Job Description

FS PARTNERS, a division of GROWMARK, Inc., is a great company for which to work, large enough to offer solid career opportunities and great benefits, but with a friendly, personal feel. At FS PARTNERS, we specialize in agronomy, energy products and grain marketing. We are driven to deliver innovative solutions to help improve the profitability of our customers and farmer owners.

We have more than 150 employees and serve approximately 15,000 customers across southwestern and central Ontario. The people we hire are professional, courteous, knowledgeable and self-motivated, and supported by ongoing training programs such as FS University.

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY STATEMENT

Under the direction of the Hub Manager, the Crop Specialist 1 sells and markets the following products and services to new and existing customers: crop inputs such as fertilizer, crop protection, seed products, as well as service income, technical services, and FS Agri-finance to achieve maximum sales profitability and growth, within an assigned territory.

SUPERVISION AND LEADERSHIP

No responsibilities

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Develops and implements clear and effective written marketing plans and sales strategies that generate profitable sales to existing and prospective customers in the assigned territory.

Provides leadership in supporting FS PARTNERS preferred crop protection, seed and fertilizer, supplier\'s brands and programs.

Supports and introduces precision ag services to new and existing producers which includes the crop scouting, soil sampling, variable rate seed and fertilizer prescriptions, yield data and imagery portions of the program. Utilizes the MiField platform to enhance the producer experience with Precision Ag.

Ensures the latest precision ag products and services are used to position FS PARTNERS as the leader in the marketplace.

Coordinates a minimum of 2 MiField trials that align with current company goals, working with the producer to ensure mutual goals are achieved and harvest results are collected.

Develops 4R crop plans for assigned customers along with other duties to maintain 4R retailer certification at the branch level.

Supports and invites progressive customers to FS PARTNERS Bringing You Whats Next grower event in July each year.

Facilitates the agronomic benefits and promotion of products and services that are core to FS PARTNERS business plan.

Responsible for meeting sales goals as established by Hub Manager and Agronomy Manager. Ensures the credit worthiness of customers and promotes the company\'s credit programs as marketing tools.

Utilizes target marketing and professional sales techniques, including the FS sales interview road map, cropping programs, emphasis of appropriate features and benefits, and contact management system when calling on patrons and prospects.

Adheres to GROWMARK\'s sales and marketing strategies and attends GROWMARK sales trainings as offered.

Utilizes target marketing and professional sales techniques, prepares written proposals/quotations when calling on regular and prospective growers based on prospective customer lists from FS PARTNERS sales history, government offices, and other sources.

Maintains regular contact with customers to ensure high levels of customer satisfaction, and expedites the resolution of customer problems and complaints, by seeking a reasonable \xe2\x80\x9cwin/win\xe2\x80\x9d solution.

Maintains accurate area records and reports, records of all sales and prospecting activities including sales calls, presentations, closed sales, and follow-up activities within their assigned territory, to maintain accurate records to develop a competitive analysis and to maximize territory potential.

Maintains a current knowledge of product applications, technical services, market conditions, competitive activities, advertising, and promotional trends through the reading of pertinent literature and consulting with marketing and technical service areas.

Uses \xe2\x80\x9cFocus Five\xe2\x80\x9d list to identify progressive customers and to coordinate the sharing of these lists between energy, agronomy, and grain sales representatives.

OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS

Creates and participates in presentations during customer meetings and trades shows as required.

May be required to assist Branch locations with various duties.

Ensures that the annual inspection, and company required licenses and permits, for the assigned vehicle are current and kept in the vehicle. Responsible for maintaining the assigned vehicle according

to company standards.

Adheres to all company policies, procedures, and business ethics codes in all areas, e.g. safety, credit,

proper management of assets, pricing, uniforms, etc. and maintains the appropriate professional image.

Follows the GROWMARK Workplace Health, Safety & Environmental policies and procedures. Under the Occupational Health and Safety act (OHSA) employee must: use or wear any equipment, protective devices or clothing required by the employer; report any known workplace hazard to the employer or supervisor; report any known contravention of the Act or regulations to the employer or supervisor; not use or operate any equipment or work in a way that may endanger any worker.

Actively participates in education and training provided by GROWMARK with the purpose of refining agronomy and selling skills.

