Farm Sales and Operations Apprentice

Description

Federated Co-ops Inc. has an opening for a Farm Sales and Operations Apprentice working out of our Osceola, WI location. As a Farm Sales and Operations Apprentice, you will work with our seasoned team out of our Osceola, WI Agronomy Center location learning all aspects of what it means to consult, sell, deliver product and ensure a positive supportive customer experience!

As a Farm Sales and Operations Apprentice, you will start in agronomy/farm sales but we also want that person to understand and be able to support the entire operations side of our business.

Sales Support: A key part of this apprentice roll will include sales support and training. You will attend sales development training sessions and get to learn our seed, crop nutrients, crop protection products, custom application services, and our energy products. As you get to know our customers and products you will progress in your ability to consult and support our Farmer / Producers and customers will slowly be handed over to you.

Operations: You will also learn the operation part of our business by learning how to prepare fertilizer and chemical deliveries and helping deliver fertilizer and products to our customer locations. We will also provide on the job training as you learn how to operate our sprayers and spreaders.

You will also learn our technologies and systems and helping our front office team where needed.

This position will eventually get their Commercial Drivers License and their Custom Applicators License. 

This key member of our team will focus on helping achieve the Federated Co-op mission, goals, and market share, while increasing gross sales, local net margin, and providing outstanding customer service proactively to our customers.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities of the Farm Sales and Operations Apprentice include the following:

• Learn and develop understanding of all Federated Co-ops products and services by attending training sessions and meetings.
• Attend and participate in sales calls and contact current & prospective customers (both cold calls and warm leads).
• Tracking all sales calls and contacts on Federated Co-ops web based Sales Contacts and Leads.
• Sell, secure and place seed orders to Federated Co-ops Central Warehouse.
• Leverage and promote grower meetings, grower events and promotional activities.
• Support and facilitate in-store counter sales.
• Assist Location Manager with monitoring inventories and customer invoicing.
• Attend monthly sales meetings and planning and development activities.
• Coordinate and support custom application services with customers.
• Support the preparation, mixing, loading of product for delivery.
• Deliver product, chemicals and other supplies as needed to customer site locations.
• Operate spreader and sprayer equipment, applying product to customer site locations as needed. 
• Hours: This position must be able to work within our customer/growers time frames and schedules and include extended hours during our spring busy season as well as evenings and/or weekends as seasonal demands dictate.
• This position will need to seek ongoing educational opportunities to enhance understanding of new products and offerings in order to educate and support the customer sales process.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Requirements:

• Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Crop Science or heavy equipment operations or equivalent;

OR

• Two to four years related experience working with farmers and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Previous Agriculture background and sales experience a plus.
• Active CDL and or ability to obtain CDL.

Physical Demands:

The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include Close vision, Distance vision, Peripheral vision, Depth perception and Ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and climb or balance. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear and taste or smell.

Compensation and Benefits: 

Compensation range is between $45,000 - $65,000 with base and bonus and will vary based upon experience.

The actual pay offered will vary based on multiple factors which include, without limitation, experience, education, training, specialized skills, and certifications. Federated Co-ops Inc. also offers industry leading benefits including 401(k) with company match of 7%. 

Below is a summary of the benefits Federated Co-ops Inc. offers to employees and are subject to eligibility requirements for each benefit plan.

Benefits:
Federated Co-ops Inc. offers a competitive benefits package to those who qualify which includes medical insurance, HSA employer contribution, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, matching 401(k), employee assistance program, disability insurance, employee discounts, referral program, clothing allowance/uniforms, paid holidays, floating holiday, PTO and direct deposit.