Sales Agronomist III-Central Illinois

Bayer; Illinois; On-site; USD 91,000 - 136,000; Full time

Job summary

Bayer is seeking a Sales Agronomist III for Central Illinois to lead portfolio planning and grower engagement across Fulton, Tazewell, Logan, and Mason counties.

Expect high travel (about 60%), agronomic education, product placement decisions, and collaboration with field sales representatives to achieve sales goals and customer satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Agility in communication approach to effectively interact with organizations or individuals.
• Ability to speak to company practices regarding current and future products and corporate initiatives.
• Demonstrated strategic thinking capability using business insights to project decisions.
• Digital fluency with industry tools and a desire to use data-driven decisions to grow the business.
• Strong analytical, influence, innovative sales, and negotiation skills with documented ability to drive results.
• Excellent facilitation, presentation, written communication, and conflict management skills.
• Ability to quickly start and grow strategic relationships and influence customer behavior.
• Strong task management, prioritization, and ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously for effective customer support.
• Exceptional networking and consultative sales skills to engage customers and build new relationships.
• Ability to quickly learn and apply agronomic knowledge to promote options fitting customer needs.
• Position requires driving for the company, possibly under DOT/FMCSA jurisdiction, involving safe hauling of trailers, products, supplies, or equipment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of a comprehensive Bayer portfolio business plan with Field Sales Representatives for assigned geography.
• Build relationships with key growers by providing agronomic insights, product selection, and placement recommendations.
• Deliver squad goals by leading grower demand generation plans and supporting others' role responsibilities.
• Provide whole-farm agronomic advice through education, product selection, and placement.
• Drive trials related to Bayer Portfolio with targeted growers.
• Offer additional support at key seasonal milestones such as crop planning, in-season product needs, field scouting, and harvest monitoring.
• Collaborate with FSRs, TAs, and Partner on business planning, understanding, and influencing growers' business objectives.
• Resolve performance issues and support key grower needs in season, including PPIs and Replants.
• Make strategic recommendations to leadership on innovative ways to enhance business results.
• Connect with company peers on programs and issues to gain alignment and support for resolutions.
• Monitor grower account inventory progress, track planned activities, and identify new issues or opportunities throughout the year.
• Manage an annual SG&A budget and program expenditures.
• Travel approximately ~60% with significant face-to-face customer interaction.

Skills

Communication agility

Relationship building

Strategic thinking

Digital literacy

Analytical skills

Negotiation skills

Presentation skills

Multi-tasking

Field sales

Driving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in agriculture or related field

Job description

At Bayer we’re visionaries, driven to solve the world’s toughest challenges and striving for a world where 'Health for all Hunger for none’ is no longer a dream, but a real possibility. We’re doing it with energy, curiosity and sheer dedication, always learning from unique perspectives of those around us, expanding our thinking, growing our capabilities and redefining ‘impossible’. There are so many reasons to join us. If you’re hungry to build a varied and meaningful career in a community of brilliant and diverse minds to make a real difference, there’s only one choice.

Sales Agronomist III-Central Illinois

This role covers Central Illinois including the following counties: Fulton, Tazewell, Logan and Mason.

YOUR TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the development of a comprehensive Bayer portfolio business plan with Field Sales Representatives (FSRs) for assigned geography, prioritizing ~100 growers with high growth opportunity;
• Build relationships with key growers by providing value-added support, including agronomic insights, product selection, and placement recommendations;
• Deliver squad goals by leading grower demand generation plans and supporting others' role responsibilities;
• Provide whole-farm agronomic advice through education, product selection, and placement, while staying informed of agricultural research;
• Drive trials related to Bayer Portfolio with targeted growers;
• Offer additional support at key seasonal milestones such as crop planning, in-season product needs, field scouting, and harvest monitoring;
• Collaborate with FSRs, TAs, and Partner on business planning, understanding, and influencing growers' business objectives;
• Resolve performance issues and support key grower needs in season, including PPIs and Replants;
• Make strategic recommendations to leadership on innovative ways to enhance business results;
• Connect with company peers on programs and issues to gain alignment and support for resolutions;
• Monitor grower account inventory progress, track planned activities, and identify new issues or opportunities throughout the year;
• Manage an annual SG&A budget and program expenditures;
• Travel approximately ~60% with significant face-to-face customer interaction.

WHO YOU ARE

Bayer seeks an incumbent who possesses the following:

Required Qualifications:

• Agility in communication approach to effectively interact with organizations or individuals, while balancing and building relationship dynamics;
• Ability to speak to company practices regarding current and future products and corporate initiatives;
• Demonstrated strategic thinking capability using business insights to project decisions;
• Digital fluency with industry tools and a desire to use data-driven decisions to grow the business;
• Strong analytical, influence, innovative sales, and negotiation skills with documented ability to drive results;
• Excellent facilitation, presentation, written communication, and conflict management skills;
• Ability to quickly start and grow strategic relationships and influence customer behavior;
• Strong task management, prioritization, and ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously for effective customer support;
• Exceptional networking and consultative sales skills to engage customers and build new relationships;
• Ability to quickly learn and apply agronomic knowledge to promote options fitting customer needs;
• Position requires driving for the company, possibly under DOT/FMCSA jurisdiction, involving safe hauling of trailers, products, supplies, or equipment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in an agriculture-related discipline, business, or related field;
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant agriculture experience in agronomy, technology, sales, or marketing;
• Experience with sales teams and teams working remotely.

Employees can expect to be paid a salary of approximately between $90,640.00 - $135,960.00. .Additional compensation may include a bonus or commission (if relevant). Additional benefits include health care, vision, dental, retirement, PTO, sick leave, etc. This salary (or salary range) is merely an estimate and may vary based on an applicant’s location, market data/ranges, an applicant’s skills and prior relevant experience, certain degrees and certifications, and other relevant factors.

This job is available for application until at least September 22, 2026

To all recruitment agencies: Bayer does not accept unsolicited third party resumes.

Bayer is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans

Bayer is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations in its application process for individuals with disabilities and encourages applicants with disabilities to request any needed accommodation(s) using the contact information below.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: Notice for U.S. Visitors: All information on this site is subject to compliance with local rule and regulations as they may vary from time to time and across different geographies, including, without limitation, U.S. Executive Orders. Bayer is an E-Verify Employer.

Location: United States : Illinois : Residence Based Division: Crop Science Reference Code: 880016 Contact Us Email: [e-mail]