe’s main sugar beet-growing area. Driven by a strong culture of innovation and an ambitious R&D programme, UBS develops increasingly high-performing varieties that meet the needs of growers and the sugar industry while adapting to changing agronomic, disease and climate challenges. Following an internal promotion, UBS France is now looking for his/her future Product Portfolio Manager. Working at the crossroads of research, variety breeding and the market, you will play a key role in shaping and developing the product portfolio of the future.
The Team
You will join a team of four experienced Product Portfolio Managers (PPMs), each responsible for specific geographical regions spanning the rest of Europe, the UK, Eastern Europe, Russia, Asia, USA, North Africa and the Middle East. The PPMs work closely with the Technical Crop Services team, whose technical experts bring in-depth knowledge of crops and local markets. Beyond their technical expertise, these teams share a genuine passion for their work and a strong collaborative spirit. Knowledge-sharing, mutual support and a commitment to learning from one another are part of everyday life. You will be part of an international team whose members work remotely and are based at one of UBS’s sites within their region. The team is led by Paul Roche, Head of PPM & TCS at UBS.
Job description
As Product Portfolio Manager, you will own the strategy and lifecycle of a product portfolio combining sugar beet varieties, seed treatments and seed technologies across Belgium, France, Spain, Italy and Morocco. Working at the interface between plant breeding, product innovation, marketing, sales and technical experts, you will identify high-potential varieties, shape development priorities and guide products all the way to market. Your goal: build a competitive portfolio that delivers real value to growers and drives sustainable business growth.
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Strategic product portfolio management: You will manage your portfolio throughout the product lifecycle, making recommendations at each stage and setting priorities for breeders based on market insights and data. You will also review and rationalise the variety portfolio to ensure a coherent, competitive range that meets market needs.
- Variety development and cross-functional coordination: You will bring together multidisciplinary teams, leading projects without direct line authority. You will set up pre-selection trials to identify the most promising genetics for official trials, take part in field trial visits and attend key variety selection meetings to assess results and evaluate the potential of new hybrids.
- Management of official variety trials: Working closely with breeders, you will select new genetics for official variety trials, allocate budgets by country and product profile, and manage variety registration processes in priority markets.
Profile
You are a confident communicator with strong interpersonal skills, able to build trusted relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. A good listener and natural team player, you understand different perspectives and can translate scientific data into clear business implications. Your analytical mindset and structured approach allow you to process large amounts of information efficiently and switch seamlessly between topics, from reporting and product launches to variety registration. With a strong understanding of the market, you can anticipate its needs and guide teams towards the right decisions. You are also an accomplished project coordinator, comfortable managing multiple stakeholders and complex timelines.
Your Background
- You hold a Master’s degree or engineering qualification in agronomy, agricultural economics, plant sciences or a relevant field.
- You have at least five years’ experience in product management, portfolio management, the seed industry or a comparable role.
- You have a solid understanding of crop production. Experience in the sugar beet sector would be a strong advantage.
- You are fluent in both French and English, spoken and written, and comfortable working in an international environment.
Offer
Joining United Beet Seeds means becoming part of a leading player in the sugar beet industry, recognised for its technical expertise and innovative approach. You will take on a high-impact role, directly influencing the variety choices that will shape tomorrow’s market. This permanent position comes with an attractive package tailored to your profile and experience, including a company car, phone, laptop, health insurance, disability and life insurance cover, and a profit-sharing bonus. You will enjoy a stimulating environment, a high degree of autonomy and the opportunity to work alongside a close-knit team of passionate experts.
Location
Home-based, with occasional visits to the Tirlemont site (BE) and the Gomiécourt site (FR), as well as regular field visits, particularly during the growing season.
Recruitment Process
- Initial telephone conversation with Nathalie from CeresRecruitment.
- In-depth interview with Nathalie.
- Presentation of your profile to UBS.
- First interview with Tatiana Carnac, HR Manager, Paul Edeline, Sales Director, UBS France and Paul Roche, Head of PPM & Technical Crop Services.
- Second interview with Paul Roche and Lilian Escalon, CEO of UBS.
- Job offer and discussion of practical arrangements.
- A mutual fit? Congratulations on your next career move!
How to apply?
CeresRecruitment has been exclusively appointed to manage this recruitment process.
