Head of Operations Asia

Main Purpose of the role

This position is responsible for shaping and executing HELM's sourcing strategy for Crop Solutions products sourced from Asia, with a primary focus on China and India.

Leveraging the region's manufacturing capabilities, supplier ecosystem and market intelligence, the role drives business value through strategic supplier partnerships, procurement excellence, supply resilience and access to competitive products and technologies.

Acting as the key interface between HELM's regional Organizations and the supplier landscape in Asia, the position translates commercial demand and portfolio priorities into sourcing strategies, supplier commitments and procurement activities that support both day-to-day business requirements and long-term growth ambitions.

The role leads a multidisciplinary team of sourcing, procurement and quality professionals and represents HELM towards key suppliers, manufacturing partners and industry stakeholders across Asia.

Candidate Profile

We are looking for an experienced sourcing and procurement leader who combines strategic thinking and strong commercial capabilities with operational execution and an understanding of supplier quality and compliance requirements.

The successful candidate should bring:

• Extensive experience in sourcing, procurement, supplier management or business development within the agrochemical industry.
• Strong knowledge of the supplier landscape and manufacturing environment in China and India.
• Proven track record of building strategic supplier partnerships and negotiating complex commercial agreements.
• Experience translating business demand into sourcing and procurement solutions across international markets.
• Strong commercial acumen and clear understanding of business-value drivers.
• A sound understanding of supplier quality management, manufacturing compliance and quality assurance principles, including supplier qualification, audits, quality standards.
• Experience leading and developing multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills and the ability to connect and align regional business organizations, Global BU functions and Corporate Functions across different priorities, cultures and organizational perspectives.
• Proven ability to translate regional business requirements into sourcing and procurement priorities, while communicating supplier capabilities, opportunities, constraints and risks back into the Regional and Global organization.
• Ability to balance long-term strategic development with operational procurement execution.

Key Responsibilities

1. Sourcing Strategy & Business Value Creation

Lead the development and execution of HELM's sourcing strategy across Asia, leveraging market intelligence, supplier capabilities and manufacturing excellence to create sustainable competitive advantages, strengthen the Crop Solutions portfolio and support long-term business growth.

Focal Points:

• Execute and evolve the sourcing roadmap aligned with Crop Solutions’ portfolio priorities and growth ambitions.
• Identify and evaluate new suppliers, products, technologies and manufacturing capabilities.
• Use market intelligence and supplier insights to strengthen HELM’s competitive position.
• Create measurable business value through sourcing opportunities, innovation and portfolio development.

2. Strategic Supplier Partnerships & Commercial Leadership

Build and develop strategic supplier relationships that strengthen HELM's competitive position and provide access to products, technologies and manufacturing capabilities across Asia.

Focal Points:

• Build and manage executive-level relationships with strategic suppliers and manufacturing partners.
• Lead complex commercial negotiations and long-term supply agreements.
• Develop differentiated partnership models based on strategic importance, business potential and risk.
• Establish effective governance and performance reviews for critical supplier relationships.

3. Regional Procurement, Quality Assurance & Supply Resilience

Act as the operational bridge between HELM's Regional Organizations and the Asian supplier network, ensuring procurement execution, manufacturing compliance, product quality and supply continuity across the portfolio.

Focal Points:

• Translate regional demand and portfolio requirements into procurement plans and supplier commitments.
• Ensure product availability, competitive procurement conditions and reliable supply to the Regional Organizations.
• Lead the supplier quality and manufacturing-compliance agenda through the dedicated quality assurance expertise within the team.
• Ensure effective supplier qualification and appropriate quality standards.
• Provide transparency and coordinate appropriate responses to critical procurement, quality and supply issues.

4. Supply Risk Management & Business Continuity

Proactively identify, assess and mitigate sourcing, quality and supply risks to ensure business continuity, supply resilience and sustainable access to strategic products and manufacturing capabilities.

Focal Points:

• Monitor geopolitical, regulatory, supplier, quality and supply risks across the sourcing portfolio.
• Establish alternative and dual-sourcing options for business-critical products where appropriate.
• Develop contingency and recovery plans together with relevant Regional, Global BU and Corporate Functions.

• Ensure timely escalation and cross-functional mitigation of significant supply or quality risks.

5. Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

Lead and develop a high-performing, multidisciplinary team while acting as a key integrator between the Asia organization, Regional Organizations, Global BU functions and relevant Corporate Functions, ensuring alignment of business priorities, sourcing decisions, quality requirements and supplier strategies.

Focal Points:

• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing, multidisciplinary team.
• Connect Regional Organizations, Global BU functions and relevant Corporate Functions around sourcing priorities, quality requirements and supplier decisions.
• Establish effective communication, governance and escalation mechanisms across organizational boundaries.
• Foster a strong service and business-partnering mindset towards Regional Organizations.