Leadership Development Associate

Mid Kansas Cooperative; Haven (KS); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Mid-Kansas-Cooperative is seeking a professional development associate to grow into sales, management, or staff roles within agronomy, grain, or home office functions. The program covers training across departments including agronomy, grain operations, and energy.

The role emphasizes hands-on learning, regulatory compliance, and effective customer service. Trainees attend all training classes and rotate through offices to gain broad operational experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in agronomy or related field or five years’ grain/agronomy experience.
• Proficient in data entry and basic computer use.
• Ability to interpret scientific, technical, and legal journals.
• Commitment to safety and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Learn fertilizer/chemical warehouse operations, inventory, billing procedures, and equipment maintenance.
• Learn to receive/ship grain, inspect grades, and manage storage quality.
• Learn NH3 equipment maintenance and safety regulations; monthly safety trainings.
• Shadow specialists in grain marketing, crop insurance, and energy products to understand strategies.
• Develop supervision and training skills; participate in performance reviews.

Skills

Agronomy knowledge

Independent worker

Computer & data entry

Reading technical journals

Customer service focus

Education

Bachelor’s degree in agronomy or related field

Job description

Description

JOB SUMMARY: This position is designed to develop an employee into a professional level position whether it be in sales, management, or a line position such as staff accountant. The professional development associate will direct their training toward a department of the company they are interested in. The available departments are: agronomy sales, agronomy operations, grain marketing, crop insurance, grain operation, energy sales and operations, and home office accounting and administrative functions. This position will attend all training classes as assigned.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Good working knowledge of the properties of corn, wheat, beans, milo, and sunflowers.
2. Good working knowledge of seed, feed, chemical and fertilizer products.
3. Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
4. Computer and data entry skills.
5. Ability to react to change productively and handle other essential tasks as assigned.
6. Be able to obtain and retain a class 7B grain fumigation license.
7. Obtain and retain a class A CDL with Haz Mat endorsement
8. Be able to obtain and retain a class 1A certificate.
9. Strive to exceed customer expectations at each transaction.
10. 10.Ability to read, interpret, and apply common scientific, technical, and legal journals.
11. 11.Ability to respond cordially to inquiries or complaints.
12. 12.Ability to write and log information, produce reports, and verbally communicate information.

Requirements

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT:

Eye protection is required in restricted areas. Appropriate personal protective equipment (i.e. goggles, gloves, long sleeve shirt, and/or face mask) required when handling chemicals. Hard hat required in elevator facilities.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

A bachelor’s degree in agronomy or a related agricultural field or five years of experience in the grain or agronomy business.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

1. Work in an agronomy location. Learn the fertilizer and chemical warehouse operations, operation of mixing equipment, inventory, accurate billing procedures, operation of a spray rig and tender truck. Learn maintenance requirements of agronomy equipment. Learn to develop an effective delivery schedule to ensure accurate and timely delivery to the customer.
2. Work in a grain handling facility. Learn to receive and ship grain in the most efficient manner possible using available staff. Learn to sample & place an inspection grade on all incoming & outgoing grain shipments as a basis for accurate pricing. Maintain the grain in the elevator to the highest standard of quality possible. Blend grains as necessary when shipping out to achieve maximum grade and price for the company and our customers. Learn to accurately account for all grain shipped in and out of the facility. Provide grain drying services (if available) by grading & testing grain before & after grain drying operation & reporting grades to office so that accurate service charges may be calculated. Report quality by grade and quantity of grain going into storage to the office. Learn maintenance requirements of equipment & facilities and housekeeping standards.
3. Learn to fill and maintain NH3 equipment in good condition.
4. Learn OSHA, state & federal safety regulations. Conduct a monthly safety training class.
5. Ride with a field marketer. Learn how agronomic recommendations are developed for customers using best practices decisions for the grower.
6. Ride with a grain marketing specialist & learn grain contracts, options & marketing strategies.
7. Ride with a crop insurance specialist & learn crop insurance products & marketing strategy.
8. Ride with a certified energy specialist and learn energy products and marketing strategies.
9. Learn to supervise both full and part time employees. Develop training skills by participating in training classes at your assigned location. Advise the location manager on discipline and performance issues and assist in the writing of performance appraisals for employees under your supervision.
10. Rotate through the corporate office learning the accounting, information services, inventory, credit, and human resources departments.
11. Greet customers promptly and courteously with a friendly smile and a hello, thank them for their business, promptly and courteously answer the phone, assist customers with loading and unloading, work with customers to resolve problems and report complaints to location or agronomy operations manager.
12. Attend product, merchandising, and company meetings and work to improve personal skills and knowledge. Attend sales training classes and develop sales skills.
13. Learn the company credit policy. Follow the policy by making credit terms known to customers, not charging customers on COD, not extending credit to customers without approval of credit manager, and not authorizing customers to exceed their credit limit.
14. Maintain a positive attitude that promotes teamwork within the company and a favorable image of the company.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Job involves work in dusty, windy, hot, humid, cold, or wet conditions; work around moving mechanical parts; high precarious situations; tight hard to access spaces; fumes or airborne particles; and moderate short-term noise exposure. The job requires much stooping, standing, and climbing on ladders. Extensive scooping with a shovel and sweeping with a broom may also be required.

This job description does not list all the duties of the job. You may be asked to perform other duties. Management has the right to revise this job description at any time. The job description is not a contract for employment, and either you or the employer may terminate employment at any time, for any reason.