Product Development Officer

About the role

Seed Co Zambia Limited is seeking a Product Development Officer to join its team in Lusaka. Reporting to the Product Development Lead, the role focuses on evaluating, testing, and promoting commercial crop varieties to drive market adoption.

Key responsibilities

• Develop protocols for systematic evaluation, registration, release, and delisting of commercial crop varieties.
• Design and implement Product Development Strip Trials (PDST) comparing established and newly released varieties.
• Coordinate PDST tours for R&D, Sales & Marketing, and Business Development teams.
• Collect, analyse, and present trial data to relevant stakeholders.
• Analyse market survey data to support strategic planning and product placement.
• Formulate recommendations on product placement and market segmentation.
• Participate in R&D Yield Trials, crop tours, and internal strip trials.
• Promote variety adoption and track sales growth of new products.
• Record farmer engagement across all scales and facilitate stakeholder partnerships for trials and field days.

Required profile

• Minimum degree in Agriculture or a Business‑related field.
• Member of the Agricultural Institute of Zambia.
• SCCI practising licence.
• Relevant field experience in seed or crop development.
• Valid motor vehicle driver’s licence with at least two years of driving experience.

Required skills

• Knowledge of plant breeding and crop agronomy.
• Competence in strip‑trial data analysis and reporting.