Conservation Agronomist

Summary:

Responsible for helping farmers increase profitability by adopting better soil health and conservation practices through sales efforts, education events, and program management by performing the following duties.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Engage with Heartland’s farmer customers and prospects by phone, email, and in person to educate, train and sell the value of soil health and conservation farming practices including, but not limited to:
  • Cover crops
  • No-till or reduced tillage
  • Variable rate fertilizer application or N stabilizers
  • In-season N application
  • Relay cropping or diversifying rotations
  • Buffer, filter, or prairie strips
  • Saturated buffers or bioreactors
• Assist other Heartland Co-op agronomists with field days, grower meetings, and educational events including rainfall simulations, soil health demonstrations, and cover crop or saturated buffer tours. .
• Engage with local NRCS staff, soil and water conservation districts, watershed management authorities, ACWA, INREC, Iowa Seed Association, Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI), and other conservation organizations to develop and support partnerships and programs that directly assist farmers in adopting conservation practices.
• Provide technical assistance and logistical support to Heartland Co-op’s conservation team in the following areas:
  • Manage and maintain integrity of data collection for Heartland Co-op’s Conservation Sales Manager Platform
  • Coordinate quarterly invoicing with Heartland Co-op’s conservation agronomists for Heartland’s conservation programs and partnerships
  • Utilize data from the CSM platform to generate annual reports, quarterly updates, and new lead lists for conservation sales calls
  • Write grant proposals and manage application requirements and deadlines
  • Assist conservation agronomists and their farmer customers with public conservation cost share program applications 
• Collaborate with other Heartland Co-op conservation agronomists to implement Heartland Co-op’s conservation programs and partnerships including, but not limited to:
  • Manage sales and support for the Central Iowa Cover Crop Partnership
  • Conducting agronomic consultations and exit surveys for customers enrolled in PFI administered cover crop partnership.

Conduct site vetting, surveying, and project management for the Heartland Coop and Iowa Seed Association Conservation Drainage Program.

• Aid in the training of Heartland Co-op’s sales staff on state, federal, and private conservation programs and the benefits available for growers. 
• Collect and populate for Heartland Co-op’s Conservation Sales Manager platform.
• Prepare work plans, budgets, quarterly and annual reports, and support grant developments. 
• Must maintain a valid driver’s license and commercial insurability at all times.
• Other duties as assigned by management. 

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to outdoor weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to work near moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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 frequently required to walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk, hear, taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Employee is exposed to long seasonal work hours.

Lift Level: Medium

Exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly.

Competency:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Analytical - Synthesizes complex or diverse information.
• Design - Translates concepts and information into technology plans.
• Customer Service – Responds to requests for service and assistance.
• Oral Communication – Persuasive oral skills.
• Cost Consciousness - Contributes to profits and revenue.
• Change Management – Builds commitment and overcomes resistance.
• Judgment – Exhibits sound and accurate judgment.                 

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience:

Bachelor's degree (B.A. or B.S.) from four-year college or university; or five to ten years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Language Ability:

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.  Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.  Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

Math Ability:

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Additional statistical concepts such as correlations and summarizing are also required.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Computer Skills:

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of spreadsheet, word processing, accounting, and Precision Ag software. In addition, the ability to link pc based systems to Precision Ag hardware for firmware upgrades.

Certificates and Licenses:

Must maintain a valid driver’s license and commercial insurability at all times.