Research and Operations Manager (Global FMCG)

As a Research and Operations Manager you will be responsible for orchestrating all aspects of agricultural research operations at the site. Your day-to-day activities will involve supervising multidisciplinary teams engaged in field trials spanning agronomy, plant science, genetics & breeding, crop protection, and integrated pest management.

Research and Operations Manager (Global FMCG)

Salary: Competitive and based on experience

Location: Indonesia

Keywords: collaborative, supportive leadership, inclusive, knowledgeable, dependable, training opportunities, flexible working opportunities, generous pensions contributions

A leading agricultural research organisation is seeking a Research and Operations Manager to oversee the effective execution of agricultural research, field trials, and operational activities at their research site outside of Java. This role offers you the opportunity to make a meaningful impact by bridging scientific research with real-world farm applications, collaborating closely with farmers, suppliers, commercial teams, sustainability teams, and research partners. You will be empowered to lead both technical and people aspects of the operation, ensuring high-quality data collection, adherence to Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), safety, and quality standards. The organisation values your expertise across a broad range of crops and products, providing an inclusive environment where your knowledge can drive practical solutions for farming communities. Flexible working opportunities, generous pension contributions, and ongoing training are just some of the benefits that await you in this supportive setting.

• You will play a pivotal role in translating agricultural research into practical solutions for farmers and suppliers, directly impacting productivity and sustainability across diverse crop types.
• The organisation fosters a collaborative culture where your technical leadership is supported by knowledgeable colleagues and access to training opportunities for continuous professional growth.
• Enjoy flexible working arrangements and generous pension contributions while contributing to innovative agricultural practices that benefit local communities and stakeholders.

What you'll do:

As a Research and Operations Manager you will be responsible for orchestrating all aspects of agricultural research operations at the site outside of Java. Your day-to-day activities will involve supervising multidisciplinary teams engaged in field trials spanning agronomy, plant science, genetics & breeding, crop protection, and integrated pest management. You will coordinate the execution of experiments from inception through data collection to analysis—ensuring strict adherence to Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), safety protocols, quality standards, and compliance requirements. By partnering with engineering teams on facility improvements and collaborating with external laboratories or universities on joint projects you will drive innovation in agricultural R&D. Your role extends beyond technical oversight; you will engage directly with farmers and suppliers to translate scientific findings into practical recommendations that improve crop performance and sustainability. Building strong relationships within local communities is essential as you host site visits for senior management or external stakeholders. Success in this position requires balancing operational priorities with team development—identifying cross-training opportunities while managing budgets—and ultimately delivering impactful results through robust systems and collaborative networks.

• Oversee daily operations at the research site, managing field activities, schedules, resources, and priorities to ensure seamless execution of agricultural experiments.
• Lead and supervise field technicians, researchers, contractors, and operational resources by setting clear objectives and performance expectations.
• Coordinate the planning and implementation of field trials across agronomy, plant science, genetics & breeding, crop protection, and integrated pest management.
• Ensure rigorous data collection, management, statistical analysis, and evaluation of field results in accordance with research protocols.
• Collaborate with engineering and technical teams on installation, maintenance, and improvement of research equipment and facilities.
• Partner with laboratories, universities, external research sites, and other stakeholders to enhance research outcomes through shared knowledge.
• Build and manage annual operational and capital budgets while preparing comprehensive reports for senior management.
• Act as a key technical partner to commercial and sustainability teams by translating research findings into actionable recommendations for farmers.
• Engage directly with farmers, farmer groups, suppliers, and agricultural partners to understand challenges and develop scalable deployment models.
• Host senior management, research partners, farmers, suppliers, and external stakeholders during site visits while maintaining effective relationships with local communities.

What you bring:

Your proven experience as a Research and Operations Manager will demonstrate your ability to deliver results through people-centred leadership combined with robust operational systems. You bring deep scientific knowledge across agronomy crop management plant science genetics breeding crop protection or integrated pest management—enabling you to evaluate field results critically while identifying opportunities for improvement. Your hands-on approach ensures that you can translate complex technical findings into practical recommendations tailored for farmers suppliers commercial teams or sustainability partners. You are adept at managing multidisciplinary teams fostering capability development succession planning cross-training opportunities regular coaching feedback recruitment onboarding supervision—all within an inclusive environment that values collaboration. Your analytical skills support rigorous data collection statistical analysis reporting budgeting resource allocation space utilisation operational priorities—all contributing towards effective site management. Experience engaging directly with farming communities participating in workshops training events community outreach strengthens your ability to build trustful relationships that underpin successful deployment models. Fluency in English Bahasa Indonesia excellent communication skills allow you to connect empathetically across diverse stakeholder groups ensuring clarity transparency mutual understanding throughout every project.

• A minimum of a Master’s degree in Agronomy, Agricultural Science, Agricultural Engineering, Crop Science, Plant Science, Horticulture or related disciplines is required for this role.
• At least five years’ experience in agricultural field operations or applied research involving farming or agricultural trials is essential.
• Proven track record in field-based scientific data collection combined with strong analytical skills for evaluating results.
• Comprehensive understanding of agronomy principles including crop management techniques as well as plant breeding genetics or crop protection strategies.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams such as field technicians or contractors within farm operations environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills enabling clear dissemination of complex findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Fluency in English as well as Bahasa Indonesia is necessary for effective engagement across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Preferred qualifications include a PhD in relevant fields such as Agronomy or Crop Science plus direct experience working with farmers or agricultural communities.
• Experience translating scientific research into practical recommendations for farmer training programs or deployment initiatives is highly valued.
• Background across multiple crops—such as rubber coffee palm oil sugarcane cocoa tea tobacco coconut cashew cotton jute sisal rice corn soybean wheat sorghum cassava potato sweet potato peanut mung bean beans legumes—or experience in agricultural R&D demonstration farms seed development sustainable agriculture programs enhances your suitability.

What sets this company apart:

This organisation stands out for its commitment to advancing sustainable agriculture through collaborative partnerships with local communities universities government agencies commercial teams suppliers engineers researchers laboratories external stakeholders. The company provides flexible working opportunities generous pension contributions ongoing training programmes—creating an environment where your professional growth is nurtured alongside personal wellbeing. Their inclusive culture values diversity encourages sharing knowledge supports interdependent teamwork so you feel connected respected appreciated every step of your journey here. By focusing on practical solutions derived from rigorous scientific research they empower employees like you to make tangible positive impacts on farming practices productivity sustainability regional development—while enjoying supportive leadership communal spirit warm atmosphere that makes every day rewarding fulfilling meaningful.

What's next:

If you are ready to share your expertise in agricultural research operations while making a lasting difference for farming communities apply now!

Apply today by clicking on the link provided.

Due to the high volume of applications we are experiencing, our team will only be in touch with you if your application is shortlisted.