Agronomy Sales Tech

Farmers New Ag; Saint Ansgar (IA); On-site; USD 38,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

NEW Cooperative seeks an entry-level Agronomy Assistant in Iowa to support in-season operations, field research, and grower service. You will work alongside experienced agronomy sales specialists to learn the sales process, assist with seed and chemical delivery, and help deliver timely agronomy solutions.

Responsibilities include customer support before, during, and after the sale, scouting and soil sampling, and contributing to the achievement of personal, regional, and company sales goals.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or equivalent experience in agronomy required.
• Valid Class A CDL with tanker and HazMat endorsement.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Shadow experienced agronomy sales specialists to learn selling strategies and the sales process.
• Provide exceptional customer service before, during and after the sale.
• Identify potential customers and help build relationships with prospects.
• Assist with agronomy operations including seed handling, fertilizer application, and yield checks.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Computer literacy

Mathematics proficiency

Problem solving

Education

Associate degree in agronomy

Class A CDL with tanker & HazMat endorsement

Job description

Position Summary/Objective: Assist with in-season agronomy operations, field research, and grower support

Essential Duties & Responsibilities: Include but are not limited to the following:

• Shadow experienced NEW Cooperative agronomy sales specialist to develop selling strategies and learn the sales process.
• Provide unmatched customer service before, during and after the sale. Learn to balance achieving sales goals with servicing customers.
• Identify potential customers and work with agronomy sales specialists to build relationships with prospects.
• Understand and work to achieve personal, regional, and company-wide sales goals.

Agronomy Operations

• Execute necessary agronomy operations to serve customers effectively and efficiently by sorting and delivering seed, packaging, and delivering chemicals, and applying fertilizer.
• Assist with the planting and harvesting of seed plots. Perform yield checks and yield monitor calibrations.
• Aid in scouting and soil sampling for customers.
• Calibrate anhydrous ammonia variable rate technology equipment and create recommendations in SOILMAP.

Learning & Development

• Remain knowledgeable and involved in sales marketing programs of agronomy departments.
• Expand knowledge of seed, plant nutrition, chemistry, and the cooperative business model. Adopt a mindset of continuous improvement.
• Attend various agronomy trainings to deepen knowledge of products, services, and plant health.
• Seek additional opportunities to grow knowledge of agronomy and sales strategies.
• Maintain a strong professional network to connect with future potential talent or customers.

Basic Employment Expectations:

Safety

• Performs work safely and uses the appropriate PPE.
• Checks the work area for hazards and corrects/reports unsafe conditions.
• Considers the safety of oneself, and other employees, and customers.
• Follows all safety protocols and seeks advice from supervisor when uncertain.

Communication

• Maintains open communication and cooperates with supervisor, departments, and fellow employees.
• Communicates with supervisor and others immediately when unexpected problems cause absence, lateness, or the need to leave early.

Accountability & Professionalism

• Abides by policies set forth in the employee policy manual.
• Carries a fair share of the workload.
• Promotes NEW Cooperative through positive, friendly, and professional interactions.
• Is punctual, follows directives, and works in an efficient and timely manner; accepts personal responsibility for the quality and timeliness of the work.
• Understands that satisfactory attendance is essential to the efficient operation of the work environment.

Customer Service

• Continually works to satisfy customers to address questions/concerns through effective communication, solving problems, responding to questions, and managing their expectations.

Personal/Professional Development

• Establishes personal performance goals and works toward these goals.
• Continually upgrades and demonstrates knowledge of the job.

Qualifications & Requirements:

• Minimum of an associate’s degree or equivalent experience in agronomy.
• Must be licensed and insurable to drive.
• Class A CDL (Commercial Driver s License) with tanker and HazMat endorsement required.
• Must possess an array of interpersonal communication skills for interacting with varyingpersonalities, roles, circumstances and emotional status of teammates, customers, and contractors.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Understand the seasonality of the farm supply business and the in-season time commitment.
• Must possess proficiencies of common computer programs and processes.
• Must understand common mathematics associated with agronomy application processes.
• Possesses problem solving capability and understands the operational processes.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must 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 regularly required to sit, stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is rarely required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here 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.

Position will rarely work in wet or humid, extreme cold/heat (all non-weather) conditions, work near moving mechanical parts, work in high, precarious places, fumes, or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, outdoor weather conditions, risk of electrical shock, explosive atmosphere, and vibration.

Disclaimer: This job description indicates the general nature and minimum level of work expected. It is not designed to cover every activity, duty, or responsibility required of the employee. The employee may be asked to perform other duties related to the successful performance of the job.