Crop Specialist

Crop Specialist - FS Partners - Elmvale, ON

**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.

**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 “win/win” 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.
- Uses “Focus Five” 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 par