Field Development Representative

The GST FDR position is a 3-tiered role, including responsibilities in field science, technical support, and lab management. The Development Representative will conduct and/or coordinate field, lab, and greenhouse research, with Gowan and third-party products. He or she will also provide technical support to sales representatives, customers, and key Centers of Influence (COI’s) in the assigned territory.

Responsibilities

• Development duties will include the following:
• Serve as a liaison between sales and marketing to identify product development opportunities for Gowan products.
• Design, plan and implement replicated trials with insecticides, fungicides, and biorational products.
• Conduct trials personally and/or place them with university or private researchers.
• Collect trial data and complete research reports in a timely manner.
• Make presentations on trial work at scientific meetings i.e. Annual Development Meeting.
• Assist in obtaining Experimental Use Permits, special use registrations and tracking regulatory information as required by regulatory authorities.
• Technical Support duties will include:
• Be the technical resource for the assigned territory.
• Develop training materials on Gowan products and provide technical product and product differentiation training to Sales Representatives and customers (including seed treaters, breeders, dealers, and customers) in the assigned territory on an as-needed basis.
• Conduct demonstration trials with support from sales representatives and customers.
• Assist in the assessment and settlement of product complaints.
• Assist sales in developing presentations, sell sheets, technical bulletins etc. to facilitate product sales.
• Assist Sales with presenting product technical features at customer meetings.
• Lab Management duties will include:
• Maintain raw seed, treated seed, and product inventory for annual screening and field trials.
• Ensure timely treatment and shipment of treated trial seed to cooperators.
• Develop and maintain SOPs for lab operations and trials.
• Oversee and conduct lab and greenhouse trials on seed safety, efficacy and shelf-life.
• Ensure lab is always maintained and in serviceable condition.
• Hold tours of lab and conduct seed treatment demonstrations for Gowan employees and visitors.
• Ensure all state and federal pesticide safety laws, permitting, and tracking requirements are followed.

Experience / Skills / Abilities:

• 3-5 years of field experience evaluating plant protection compounds in desert cropping systems and willingness to learn new cropping systems across the country
• Experience with leafy vegetables, cole crops, cucurbits, onions, pulse crops, and other specialty crops.
• A thorough understanding of the US crop protection industry.
• Experienced in planning, designing, implementing, and evaluating plant protection compounds using standard field and lab research techniques.
• Strong inter-personal skills and equally skilled at communicating with fellow researchers at the university or private level as well as marketing, salespeople, and customers.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with experience in translating detailed scientific information into practical decision-ready information for non-technical clients.
• Self-starter able to take initiative and conduct themselves in a professional manner with little direct supervision.
• Strong team player and thrive in the role of being the lead technical expert supporting the sales team in their assigned region.

Education

• Advanced degree in Plant Science, Weed Science, Entomology, Plant Pathology, or Agronomy with 3-5 years field experience in development of plant protection products.