Agronomy Sales Specialist

Description

Job Summary

The Agronomy Sales Specialist develops and maintains trusted relationships with agricultural producers within an assigned territory. This position identifies customer needs, recommends and sells crop input and agronomic solutions, and coordinates with internal teams to provide accurate, responsive service from pre-season planning through application, delivery, harvest, and post-season review. The candidate combines practical agronomic knowledge, consultative selling, sound follow-through, and a commitment to the cooperatives long-term relationships. This position will coordinate with the Central Dispatcher, as well as the Agronomy plant managers to ensure proper delivery and inventory control.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Sales

• Develop, manage, and grow a portfolio of producer accounts within the assigned sales territory
• Build long-term customer relationships through regular farm visits, timely communication, dependable follow-through, and a strong understanding of each operation’s goals
• Prospect for new business, identify sales opportunities, and promote Five Star’s agronomy products, services, programs, and technology solutions
• Prepare customer proposals, product recommendations, bookings, and sales agreements in accordance with approved pricing, credit, and margin expectations
• Maintain an accurate sales pipeline and work toward established sales, margin, retention, and account growth
• Increases sales of agronomy products through customer service calls and recommendation of appropriate agronomy products and services
• Inform central dispatch & operations managers of delivery needs and sales to customers in a manner which will result in increased satisfaction
• Makes sales calls on all potential customers in the trade area
• Makes proper recommendations and applications of products sold
• Know and use all resources necessary to make proper recommendations and applications of products sold
• Correctly identify resources for assistance
• Keep resource manuals accessible and current
• Ensure no product problems result due to your recommendation or installation
• Attend all product updates and sales training sessions
• Clear all major bids with supervisor

Service

• Partner with customers to develop practical crop plans using field history, yield goals, soil-test information, pest pressure, product performance, stewardship considerations, and budget objectives
• Recommend seed, crop nutrients, crop-protection products, application services, precision-agriculture tools, and related programs appropriate to customer needs
• Scout fields, evaluate crop conditions, document observations, and communicate timely recommendations within the employee’s training, licensing, and level of expertise
• Remain current on agronomic practices, product labels, market conditions, new technologies, competitive activity, and supplier programs through ongoing training and industry involvement
• Support customer meetings, plots, field days, grower events, and other educational or promotional activities
• Work with customers to resolve problems and report complaints to supervisor
• Communicate customer commitments and service requirements clearly to operations; proactively communicates changes
• Works collaboratively across operations, locations, and departments to deliver a consistent, high-quality customer experience

Reporting and Administration

• Invoices all employee-delivered products promptly and accurately
• Ensure all tickets presented to the office are correct
• Present a copy of each transaction to the customer after each delivery
• Turn all sales tickets into the office daily
• Ensure all cash receipts are turned in daily and are accurate
• Informs direct supervisor of potential problems or potential new business opportunities directly or indirectly related to the department
• Enter and maintain complete, timely, and accurate customer, field, order, pricing, contact, and sales information in company system
• Monitor open orders, inventory availability, service schedules, and account status
• Assist with account collection efforts and follow company credit policies while preserving professional customer relationships

Requirements

Qualifications

Education:

• High School Diploma Required
• Associates or Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Agribusiness, or a related field

Experience:

• Two or more years of successful agronomy sales experience
• Working knowledge of seed, crop nutrition, crop protection, and precision agriculture

License, Certificate or Registration:

• Valid Driver License Required; Class A CDL Preferred
• Certified Applicator License with A, B, C, and Seed Treatment required or the ability to obtain  
• Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) credential or willingness to pursue

Basic Skills:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills necessary
• Computer Skills required – Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Good customer service skills and approach necessary
• Speaking, Writing, Reading Comprehension, Listening, Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management; Fluent reading, writing, and speaking the English language