Head of Global Agriculture – Agronomy

The Head of Global Agriculture at Kraft-Heinz in Stockton, CA, is responsible for developing and executing the global agriculture strategy, focusing on sustainable supply chains and high-quality ingredient sourcing, particularly for processing tomatoes. This leadership role involves collaboration with various departments to drive agricultural transformation, enhance productivity, and implement regenerative practices. Key responsibilities include strategic integration, team leadership, and innovation in agricultural practices and technologies.
Job Description

The Head Global Agriculture is a pivotal leadership role responsible for architecting and executing the global agriculture strategy, driving transformative change across our agricultural value chains. This role is instrumental in ensuring a secure, resilient, and sustainable supply of high-quality ingredients, with a primary focus on processing tomatoes and other strategic crops. This leader will integrate agronomic excellence with sharp commercial foresight and procurement insights to enhance capabilities globally – from seed development and agronomy protocols to grower partnerships and processing efficiencies (e.g., "seed-to-ketchup" optimization). This individual will partner with agronomy professionals and collaborate extensively with procurement, operations, R&D, commercial, and sustainability departments to achieve breakthrough results in productivity, sustainability, and grower prosperity.

What's on the Menu?
• Strategic Agricultural Transformation: Design, champion, and implement a forward-looking global agriculture strategy that aligns with KraftHeinz's overarching business objectives. Drive agricultural transformations that enhance commercial performance, supply chain resilience, and sustainable sourcing for key crops, particularly processing tomatoes.
• Commercial & Market Integration: Embed commercial savvy within all agricultural initiatives. Collaborate with procurement and commercial teams to ensure agricultural strategies support market demands, cost optimization, and value creation opportunities.
• Tomato & Strategic Crop Expertise: Serve as the leading technical authority on processing tomato cultivation and other strategic crops.
• Regenerative Agriculture Leadership & Impact: Spearhead the global implementation of the KraftHeinz Regenerative Agriculture Program, ensuring delivery of tangible outcomes such as enhanced grower profitability, improved soil health, increased biodiversity, optimized water use, and reduced GHG emissions.
• Global Agronomy Excellence & Capability Building: Lead and inspire a high-performing team of agriculture professionals. Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, continuous improvement, and knowledge sharing.
• Sustainable Value Chain Development: Champion and integrate productive, sustainable, and regenerative agriculture practices throughout KraftHeinz's global agricultural footprint.
• Grower Partnership & Innovation Hubs: Oversee KraftHeinz Innovation Fields to demonstrate and validate the benefits of new technologies, agronomic practices, and regenerative systems.
• Agricultural R&D and Innovation Pipeline: Collaborate closely with HeinzSeed, industry partners, and internal R&D teams to identify, evaluate, and deploy innovative technologies, digital farming solutions, and novel approaches.
• Data-Driven Performance Management: Implement robust data collection and analysis systems to monitor crop performance, agronomic practices, sustainability KPIs (e.g., soil organic matter, water efficiency, GHG footprint), and grower economics.
• Procurement & Supply Chain Collaboration: Work in close partnership with the procurement team to develop integrated sourcing strategies that balance cost, quality, risk, and sustainability. Provide agronomic intelligence to support purchasing decisions, supplier development, and contract negotiations.
• Partner Engagement & Advocacy: Build and maintain influential relationships with key external partners, including growers, suppliers, research institutions, technology providers, government agencies, NGOs, and industry consortiums, particularly those advancing regenerative agriculture and sustainable food systems.

Recipe for Success: Apply now if this sounds like you!
• I have a degree or equivalent experience in Agronomy, Horticulture, Agricultural Science, Agricultural Economics, or a related field.
• I have 10+ years of progressive experience in agricultural management and field agronomy, with at least 5 years in a leadership role with international scope.
• I also have 5+ years of in-depth experience with processing tomato cultivation and value chains is essential; experience with other key crops (e.g., navy beans, cucumbers) is advantageous.
• I have strong commercial competence with a deep understanding of agricultural economics, value chains, procurement practices, and market dynamics in the food industry.
• I possess exceptional leadership skills, with the ability to inspire, develop, and manage diverse, high-performing teams across different geographies and cultures in a results-oriented, matrixed, multinational food company.
• I am collaborative by nature, culturally sensitive, with a proven ability to build consensus and motivate change across functional and regional boundaries.
• I have excellent communication, negotiation, influencing, and presentation skills, capable of engaging effectively at all levels, from field to executives.
• I am fluent in English. (Proficiency in other languages relevant to key agricultural regions -- Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Turkish -- is a strong plus.)
• I am willing and able to travel extensively internationally (estimated 30-50%).

Please note: This job posting is just a preview of the full scope of the position. A comprehensive job description is shared upon interview

We hope to find you a seat at our table!

Our Total Rewards philosophy is to provide a meaningful and flexible spectrum of programs that equitably support our diverse workforce and their families and complement Kraft Heinz’ strategy and values.

New Hire Base Salary Range:
$159,400.00 - $199,200.00

Bonus: This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.

The compensation offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors

Benefits: Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and saving for the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family’s needs. Coverage for benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

Wellbeing: We offer events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for our employees and their families.

You’ll be able to participate in a variety of benefits and wellbeing programs that may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors, for example:
• Physical - Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments
• Social - Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training
• Emotional – Employee Assistance Program , Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs
• Financial – 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability

Location(s)
Stockton Factory

Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for protected individuals, applicants that require accommodation in the job application process may contact NAZTAOps@kraftheinz.com for assistance.