Account Relationship Manager - Agronomy

 Summary: This position will promote the proper use of crop protection products, plant food, seed and other services offered by Keystone Cooperative. The ARM will build customer relationships, grow agronomy sales as well as optimize the cooperative’s market share, improve efficiency, and help achieve profitability goals for both Keystone Cooperative and our customers.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Aggressively prospect sales leads, utilizing relationships and information from a variety of sources
• Travel throughout assigned territory to call on regular and prospective customers to solicit orders
• Be self-motivated to gain and demonstrate significant knowledge of products, services and technologies
• Quote prices and credit terms, and prepare sales contracts for orders obtained
• Interpret soil sample results and make fertilizer application recommendations
• Proactively and comprehensively service customer agronomic needs
• Assist in operations and support services during busiest seasons
• Develop annual farmer/customer programs that include soil testing, field mapping, product recommendations, timely and accurate application, field scouting as needed, record keeping, and follow-up calls.
• Knowledge and familiarity with Microsoft Office software. Ability to learn Keystone Cooperative ag-based programs.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

Candidate must possess proven sales competencies, business acumen, interpersonal skills and initiative. Also, candidate must possess exceptional work ethic, self-motivation, be highly responsible, a positive attitude, professionalism, and the ability to manage multiple tasks. Candidate should hold a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university; or one to two years related experience and/or training. Must have the ability to build relationships, interact, communicate, plan and organize tasks independently and with teams. The candidate must possess marketing acumen to recognize seed sales growth opportunities driven by the interaction of seed genetics with the planting environment, as well as other opportunities developed through the use of other crop inputs within a field. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Language Skills

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

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

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Computer Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of many forms of technology, e.g., database software; spreadsheet software and word processing software. Familiarity with Microsoft Office products. Ability to learn Ceres Solutions ag-based programs.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Must maintain all state and industry certifications, licenses and endorsements if pertinent to the position held.

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. 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; talk or hear and taste or smell. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk and sit. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment The characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; outside weather conditions; extreme cold and extreme heat. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.