Head Nutrient R&D; | Leading Agri-Inputs Company

About the Company

Our client is one of India's leading and fastest-growing agri-input organizations with a strong legacy in agricultural innovation. The company has a diversified portfolio across Crop Nutrition, Seeds, Crop Protection, Biologicals, and Animal Feed, supported by a robust R&D; ecosystem and a strong commitment to innovation. As part of its aggressive growth plans, the organization is making significant investments in research, technology, and new product development to strengthen its leadership in the agri-input industry.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced R&D; leader to head the Crop Nutrition and Biologicals Research & Development function and drive innovation across the portfolio. This strategic leadership role will be responsible for developing next-generation crop nutrition solutions, including Macro, Secondary & Micronutrients and Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs).

The incumbent will lead the complete product development lifecyclefrom concept generation and formulation design to laboratory research, field validation, regulatory compliance, and commercialization. The role requires close collaboration with cross-functional teams including Marketing, Quality, Regulatory, Manufacturing, and external research institutions to develop innovative, market-driven products while strengthening the organization's R&D; capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

Research & Product Innovation

- Define and execute the R&D; strategy for Crop Nutrition products, including Macro, Secondary & Micronutrients and Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs).
- Lead new product development programs from ideation through commercialization.
- Design and optimize formulations while continuously improving existing technologies and product performance.
- Develop innovative crop nutrition solutions for field crops, horticulture,



and specialty crops.
- Plan, supervise, and interpret laboratory evaluations, greenhouse studies, and multi-location field trials.
- Evaluate new technologies in compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.
- Collaborate with external research organizations, universities, and technology partners for product evaluation, licensing, and data generation.

Project & Infrastructure Management

- Lead multiple R&D; projects, ensuring timely achievement of project milestones, budgets, and commercialization objectives.
- Develop annual R&D; plans, budgets, and performance metrics.
- Strengthen research infrastructure through investments in laboratory instrumentation, analytical capabilities, and prototyping facilities.
- Design and oversee all aspects of new product development, including experimental planning, trial execution, data analysis, and technical documentation.

Cross-functional Collaboration & Networking

- Build strategic partnerships with national and international research institutes, technology providers, and industry experts.
- Partner with Marketing to develop customer-centric innovation pipelines aligned with market requirements.
- Work closely with Regulatory Affairs to ensure compliance with Fertilizer Control Order (FCO) and other applicable regulations.
- Collaborate with Manufacturing and Quality teams to ensure successful technology transfer and commercial scale-up.

Team Development & Quality

- Lead, mentor,



and develop high-performing R&D; teams across laboratory, plant, and field functions.
- Drive a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Support Quality Assurance in establishing product specifications, traceability systems, and quality review processes.
- Ensure technical capability development through regular training and knowledge sharing.

Desired Candidate Profile

- Ph.D. or M.Sc. in Agriculture, Agronomy, Soil Science, Plant Nutrition, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Plant Molecular Biology, or a related discipline.
- Extensive experience in Crop Nutrition R&D; with proven expertise in Macro, Secondary & Micronutrients and Plant Growth Regulators.
- Robust track record in formulation development, research program management, and successful commercialization of crop nutrition products.
- Sound understanding of crop physiology, agronomy, biotechnology, and plant biochemistry.
- Working knowledge of analytical techniques and laboratory instrumentation such as HPLC, GC, AAS, UV-Visible Spectrophotometer, and related analytical tools.
- Experience in experimental design, statistical analysis, research methodologies, field trial management, and product development processes.
- Strong understanding of the regulatory framework governing fertilizer and crop nutrition products, including FCO and related guidelines.
- Demonstrated leadership experience with excellent project management, stakeholder management, and team-building capabilities.
- Ability to build strategic collaborations with research institutions, universities, and technology partners.
- Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
- Passion for innovation and continuous learning with willingness to travel extensively for trials, customer interactions, and technical collaborations.

📌 Principal Scientist, Crop Nutrition & Biologicals (Uttar Pradesh)
🏢 Icresset
📍 Uttar Pradesh