Crop Specialist – Lucknow District Co-op – Lucknow, Ontario

Job title: Crop Specialist – Lucknow District Co-op – Lucknow, Ontario

Job description: COMPANY: Lucknow District Co-op

HIRING MANAGER: Allan Scott

LOCATION: Lucknow, Ontario

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY STATEMENT

Under the direction of the Agronomy Manager, the Crop Specialist 1 performs a consultative sales and service function to the area crop producers including: agronomic solutions, sales, crop scouting, grain marketing, product logistics, effectively to achieve maximum sales profitability and growth, within an assigned territory.

SUPERVISION AND LEADERSHIP

No responsibilities.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Develops and implements clear and effective written marketing plans and sales strategies that generate profitable sales to existing and prospective customers in the assigned territory.

Utilizes target marketing and professional sales techniques, prepares written proposals/quotations when calling on regular and prospective customers based on prospective customer lists from company sales history, government offices, and other sources.

Creates and manages a customer value plan by providing value-added agronomic products, services, and recommendations on a frequent basis. This includes demonstrating products and services to assist them in selecting those best suited to their needs.

Maintains regular contact with customers to ensure high levels of customer satisfaction, and expedites the resolution of customer problems and complaints by seeking a reasonable “win/win” solution.

Scouts crops on a frequent basis to ensure they meet the appropriate agronomic conditions, as well as makes proper recommendations regarding ways to improve and increase customer satisfaction; Collects soil samples using proper procedures and records soil sample information for proper identification and analysis.

Maintains accurate area records and reports, records of all sales and prospecting activities including sales calls, presentations, closed sales, and follow-up activities within their assigned territory, to maintain accurate records to develop a competitive analysis and to maximize territory potential.

Maintains a current knowledge of product applications, technical services, market conditions, competitive activities, advertising and promotional trends through the reading of pertinent literature and consulting with marketing and technical service areas.

Ensures field signs are displayed on all customers’ fields to promote Company products.

Quotes prices and prepares sales contracts for orders obtained and promotes the use of credit programs as a sales tool and helps provide the required information to establish credit.

Uses “Beyond Boundaries” lists to identify progressive customers and to coordinate the sharing of these lists between energy, agronomy, and grain sales representatives.

OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS

Creates and participates in presentations during customer meetings and trades shows as required. May be required to assist Branch locations with various duties.

Ensures that the annual inspection, and company required licenses and permits, for the assigned vehicle are current and kept in the vehicle. Responsible for maintaining the assigned vehicle according to company standards.

Adheres to all company policies, procedures and business ethics codes in all areas, e.g.: safety, credit, proper management of assets, pricing, uniforms, etc. and maintains the appropriate professional image.

Follows Company Workplace Health, Safety & Environmental policies and procedures. Under the Occupational Health and Safety act (OHSA) employee must: use or wear any equipment, protective devices or clothing required by the employer; report any known workplace hazard to the employer or supervisor; report any known contravention of the Act or regulations to the employer or supervisor; not use or operate any equipment or work in a way that may endanger any worker.

Actively participates in education and training provided by the company with the purpose of refining agronomy and selling skills.

Performs other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS

Education & Experience

Normally requires a minimum of a College diploma or a University degree in agriculture, marketing or related discipline. The Crop Specialist 1 is required to be working towards obtaining the Certified Crop Advisor certification (CCA) or professional sales certification. This position should be knowledgeable about agronomy, fertilizer, agricultural chemicals and seed products.

Functional Competencies

Uses appropriate interpersonal styles and communication skills oral and written, to effectively present information; Uses appropriate selling techniques and approaches when meeting with people from different levels, positions and backgrounds. Explores needs; respond to questions; discusses solutions and options; describes features and benefits; demonstrates the added value of solutions to the customer; addresses objections and closes sales.

Proven ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Proven ability to plan and organize personal sales strategy by maximizing the return on time investment for the assigned territories. Ability to work independently, in a team-oriented environment, and achieve results through others.

Demonstrated mathematical skills with the ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts interest, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply these concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

Demonstrated ability to efficiently work with Microsoft office computer programs in order to maintain client database system, send and receive electronic mail, perform word processing, access information over the internet and develop spreadsheets or graphic documents to enhance business processes.

Demonstrated strong reasoning ability to solve practical problems and handle customer and/or operational issues and effectively explores alternatives and positions to reach outcomes that gain all parties’ support and acceptance.

Core Competencies

Demonstrated core competencies including business knowledge, collaboration, communication, customer focus, decision making and skill development.

Other Requirements

Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license and a clean driving abstract, and additionally be able to obtain various licenses, permits and/or certificates as required for this position.

May be required to work extended hours, particularly during peak seasons.

Must be able to be trained in company’s Workplace Health, Safety & Environmental policies and procedures, including Accident Reporting, Emergency Response Plan, Fire Safety, General Safety Rules, Health & Safety Rights, Health & Safety Roles and Responsibilities, Safe Manual Lifting, Slips Trips and Falls, and WHMIS.

May be required to be trained in the following: Chemical Handling and Spills Response, Defensive Driving Transportation of Dangerous Goods.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Mental Effort

The incumbent works independently, within established policies and work procedures and is called upon to make decisions that involve weighing alternatives within their scope of practice set by the Manager.

Requires periods of concentration normally moderate to occasionally high in intensity, and attention to detail when handling various customer needs, preparing various reports, establishing marketing plans in a fast paced work environment.

The incumbent may encounter moderate to occasionally high mental stress increases when dealing with meeting deadlines, sometimes unclear information and in handling customer queries/issues, other departments and manager’s requirements that require refocusing. This position may be required to give presentations to groups, which may cause anxiety and stress for some individuals.

Physical Effort

The incumbent spends long periods of time in a sitting position while working at a computer screen with the opportunity to move about. Possible eyestrain from using computer for long periods of time.

Occasional lifting, carrying and putting away packaged product, such as seed, fertilizer, and/or jugs of chemicals weighing up to 50 lbs may be required. On rare occasions may be required to lift product weighing between 51- 75 lbs.

Physical demand from field work, such as crop scouting, may require occasional extended periods of walking through large areas, bending or stooping (less than 1 hour per day) in order to inspect plants and soil which may be somewhat uncomfortable.

Working Conditions

Work is completed both in a typical office environment and outdoors (i.e. crop monitoring) at various customer and company facilities. It is expected that the incumbent will spend approximately 80% of the time, on the road and with customers. Travelling may include driving on gravel roads for extended periods; driving in occasional storm-like conditions as well some overnight stays may be required. Additional hours or time outside of normal hours may be necessary due to operational requirements.

Employee may be exposed to noise around farm machinery, odors, and varied surfaces, as well as frequent exposure to dirt, dust, and fumes for a short duration when working in the field and/or working in the fertilizer warehouse. Exposure of fertilizer, crop protection products, and fuel on a moderate basis can lead to headaches and skin irritation.

CSA approved safety precautions must be used while handling chemicals, and fertilizer. Long pants or coveralls must be worn when handling such products and while walking through fields and test plots. Other personal protective equipment maybe required to be worn such as safety glasses, hearing protection, respiratory equipment and fall arrest equipment.

DISCLAIMER:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to the classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required of personnel so classified. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Click Here to Apply

Source: