transformation in the agricultural sector. This is a pivotal executive role where you will drive the development of next-generation fertilizer and biostimulant solutions that address some of the world’s most pressing challenges – from food security to climate resilience and sustainable farming practices.
As the Head of R&D, you will be responsible for translating strategic business priorities into a high-impact innovation pipeline, ensuring that scientific discovery is effectively converted into commercially viable, market-leading products. You will lead diverse, cross-regional teams across South Africa, Australia, the USA, and Brazil, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture that accelerates innovation and knowledge sharing.
This role requires a strong blend of scientific excellence, commercial insight, and strategic influence. You will work closely with executive leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to identify emerging technologies, anticipate market and regulatory shifts, and position Omnia at the forefront of agricultural innovation.
You will also play a key role in building and strengthening external partnerships across academia, research institutions, and technology ecosystems to unlock new capabilities and co-develop breakthrough solutions. With accountability for the full R&D lifecycle from ideation through to commercialization, you will ensure that innovation efforts are aligned with both global strategy and regional market needs.
This is an exciting opportunity for a visionary leader who is passionate about driving sustainable impact at scale, shaping the future of agriculture through cutting-edge science, and delivering tangible value to farmers and stakeholders worldwide.
PhD or Masters degree in:
- Agronomy
- Plant Science
- Chemistry
- Biotechnology
- or a related scientific discipline
8 to 12+ years of progressive R&D experience in:
- Fertilizers
- Biostimulants
- Agro-inputs
- Proven experience leading global or multi-regional R&D programmes
- Demonstrated success in:
- Product innovation
- Product lifecycle management
Technical Expertise
- Strong understanding of global regulatory environments for crop inputs
- Expertise in agricultural innovation, formulation technologies, and agronomic solutions
- Strategic Leadership & R&D Direction
- Define and execute a global R&D strategy aligned to business growth, sustainability, and innovation objectives
- Identify priority crops, technologies and solution platforms across key markets
- Translate strategic objectives into actionable regional research programmes
- Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on innovation trends and agronomic challenges
- Innovation Pipeline Management
- Lead and manage the full innovation lifecycle (short-, mid-, long-term pipeline)
- Drive structured stage-gate governance to evaluate viability, regulatory readiness, and commercial potential
- Make data-driven decisions on project prioritisation, acceleration, or termination
- Ensure a balanced portfolio of incremental, breakthrough, and climate-smart solutions
- Research Execution & Scientific Excellence
- Oversee global research initiatives including lab, greenhouse, and field trial programmes
- Ensure high-quality, consistent data generation and reporting
- Establish best-practice frameworks for knowledge sharing and continuous improvement
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with marketing, regulatory, supply chain, and commercial teams to deliver market-ready innovations
- Drive seamless technology transfer from R&D into production and commercialization
- Build and manage strategic partnerships with universities, research institutions, and technology providers
- Represent R&D in governance and portfolio review forums
- Regulatory & Compliance Leadership
- Ensure alignment with global regulatory frameworks for fertilizers, biostimulants, and biosafety
- Uphold highest standards of IP protection, scientific integrity, and compliance
- Anticipate regulatory trends and proactively adapt research strategies
- Talent, Capability & Resource Management
- Lead and develop high-performing global R&D teams across multiple regions
- Manage global R&D budgets and resource allocation
- Drive talent development through coaching, capability building, and hiring
- Define long-term infrastructure and research investment strategy
- Strategic thinking & innovation leadership
- Strong scientific rigor with commercial acumen
- Global mindset with cross-cultural leadership ability
- Data-driven decision-making
- Stakeholder influence and executive communication
- Change leadership and operational excellence
Why Join Omnia?
- Lead global agricultural innovation impacting multiple continents
- Drive sustainability and climate-smart agriculture solutions
- Work at the forefront of fertilizer and biostimulant technology
- Shape the future of food production and agricultural efficiency
