Technical Services Specialist - OHP

AMGUARD Environmental Technologies (AMGUARD”), American Vanguard Corporation’s specialty and professional solutions business unit is seeking a Technical Services Specialist for its OHP-branded ornamental, greenhouse, and Controlled Environmental Agriculture (“CEA”) technical solutions team. OHP is a recognized leader in bringing novel synthetic and biological technologies into these highly specialized markets. 

The Technical Services Specialist will lead and assist with creating and managing technical projects, protocols, and data in service to developing products and technical information for the dissemination to the OHP team, our partners, customers and growers in the Nursery, Greenhouse, CEA, and Cannabis markets. The Technical Specialist position will focus primarily on entomological and pathological issues but requires performance across all segments of OHP’s plant health & production portfolio (insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, PGR’s and specialty products).

OHP continually strives to evolve and grow their portfolio of value-added solutions through strategic partnerships, label expansions, improved formulations, and robust in-house R&D initiatives.  This is an excellent opportunity for a professional with strong technical, sales, marketing, and business development skills to join the OHP team. 
 

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist and develop the OHP technical department in coordination with the OHP Technical Director, Amguard & Amvac's R&D teams’ direction. 
• Work with and assist TSM’s in their respective territories to help educate customers and conduct demos to help increase sales.
• Develop and deliver technical briefings (both written and orally) to team members, customers, and industry audiences (technical bulletins, presentations, magazine articles, video, product demonstrations, website content, customer, and grower training, etc.)
• Review and edit technical bulletins and company literature to ensure clear & technically-accurate marketing programs are delivered.
• On-board and train new and existing team members on technical information and OHP products.
• Develop and maintain a network of academic, distribution and grower partners to assist with projects and research needed to generate data and technical product information. 
• Work with marketing and technical staff to conduct annual reviews of technical information within marketing material; Update, refresh, and improve all company literature for dissemination.
• Maintain OHP trial database of research projects by products, cooperator(s), TSM and market segment.
• Create, review, and disseminate technical information to internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with the OHP Technical Director and internal regulatory staff and AMVAC's R&D team on new OHP product registrations, labels, special use permits, amendments and updates. 
• Help provide and create updated information, review new regulations and draft technically compliant label language.
• Assist and develop OHP research protocols and align with Amvac Regulatory and R&D teams to generate data needed for registration and expansion of new and existing products.
• Assist team, customers and growers with technical questions and product support in support of the commercial mission.
• Support sales staff and customers with education, field trials/ demonstrations and technical support.
• Help manage OHP research spending according to company goals and budgets.
• Expand the use of products in current and expanding markets; Investigate new uses with new technologies and application methods (drones, robotics, low volume sprayers, etc.)
• Continued education and industry involvement with active participation in various societies, attending conferences and related activities.
• Maintain a network of academic and industry researchers, and growers / cooperators for assistance in technical projects for the continued development of OHP products.
• Represent OHP and AMGUARD at national and regional trade shows and conferences.
• Manage department expenses and assist with cooperator payments within defined budgets.
• Develop protocols to generate, deliver and compile necessary data for registration and expansion of new and existing OHP products in collaboration with Amvac's regulatory and R&D teams.
• Manage and support product research by securing and shipping samples as needed.
• Remain current and learned of market competition, industry forces and market opportunities.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with distributors and manufacturer technical departments to expand the distribution and sales of OHP products nationally. 
• Create and provide training programs, field days and seminars to maximize product awareness and usage.
• Provide expertise to advise and drive strategic operations and product development that supports the goals, plans, and performance of channel partners.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• 5 years of experience marketing, growing, researching, promoting, and/or selling insect, weed, and plant disease control products and/or services in Nurseries; Greenhouse; CEA (Controlled Environment Agriculture)  and/or Cannabis markets
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in a related field.
• Ability to interact with all levels of management and staff
• Working knowledge of growing systems and cultural practices with the ability to communicate effectively with industry partners
• Detail-oriented and self-motivated
• Ability to make rapid decisions and pivot when necessary
• Strong Power Point, Excel, and Word skills required
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail
• Strong written & oral communication skills
• Flexibility, adaptability and perseverance with challenges and obstacles
• Be able to travel up to 60% 
• Position will be based out of a home office located within the continental United States with reasonable access to an airport
• A valid US driver’s license and pass a pre-employment background check
  
  

Benefits:

• Health insurance including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life
• Company Vehicle 
• Health Savings Account (HSA) & Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with employer matching
• Employee Stock Purchasing Plan with employee discount
• Vacation & Holiday pay
• Wellness program
  
  

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. AEP is proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V.