Agronomy Grower Relations

Universal Corporation; Lancaster (Lancaster County); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Pension

Merit increases

Paid holidays

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Life insurance

Vision insurance

Short-term disability

Long-term disability

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Lancaster Leaf Tobacco Co. Inc., a subsidiary of Universal Corporation, seeks an Agronomy Grower Relations specialist in Lancaster, PA. This full‑time exempt role supports grower programs and agronomy operations.

You will supervise contracted growers, coordinate field activities, monitor crop progress, assist with audits, and ensure GAP compliance and customer requirements. Travel is required. The ideal candidate has a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, strong agronomy knowledge, excellent

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with focus on Agriculture or equivalent on-farm experience.
• Thorough understanding of agronomy practices, soil evaluations, and crop protection agents.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to cultivate effective working relationships with local tobacco farmers.
• Technical aptitude, including PC and tablet experience.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for contracted growers by maintaining regular communication and supporting positive working relationships.
• Assist growers with production-related concerns by providing guidance, coordinating follow-up, and helping resolve issues.
• Manage grower compliance programs by monitoring participation and documenting requirements.
• Assist with development projects by coordinating field activities and evaluating opportunities to improve practices.
• Assist the buying team with receiving, inspection, and purchasing of contracted tobacco, ensuring accurate documentation.
• Conduct regular farm visits and field evaluations to monitor crop progress and provide agronomic recommendations.
• Support implementation and monitoring of GAP, crop protection, sustainability, and customer compliance programs.
• Maintain accurate grower records, field observations, compliance documentation, and program reporting.
• Provide training and technical guidance to growers on approved production practices and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor crop conditions, pest pressure, disease concerns, and weather impacts.
• Assist with audits, inspections, trials, and customer-driven agronomy initiatives as needed.
• Ensure all work adheres to safety policies, environmental requirements, and regulatory standards.

Skills

Agronomy knowledge

Soil evaluations

Crop protection agents

Verbal and written communication

Grower relationship skills

Technical aptitude (PC/tablet)

Driver's license

Willingness to travel

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture or equivalent

Job description

Location/Department: Lancaster, PA/Agronomy

Status: Full-Time Exempt

Reports To: Agronomy Manager

Our Company

Lancaster Leaf Tobacco Co. Inc., a subsidiary of Universal Corporation, manages dark air-cured tobacco operations in the traditional growing areas of the United States. The company contracts directly with local farmers and exports globally.

The Global Leader in Premium Leaf Tobacco Supply

Universal Leaf Tobacco Company is the world’s leading supplier of premium leaf tobacco, with over 100 years of experience sourcing, processing, and delivering tobacco crops tailored to customer specifications. With operations spanning major tobacco-regions across five continents, we connect hundreds of thousands of farmers to global manufacturers through a reliable, transparent, and traceable supply chain.

Our portfolio includes flue-cured, burley, oriental, and dark tobaccos, supported by deep agronomic expertise and advanced processing capabilities. Beyond the leaf, we offer value-added services such as customized blending, next-generation nicotine solutions, recycled by-products, and digital traceability tools that enhance efficiency and sustainability across the supply chain.

Universal Leaf Tobacco is more than a supplier – we are a long-term partner committed to responsible sourcing, farmer support, and continuous innovation. By investing in

agricultural communities and upholding the highest standards of quality and compliance, we help ensure a resilient tobacco supply for generations to come.

Summary

As an Agronomy Grower Relations at Lancaster Leaf, you will provide technical and operational support for Lancaster Leaf Tobacco Company’s grower relations. This position will be responsible for the supervision, technical oversight, coordination and recommendations of Company and/or Customer agronomy programs, guidelines and policies. This may include the selection of new tobacco production areas, recommendations of approved products, general agronomic production recommendations, development of agronomy programs and development of good agricultural practice protocols. This position requires both field and office work, as well as domestic travel.

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

• Serve as the primary point of contact for contracted growers by maintaining regular communication, responding to inquiries, and supporting positive working relationships.
• Assist growers with production-related concerns by providing guidance, coordinating follow-up, and helping resolve issues that may impact crop quality, yield, or delivery expectations.
• Manage grower compliance programs by monitoring participation, maintaining required documentation, communicating program requirements, and supporting adherence to company, customer, and regulatory standards.
• Assist with development projects by coordinating field activities, gathering data, supporting trials or program initiatives, and helping evaluate opportunities to improve grower support and production practices.
• Assist the buying team with the receiving, inspection, grading, and purchasing of contracted tobacco by supporting operational workflow, verifying product condition, and ensuring accurate documentation throughout the buying process.
• Conduct regular farm visits and field evaluations to monitor crop progress, identify production issues, and provide timely agronomic recommendations.
• Support implementation and monitoring of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), crop protection, sustainability, and customer compliance programs.
• Maintain accurate grower records, field observations, compliance documentation, and program reporting.
• Provide training, guidance, and technical support to growers on approved production practices, product use, quality expectations, and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor crop conditions, pest pressure, disease concerns, weather impacts, and other agronomic factors affecting yield and quality.
• Assist with audits, inspections, trials, research projects, and customer-driven agronomy initiatives as needed.
• Ensure work is performed in accordance with company safety policies, environmental requirements, and applicable agricultural regulations.
• Bachelor’s degree with a focus on Agriculture or equivalent of education and on-farm experience.
• Thorough understanding of agronomy practices, soil evaluations, and crop protection agents.
• Excellent and effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to cultivate effective working relationships with local tobacco farmers.
• Technical aptitude, including PC and tablet experience.
• Valid driver’s license, driver history in good standing and ability to travel.

Preferred Requirements

We offer a wide range of market-competitive total rewards that include 401(k) match, pension, merit increases, paid holidays, medical, dental, life, vision, short and long-term disability benefits, and tuition assistance to name a few.

EOE M/F/Disabled/Vet Employer

All applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.