Crop Specialist - Wabash Valley Service Company - West Liberty, 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.

LOCATION: West Liberty                                                  

REPORTS TO: Location Manager                                                                                

STATUS: Exempt

SALARY RANGE: $45,000 - $70,000

SUMMARY STATEMENT

Maximize profitable sales of the assigned products and services with targeted accounts, while working in conjunction with all other Team Agronomy marketing people in the territory to improve the profitability of patrons’ cropping enterprises with the use and recommendation of the assigned products and services, while maintaining key accountability for those products and services as described herein:

KEY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Identify seed target market accounts, key accounts and key prospects in the assigned territory. Utilize a strategy that best fits an account’s needs using all seed product lines offered by the company.  These product lines include FS, Becks, Syngenta, Brevant, and any other Wabash Valley supported seed brands.
• Be able and willing to make cold calls on accounts that are not currently doing business with the company.
• Be able to make sales proposals based on field-by-field recommendations based on information such as yield, field history, soil type, drought tolerance, emergence, and any and all other considerations that a grower determines as relevant.
• Must be active in marketing activities throughout the year including side by side, plots, placing of field signs, and in field grower days.
• Individually analyze these accounts as to their wants and needs in the Crops area.
• Develop a strategy for fulfilling each target account’s wants and needs with the assigned products.
• Implement the strategies with the target market accounts in a manner that will result in profitable sales for the company and increased profitability for the account.
• Assure that each account is adequately and efficiently serviced.
• Assist in the training of location personnel to enable them to meet the needs of the customer.
• Develop and conduct customer/prospect meetings pertinent to product lines.
• Know present customers and their past purchasing history.
• Compiles a list of prospective customers and knows their potential using Focus 5 program.
• Maintains an ongoing target prospect list and develops a daily plan for calling on prospects.
• Maintains an ongoing information file on each prospect and customer.
• Uses contact management system (CRM) and makes appointments for regular calls on customers and prospects.
• Deliver and see that deliveries of products are made in a timely manner to ensure customer satisfaction.
• Stay currently informed on technical information and product changes and follows all company guidelines.
• Follow up on customer complaints and notify supervisor of complaints the same day.
• Attempt to regain lost customers, and report lost customers to the supervisor in a timely manner.
• Display good judgement, positive attitude and enthusiasm in dealing with customers and other employees.
• Wears the required company uniforms, projecting a positive image of the company in personal appearance, equipment appearance and personal habits.
• Subscribe to and support the company credit policy.
• Develop business through new accounts utilizing approved company financing programs, which will require targeting those accounts. Writing applications, follow up and working with the credit manager to ensure applications are complete.

OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS

• All other duties that may be assigned by the Plant Manager.
• Encouraged to work toward achieving professional Growmark certification.

• 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 regularly required to stand and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell.  The employee must regularly lift and/ or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.

Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.  The ability to write speeches and articles for publications that conforms to prescribed style and format.  Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

Mathematical Skills: Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.  Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

Reasoning Ability: The ability to define problems collects data, establish facts, and draws valid conclusions.  Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

REQUIREMENTS

• Normally requires a minimum of an Associate’s Degree in agriculture, marketing, or business, or the equivalent thereof, and 2 years or more of related work experience to demonstrate knowledge of production agriculture.

• Must maintain a valid CDL driver’s license with HAZMAT endorsement.

• 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.

• Must be willing to work hours other than those considered normal to meet seasonal demands.

• Continuously 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
• Confined spaces
• Lift 51-70 lbs.
• Required to push heavy objects

ACCOUNTABILITY

• Salesperson in performing the above duties is expected to create profitable sales and repeat customers in order to gain the maximum share of market attainable in the sales territory consistent with company policies and objectives.
• It is upon the discretion of the Supervisor to determine the level of crops specialist expertise you are at, based upon all of the above criteria.

Employee __________________________           Date _____________

Supervisor __________________________         Date______________

We are dedicated to supporting the long-term financial well-being of our employees through a fully funded pension, a cornerstone benefit that ensures security for the future. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, along with a variety of supplemental plans like accident, critical illness, disability, hospital indemnity, and identity theft protection. To promote a healthy work-life balance, employees enjoy generous paid time off (PTO) and paid holidays, giving you time to recharge and focus on what matters most. Additionally, our 401(k) plan with company matching helps you plan for retirement, while our free Employee Assistance Program (EAP) supports your overall well-being. Whether you're starting your career, balancing family life, or planning for retirement, our company is committed to providing employees with a comprehensive and competitive Total Rewards package that meets your needs at every stage. Benefits eligibility may vary depending on the position.

Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, location, and other factors permitted by law.  In addition to base pay, certain roles may be eligible for bonuses, incentives, and commissions.

We are an equal opportunity/Disabled/Protected Veteran Employer. All individuals, regardless of demographic or other background, are encouraged to apply. Further, as a federal, state, and local contractor, we comply with government regulations and executive orders as applicable, including affirmative action responsibilities for qualified individuals with disability and protected veterans.

Employment is contingent on, among other things, receipt of an acceptable and job-related background check, drug test, motor vehicle report, and/or reference check, as applicable and permissible by law.