Leadership Development Associate

Mid Kansas Coop; Sterling (VA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional agricultural company in Sterling, Virginia seeks a Professional Development Associate to foster career growth in sales, management, or accounting. Responsibilities include learning warehouse operations, supervising staff, and ensuring customer satisfaction. Candidates should possess a bachelor's degree in agronomy or five years of relevant experience. The role requires knowledge of agricultural products and safety regulations while offering a pathway to professional development across various departments.

Qualifications

• Good working knowledge of corn, wheat, beans, milo, and sunflowers.
• Ability to obtain a class 7B grain fumigation license.
• Ability to obtain a class A CDL with Haz Mat endorsement.
• Proficiency with computers and data entry.
• Willingness to obtain required licenses (CDL HazMat, NH3, 1A).
• Ability to read and apply technical journals and respond to inquiries.

Responsibilities

• Learn fertilizer and chemical warehouse operations.
• Supervise both full and part-time employees.
• Greet customers promptly and courteously.
• Attend safety trainings and learn OSHA/state/federal regulations.
• Shadow specialists in marketing, crop insurance, energy products and service delivery.
• Rotate through corporate offices to understand accounting, inventory, and HR processes.

Skills

Knowledge of agricultural products

Computer and data entry skills

Ability to work independently

Customer service skills

Ability to handle chemicals safely

Education

Bachelor’s degree in agronomy or related field

Five years experience in grain or agronomy business

Tools

CDL HazMat endorsement

NH3 equipment operation

OSHA safety regulations

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. Ability to read, interpret, and apply common scientific, technical, and legal journals.
11. Ability to respond cordially to inquiries or complaints.
12. Ability to write and log information, produce reports, and verbally communicate information.

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 appraisal 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 to 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.