Seed Production Lead

Southeastern Seed, LLC

Job Title: Seed Production Lead

Location: (Humboldt, TN)

Classification: Full-Time

Position Summary:

The Production Lead is responsible for managing the full production lifecycle of corn, soybean, and winter wheat seed for Southeastern Seed. This role will oversee planning, contracting, field production, and quality assurance with both third-party growing facilities and local farmers. The ideal candidate will bring strong agronomic knowledge, a commitment to quality, and experience managing grower relationships and executing production contracts.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Seed Production Planning & Oversight

• Develop and execute annual production plans based on sales forecasts and inventory needs.

• Determine hybrid/variety placement, acreage allocation, and field selection for corn, soybeans, and winter wheat.

• Coordinate with agronomy and inventory teams to balance production output with quality and supply chain goals.

2. Grower Relations & Contract Management

• Identify, recruit, and maintain relationships with a network of local contract growers and third-party production partners.

• Draft, negotiate, and execute grower contracts that clearly define acreage, pricing, quality standards, stewardship responsibilities, and delivery expectations.

• Provide ongoing support and agronomic guidance to growers throughout the season.

3. Field Monitoring & Agronomic Stewardship

• Conduct regular field inspections to monitor plant health, weed and pest control, pollination timing, isolation distances, and detasseling/roguing practices.

• Ensure that all production follows prescribed protocols to maintain seed purity, trait integrity, and high germination standards.

4. Harvest, Handling & Delivery

• Coordinate harvest logistics and oversee post-harvest handling, including drying, cleaning, transportation, and storage of raw seed.

• Maintain traceability from field to bin to ensure lot identity is preserved throughout the supply chain.

5. Quality Assurance

• Collaborate with internal and external QA/QC and processing teams to ensure all seed meets quality benchmarks, including germination, purity, and trait expression.

• Participate in bin sampling, lot testing, and evaluation of seed conditioning results.

6. Recordkeeping & Reporting

• Maintain accurate records for all grower contracts, field performance data, quality results, and production costs.

• Prepare post-harvest performance reviews and production summaries for leadership.

7. Cross-Functional Coordination

• Work closely with Sales, Agronomy, Inventory, Processing, and Logistics to align production with business needs.

• Serve as the internal production subject matter expert for corn, soybeans, and winter wheat.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy, Agribusiness, Plant Science, or related field (or equivalent experience).

• Minimum 3 years of experience in seed production or crop contracting (corn, soybeans, or wheat preferred).

• Strong understanding of production agriculture, seed purity standards, and agronomic best practices.

• Experience writing and managing agricultural contracts.

• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.

• Proficiency in Excel and production tracking systems.

• Willingness to travel regionally during growing and harvest seasons.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience working with both commercial growers and third-party production facilities.

• Familiarity with seed certification processes, trait stewardship, and compliance standards.

• Knowledge of winter wheat seed production cycles and isolation requirements.

Work Environment:

• Split between field, office, and occasional processing plant environments.

• Extended hours and fieldwork required during planting and harvest seasons.