Crop Specialist/Sales Associate - South Central FS, Inc. - Tower Hill, IL

The FS brand represents a standard of excellence for agricultural and energy-related products. It's the people who represent the FS brand that set it apart. As local cooperatives, FS Companies believe it is their responsibility to ensure that our earth, our communities, and businesses perform together, sustainably. FS Companies are committed to ensuring the continued profitability for the company, their owners, and their customers, while enacting to help the environment and greater good.

Job Summary:

Under the direction of the Area Manager, generates profitable sales in the assigned territory through   cold calling, target marketing, competitive analysis, and providing value-added agronomic products, services, and recommendations. Ensures the credit worthiness of customers and promotes credit programs as marketing tools. Primary responsibility is to make sales to current/existing customers and to new customers; this is an outside sales position.  Responsible for sales and delivery of product.  Responsible for sales and marketing of products and accounts receivable within assigned territory.  Ability to work extended hours.

Essential Functions (other duties may be assigned):

• Conduct consistent, direct sales calls on at least 20 prospective customers and work with existing customers in assigned sales territory.
• Drives and delivers profitability sales growth.
• Obtain orders and/or contracts for South Central FS products and services.
• Assist in implementing marketing plans and develop sales strategies that generate profitable sales.
• Provides value added agronomic products, services, and recommendations to patrons and prospects.
• Provides customer service by using soil testing, crop scouting, precision farming and other programs, and follows up on complaints.
• Attends all training meetings, school training and seminars as assigned.
• 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.
• Promote the use of the Ag Finance, Precision Farming & Crop Insurance.
• Ensure accounts receivable is within company’s credit policy.
• Works closely with the credit department in collection of accounts receivable.
• Responsible for maintaining assigned vehicle according to company standards.
• Wears required company uniform and maintains a clean professional appearance.
• Ability to travel independently and overnight as needed. Travel >70%
• Successfully adhere to safety rules and company policies and procedures.  EHS, OSHA and DOT policies and procedures must be adhered to at all times.

Education and Experience: 

• Minimum: College Degree
• Requires strong understanding of the on-farm production practices.
• Willingness to actively engage in training programs and self-study.
• Persistence to have high sales call frequency with prospective accounts.

Must obtain the appropriate driver’s license for the type of vehicle that will be required to operate in order to perform all the duties assigned prior to employment and to maintain that license throughout the length of employment.  (The type of license required is a Class A C.D.L. license with an endorsement of Hazmat, tank and air brakes.)

Must pass the D.O.T. physical and drug test one week prior to employment and to continue to pass these tests at any time required thereafter while employed with the company.

Must be able to lift a minimum of sixty pounds over your head of any product, and to be able to position that product in any area required or where the patron or supervisor requests it to be placed.

Must have the ability to travel and stay overnight(s) from time to time as required.

Must work in all types of weather conditions and temperatures.

Must have a working knowledge of applicable company computer programs

FS. Bringing You What's Next. 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, motor vehicle report, and/or reference check, as applicable and permissible by law.