Market Development Agronomist

Market Development Agronomist

The Market Development Agronomist (MDA) drives demand of services, technology and products using their technical expertise in agronomy/seed skills and advanced understanding of the services platform. The MAPs (Master Alignment Plan) will be used to determine the specific owners, sellers and Sales Development Managers (SDM's) that the MDA will work with. In addition, the Farmer by Farmer (FxF) plan will be used to identify specific Grower of Tomorrow (GOT) targets in order to utilize the MDA more effectively at the farmgate and during educational clinics.

This is a remote role that will be working with customers in the Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama geography. (Nashville, TN would be the epicenter)

The successful candidate will be expected in live within the geography they are serving.

Area of Responsibility

40% On Farm GOT Activities with Retail Sellers

• Work with specific owners, sellers and SDM's as identified through MAPs
• Collaborate with SDM's to identify specific GOT targets for on-farm and clinic execution per FxF plan
• Serves as the technical specialist to grow the adoption of digital and services (including TruTerra)
• Actively demonstrates the digital tools in conjunction with daily activities
• Serves as the technical specialist to build confidence through agronomic and product expertise

40% Advanced Acre Execution and Coaching w/Retail Sellers

• Enables the creation of new markets by using digital and services to drive revenue growth in these new markets. Serves as the technical specialist in leveraging this strategy to differentiate our system
• Coaches the Advanced Acre solutions strategy to assigned retail sellers and designated growers in conjunction with internal sales team as determined from MAPs
• Partners with the SDM's on clinic execution
• Conduct training opportunities to include CPP & Seed products, digital and services platform for identified retail locations (at the local level and at Answer Plot events) in collaboration with SDM's
• Execute sales support and coaching based on the MAPs
• Train on new product innovation and execution through various venues such as Insight and/or Innovation trials, Answer Plots, clinics, etc.
• Facilitate virtual services, agronomic and product delivery through videos, etc.
• Provides Innovation/Insight trials direction and execution to identified owners and internal staff

20% Non-Customer Facing Activities

• Actively engage in enhancing skill sets through the Center of Excellence (COE), internal training meetings, etc.
• Collaboration with key regional influencers (ex: basic partner agronomists)
• Attend regional/national meetings through business planning and creation of training plans, materials and pre-call preparation.

Responsible for the following Key Performance Indicators (KPI's):

• Meeting or exceeding defined region, BU sales and financial targets
• Call activity based on Salesforce entries
• Strategic imperatives
• Managing expenses within budget

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in agriculture or business-related field plus 5 years of industry experience; or an equivalent of 10 years of successful work experience in agronomy
• Advanced degree including MS or PhD in agronomy or closely related field is preferred
• Experience coaching, training, and executing technical agronomic decisions and developing and educating others on products, services, and programs.
• Ability to create working relationships internally and externally
• Experience diagnosing customer expectations and needs and responds promptly
• Proactive communicator with exceptional written, verbal, and formal presentation skills
• Trustworthy with a strong level of personal commitment
• Ability to make sound decisions and complete tasks in a fast-paced work environment
• Proven ability to coordinate and collaborate with multiple stakeholders and to influence at all levels
• Ability to work independently and manage productivity
• Experience demonstrating agility and leading/adapting quickly to change
• Solid experience using Microsoft products (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint); virtual collaboration tools (Teams, Zoom); and CRM software (Salesforce)
• Must have current and valid state driver's license
• Ability to travel up to 50%, including evenings and some weekends; may require working long hours during peak seasons

Competencies:

• Executes as a Valued Business Partner
• Demonstrate a Coaching Mindset
• Optimize Selling Effectiveness
• Drive for Total Acre Solutions
• Lead and Embrace Change
• Demonstrate Agility
• Execute with Focus and Accountability
• Engage and Include
• Act Strategically
• Make Insightful Decisions
• Business Acumen

This is a sales role that is compensated with a target mix of base salary plus commission. Base salary is dependent upon experience/tenure and generally ranges between 90,000 - 130,000. Commission is driven by individual performance.

About Land O'Lakes, Inc.

Join us and be part of a Fortune 250, farmer- and member-owned cooperative that is reimagining the business of food. We have been named a Top Workplace by Indeed and LinkedIn, and to the TIME 100 Most Influential Companies list.

We provide a broad portfolio of benefits to keep you and your family at your best. Land O'Lakes is Where Your Future Takes Root.

Land O'Lakes, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) M/F/Vets/Disabled. The company maintains a drug-free workforce, including post-employment substance abuse testing pursuant to a Drug and Alcohol Policy.

Neither Land O'Lakes, nor its search firms, will ever contact you and ask for confidential information over the phone or in email. If you receive a call or email like this, please do not provide the information being requested.