Crop Associate - AgVantage FS - Thornton, IA

AgVantage FS is headquartered in Waverly, Iowa with branches in Northern and Eastern Iowa. AgVantage FS has about 400 employees (including seasonal workers) and approximately 23,000 customers. The cooperative does business in agronomy, energy, precision agronomy, and agri-finance. AgVantage FS is part of the GROWMARK System, an agricultural cooperative serving more than 100,000 customers across North America and Ontario, Canada.

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY STATEMENT 

Trains and works to generate profitable sales to new and existing customers in the assigned territory through sales, target marketing, competitive analysis, providing value-added agronomic products, services, and recommendations, ensuring the credit worthiness of customers, and promoting credit programs as marketing tools.   

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS 

Develops target marketing plans and trains on professional sales techniques, including the FS sales interview road map, cropping programs, emphasis of appropriate features and benefits, and contact management system when calling on patrons and prospects. 

Travels to client locations within assigned territory to establish GROWMARK brand and obtain orders for products and services. 

Develops territory and competitive analysis to maintain a current knowledge of the marketplace and the competition. 

Adheres to GROWMARK’s sales and marketing strategies and attends GROWMARK sales trainings as offered. 

Responsible for meeting sales goals as established by supervisor.   

Conducts sales interviews, identifies customer needs, and offers value-added agronomic products, services, and recommendations to patrons and prospects.  Assists with regular patron meetings on product and technical information to develop customer relationships and drive sales. 

Provides customer service by scheduling product deliveries and application, soil testing, crop scouting and other programs. Follows up on all customer complaints and seeks a reasonable “win/win” resolution. 

Ensures the credit worthiness of customers, quotes prices and credit terms, and prepares sales contracts for orders obtained.  Promotes the use of credit programs as a sales tool and helps provide the required information to establish credit.  

OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS 

Assists with location operations on an as needed basis. 

Responsible for maintaining the assigned vehicle according to company standards, adheres to the uniform policy, and maintains the appropriate professional image. 

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

Responsible for completing and updating profile information sheets on all targeted prospects. 

Collects for sales of all assigned products according to company credit policy. 

Develops technical and sales skills in accordance with certification standards. 

Follows GROWMARK’s Code of Conduct and Corporate Compliance Program, Environmental Health and Safety, OSHA and DOT policies and procedures, as they apply. 

Performs all other duties as assigned. 

REQUIREMENTS 

Normally requires an Associate’s Degree in agriculture, marketing or business related discipline or the equivalent thereof, and 1 - 2 years or more of business related work experience and/or training or equivalent to demonstrate the ability to generate sales in an assigned territory. 

Daily independent travel within the trade area with occasional overnight stays. 

Demonstrated essential abilities including business knowledge, collaboration, communication, customer focus, decision making and skill development. 

Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license and clean driving record. 

Must possess or obtain a seller’s or solicitor’s license where required by law. 

Ability to work extended hours as business conditions warrant 

Normally requires the ability to obtain the Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) and Commercial Applicator certifications to demonstrate agronomy expertise and experience. 

Occasionally exposed or required to:   

• Extreme weather conditions (hot, cold, wet, etc.) 

• Noisy conditions 

• Working conditions may include dust, fumes, chemicals, and electrical hazards with appropriate safety measures 

• May be required to work at varying heights  

• Lift 51-75 lbs.  

Ability and willingness to participate in required training that may include education on GROWMARK’s policies and procedures and additional training as it relates to the requirements of the position.  

We are an equal opportunity employer, including protected veterans and qualified individuals with disabilities. Employment may be contingent upon receipt of an acceptable and job-related background check, drug test, motor vehicle report, and/or reference check, as applicable and permissible by law.