Performs other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS

Education and Experience

Normally requires a minimum of a College diploma or a University degree in agriculture, marketing, or other related discipline.

Function Competencies

Uses appropriate interpersonal styles and communication skills oral and written, to effectively present information. Uses appropriate selling techniques and approaches when meeting with people from different levels, positions, and backgrounds. Explores needs; respond to questions; discusses solutions and options; describes features and benefits; demonstrates the added value of solutions to the customer; Addresses objections and closes sales.

Proven ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Proven ability to plan and organize personal sales strategy by maximizing the return on time investment

for the assigned territories. Ability to work independently, in a team-oriented environment, and achieve results through others.

Demonstrated mathematical skills with the ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts interest, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply these concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

Demonstrated ability to efficiently work with Microsoft office computer programs in order to maintain client database system, send and receive electronic mail, perform word processing, access information over the internet and develop spreadsheets or graphic documents to enhance business processes.

Demonstrated strong reasoning ability to solve practical problems and handle customer and/or operational issues and effectively explores alternatives and positions to reach outcomes that gain all parties\' support and acceptance.

Core Competencies

Demonstrated GROWMARK core competencies including business knowledge, collaboration, communication, customer focus, decision making, and skill development.

Other Requirements

Must have and maintain a valid driver\'s license and a clean driving abstract, and additionally be able to obtain various licenses, permits and/or certificates as required for this position.

May be required to work extended hours, particularly during peak seasons.

Must be able to be trained in GROWMARK\'s Workplace Health, Safety & Environmental policies and

procedures, including Accident Reporting, Emergency Response Plan, Fire Safety, General Safety

Rules, Health & Safety Rights, Health & Safety Roles and Responsibilities, Safe Manual Lifting, Slips Trips and Falls, and WHMIS.

May be required to be trained in the following: Chemical Handling and Spills Response, Defensive

Driving Transportation of Dangerous Goods.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Mental Effort

The incumbent works independently, within established policies and work procedures and is called upon to make decisions that involve weighing alternatives within their scope of practice set by the Manager.

Requires periods of concentration normally moderate to occasionally high in intensity, and attention to detail when handling various customer needs, preparing various reports, establishing marketing plans in a fast-paced work environment.

The incumbent may encounter moderate to occasionally high mental stress increases when dealing with operational issues and occasionally when meeting, assisting, and influencing the Crop Specialist 1, deadlines, sometimes unclear information and in handling customer queries/issues, other departments and manager\'s requirements that require refocusing. This position may be required to give presentations to groups, which may cause anxiety and stress for some individuals.

Physical Effort

The incumbent spends long periods of time in a sitting position while working at a computer screen with the opportunity to move about. Possible eye strain from using computer for long periods of time.

Occasional lifting, carrying and putting away packaged product, such as seed, fertilizer, and/or jugs of chemicals weighing up to 50 lbs. may be required. On rare occasions may be required to lift product weighing between 51\xc2\xac75 lbs.

Physical demand from field work, such as crop scouting, may require occasional extended periods of walking through large areas, bending or stooping (less than 1 hour per day) in order to inspect plants and soil which may be somewhat uncomfortable.

Working Conditions

Work is completed both in a typical office environment and outdoors (i.e. crop monitoring) at various customer and GROWMARK facilities. It is expected that the incumbent will spend approximately 80% of the time, on the road and with customers. Travelling may include driving on gravel roads for extended periods; driving in occasional storm-like conditions as well some overnight stays may be required.

Additional hours or time outside of normal hours may be necessary due to operational requirements.

Employee may be exposed to noise around farm machinery, odors, and varied surfaces, as well as frequent exposure to dirt, dust, and fumes for a short duration when working in the field and/or working in the fertilizer warehouse. Exposure of fertilizer, crop protection products, and fuel on a moderate basis can lead to headaches and skin irritation.

CSA approved safety precautions must be used while handling chemicals and fertilizer. Long pants or coveralls must be worn when handling such products and while walking through fields and test plots.

Other personal protective equipment maybe required to be worn such as safety glasses, hearing protection, respiratory equipment, and fall arrest equipment.

DISCLAIMER:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to the classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required of personnel so classified. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

Benefits:

• Competitive wages
• Excellent benefit plan
• Excellent work experience
• Ongoing training and development
• Tuition aid for further education

Growmark