Director, Crop Protection

We're seeking a Director of Crop Protection. Position Overview Pulse Canada is the national association representing over 26,000 growers and more than 100 processors and exporters of peas, lentils, beans, and chickpeas based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Director, Crop Protection works as part of Pulse Canada’s team to develop and implement a strategy that will ensure that the Canadian pulse industry benefits from access to new and affordable crop protection products and that the export of pulses remains compliant with the contractual and regulatory requirements in key export markets. The Director plays a leadership role in the development and implementation of a strategy that will: Ensure that Canadian pulse crops meet the needs and expectations of customers around the world on a range of parameters, including maximum residue and contaminant limits, and exceed the standards of pulse crops from competitive production regions. Ensure that Canada’s pulse industry is working collaboratively with a wide range of national and provincial stakeholders across Canada on approaches to addressing regulatory issues and on advancing pulse industry interests through the minor use registration process. Advance pulse industry interests at the international level to ensure that pulse crop products receive timely import tolerances for products that can be used by Canadian pulse growers. Work with Canada’s crop protection companies to ensure that the interests and vision of the Canadian pulse industry are clearly known. Work with researchers and grower groups to ensure that pulse crop protection research and contaminant priorities are being addressed. Key Responsibilities Implement actions that help provide access to new products, optimize affordability of crop protection products, and reduce/eliminate market access limitations while ensuring a high degree of confidence in the quality and safety of Canadian pulse crops. Liaise with expert groups and individuals domestically and internationally in the crop protection and contaminant space including pulse growers, processors, exporters, life science companies, academia, and regulators in Canada and other key market partners. Develop and influence a broad network of contacts in the area of crop protection. Represent the pulse industry at domestic and international committees and meetings addressing crop protection and contaminants. Communicate pulse and special crops industry crop protection and contaminant priorities, data requirements, recommendations and other issues to government and key industry stakeholders. Coordinate a pulse industry strategy to achieve the best possible outcomes from policy directions and decisions at the PMRA. Provide strategic leadership to the Keep It Clean program and ensure that key stakeholders are provided with analysis that enables meaningful evaluation of trade risks (e.g. active ingredients with MRL gaps, production and handling practices that are higher‑risk). Ensure that extension specialists (e.g. chemical companies, retailers, agronomists, provincial resources) are engaged and communications materials prepared on issues related to MRL export risk and corrective actions. Monitor World Trade Organization notifications for key Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) and contaminant changes and removals. Monitor international (e.g. EU, U.S., Codex) active ingredient re‑evaluations to ensure mitigation measures are in place to prevent the loss of MRLs for active ingredients that are essential to pulse crop production in Canada. Refine and expand pulse crop MRL gap databases measuring trade vulnerabilities. Conduct analysis supporting the identification of Codex MRL priorities on an annual basis to feed into Codex JMPR (joint meeting or pesticide residue) annual prioritization lists. Ensure industry has access to a global MRL query tool for applicable crops and markets, for example the FoodChainID Global MRL database. Maintain and enhance a residue monitoring program for pulse and special crops to ensure the industry has access to timely pesticide and contaminant residue data. Monitor and influence Canada’s and key pulse export market regulatory and policy environment for plant breeding innovation (PBI) so it delivers innovation in the crop sector while maintaining consumer acceptance and market access abroad. Acquire use pattern data to estimate the extent of use of individual pesticides. Identify opportunities to develop multi‑organization project proposals and obtain funding from partners and liaise with project funding partners outside of the organization. Manage the project (program), its finances and its stakeholder relations. Prepare reports and claims to funding organizations. Prepare information for other Pulse Canada team members including PowerPoint presentations, statistical information and written reports. Provide regular updates on project activities to provincial grower groups, Pulse Canada Board, management, expert advisory committees and steering committees. Contribute actively to the development of the organization’s long‑term plans and the development of annual work plans, detailed project plans as well as board and management dashboard reports. Develop and maintain board and management reporting documents. Reporting and Accountabilities The Director, Crop Protection is accountable to the President and the Pulse Canada team leading efforts on market access, market development and competitiveness and directly reports to the Vice President, Corporate Affairs. No positions report to the Director, Crop Protection; however, on occasion the Director may be required to secure the work of temporary staff to complete project‑specific work. Skills and Attributes / Employer Expectations Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Agronomy, Economics, Agriculture or a related discipline plus 5 years experience in a related position. Relevant professional experience in areas of crop protection, project management or the agriculture and food industry. Self‑starter with demonstrated ingenuity in approaches to personal or professional challenges and to achieve tangible outcomes. Resourcefulness in finding and synthesizing data and information is key. Ability to work with a diverse group of stakeholders to build consensus and reach common objectives. Excellent in program and project planning, development, implementation, management and closure. Ability to multi‑task and manage time effectively; leading and managing the affairs of the Crop Protection program while contributing to broader organizational and industry efforts. Strong oral and written communication skills and experience communicating to a diverse range of target audiences in industry, government and those not familiar with the agri‑food sector. Ability to effectively plan and manage the financial affairs of the Crop Protection program. Works well within a team environment, supportive of other team members. Record of delivering results that are on time and accurate. Record showing sound personal judgment and lawful and ethical behaviour. Availability for travel. Application Please email your cover letter and resume in confidence to by January 16, 2026. Seniority level Director Employment type Full‑time #J-18808-Ljbffr