AGRONOMY ASSISTANT OPERATIONS MANAGER

Centra Sota Cooperative; Country Village Mobile Estates (MN); On-site; USD 57,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Centra Sota Cooperative in Cokato, MN, is seeking an agronomy operations supervisor to coordinate location functions, lead staff, and ensure top-tier customer service. The role requires flexible, coachable individuals with strong leadership and independent judgment to improve efficiency.

You will recruit, train, schedule, manage inventory, and maintain safety and quality standards while collaborating with HR and sales teams. A 2-year degree and experience in agronomy are preferred.

Qualifications

• 2-year college degree or equivalent experience in agronomy or related field.
• 2 years' prior experience in an agronomy setting with progressive responsibilities.
• Ability to operate location equipment and maintain safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Assist with recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, and employee relations.
• Train new hires and provide ongoing product knowledge.
• Assist with staff planning, goals, and scheduling.
• Coach and evaluate staff using performance metrics.
• Manage equipment dispatch and deliveries.
• Operate equipment, drive trucks, and perform shop work.
• Maintain inventory and product handling.
• Ensure quality manufacturing and adherence to safety policies.
• Provide superior customer service and resolve issues quickly.
• Enforce regular equipment maintenance.
• Observe company policies and perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

2-year degree

Leadership

Communication

Teamwork

Problem Solving

Organization

Safety awareness

Independent judgment

Equipment operation

Customer service

Education

2-year degree

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

AgVance

Class A CDL

ERP/Inventory software

Job description

Job Details

• Job Location: Cokato Agronomy - Cokato, MN 55321
• Position Type: Full Time
• Education Level: 2 Year Degree
• Salary Range: $57,473.00 - $82,618.00 Salary/year
• Job Shift: Monday - Friday
• Job Category: Agronomy

It is Centra Sota Cooperative’s vision to improve lives and create a more vibrant future for farmers, families, and communities in Central MN. We are a people-focused cooperative offering honest and helpful information, innovative products, and exceptional service from a reliable team of experts who care.

Position Summary

The primary responsibility of this role is to assist with managing and coordinating the agronomy operational functions and staff at the location. This person must be flexible, coachable, with a great attitude while ensuring excellent customer service. This person must be self-driven, exercise independent judgement and manage multiple tasks with a positive attitude. This person will have excellent leadership skills and excel at identifying ways for operations to become more effective and efficient.

Primary Functions

• Assist with recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, and all other employee relations, in coordination with HR when appropriate
• Help train new hires and provide ongoing education (including product knowledge) for all employees
• Assist the manager with setting criteria for staff, creating daily work plans, production goals and employee schedules
• Help coach, develop, and evaluate staff based on performance metrics, actively utilizing our Check-In process
• Utilize current tools and technology for equipment dispatch and deliveries
• Operating equipment, truck driving and miscellaneous shop work
• Assist with managing and maintaining accurate inventory and product handling
• Maintain quality manufacturing and mixing to assure quality standards
• Maintain safe, clean and neat equipment, warehouses and facilities
• Provide superior customer service and resolve complaints quickly and appropriately, while maintaining open communication with both sales and operators
• Enforce regular equipment maintenance plans and procedures
• Demonstrate a commitment to doing what is right, a solid work ethic, a strong sense of ownership, a passion for agriculture, and genuine respect for others
• Model and teach safe behavior while enforcing all safety policies
• Observe and enforce all company policies
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• 2-year college degree in related field or any combination of education, training and experience providing required knowledge, skills, and abilities
• 2 years prior experience in related setting, with demonstrated progressive track record
• Must be skilled in the operation of all location equipment
• Strong team work, leadership and listening skills, and inspires respect and trust
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Strong interpersonal skills, with an ability to interact effectively with staff, customers, and other business partners
• Commitment to excellence and high standards in terms of providing outstanding customer service, problem solving and managing difficult situations
• Ability to remain flexible in a rapidly changing environment
• Resourceful, self-starter with good independent, ethical, decision-making ability
• Excellent organizational skills including detail oriented, multi-tasking, planning, and prioritizing
• Results-oriented, accurate and thorough with a commitment to accountability
• Understands and actively works with basic business concepts (budgets, profit margins and revenue)
• Strong technical competency with an interest in staying current on leading edge precision technology
• Excellent computer skills with the ability to learn key operational computer programs
• Must Comply with current driver qualification requirements and our Drug and Alcohol Policy

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in agricultural related program.
• Applicators license
• Class A CDL
• Exhibits understanding of service and product knowledge in one or more of the following areas: agronomy fertilizers, chemicals, application equipment, farming techniques, etc.
• Experience with AgVance or similar software.

Physical Demands

Physical Demands: The demands described are representative of those to be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand and walk for long periods of time as well as use hands/fingers to reach or handle, and to talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel or crouch. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 60 pounds. All vision abilities are required to encompass close-up and distant work. Routine use of a computer and cell phone are required. The employee must tolerate and endure extended seasonal hours and maintain alertness to meet deadlines.

Work Environment

The environment described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to machinery and moving parts, airborne particles including grain dust and hazardous materials or fumes, which will require the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). The employee is exposed to adverse weather conditions, high, precarious places and confined spaces. The noise level in some of the work environments may require the use of hearing protection. While performing the duties of this job inside the office, the employee is frequently exposed to normal working conditions for an office environment with a noise level that is usually low to moderate.

Disclaimer

Disclaimer: This job description is not a complete description of responsibility, but reflects the general duties, qualifications and requirements necessary to perform this job. Centra Sota Cooperative reserves the right to revise the job description as circumstances warrant.