Trainee Agronomist
Vacancy Ref: 39400 KM
The Company:
An established agronomy business.
The Job Role:
You will obtain the knowledge and develop the skills of an agronomist over a two-year period of structured training and practical work experience. On successful completion of the training program, you should be equipped to provide the company's arable and grassland farmers with a professional and integrated prescription agronomy service which comprises both a comprehensive product supply service and complementary services.
Location: UK Wide
Salary: £28,000 - £30,000
Key Responsibilities:
During your training, you will be supporting fully BASIS qualified agronomists in servicing the company's farmer customers and should act under the guidance of your more experienced colleagues.
You should not attempt to make recommendations or give advice until you have gained a BASIS certificate. On attaining the qualification, you can only make recommendations in the first year under the supervision of an experienced BASIS qualified agronomist.
When visiting farmer customers, you should be well presented and courteous.
You will be required to assist with trials work, helping to prepare demonstration sites and supporting open days.
You will be required to undertake soil sampling on behalf of colleagues. If quad bikes are used appropriate training will be given.
You will help gather and input data on behalf of agronomist colleagues.
During the peak Spring and Autumn seasons, you will be required to assist the support teams to maintain the company service levels to customers, for example supporting customers with SFI applications.
If you have attained the BASIS qualification, when making recommendations to customers, you shall follow the following protocols:
You are expected to follow the company's product strategy when giving advice.
You are expected to follow the company's pricing strategy communicated at the beginning of each season.
You must consider any environmental considerations when giving advice.
You should take account of the manufacturer's label guidelines when recommending products.
You will not advise or recommend crop protection products that are not approved by the UK regulatory authorities.
You must act in accordance with the company requirements for their work to be supervised by a more experienced colleague.
You may be required to go on farm to sell non-agrochemical products prior to obtaining their BASIS qualification.
You will be expected to attract new customers each year, this will require you to take part in a range of business development activities to be agreed with your Regional Sales Manager and to provide them with periodic progress reports.
You may be required to take part in a Precision Prospecting campaign.
Candidate Requirements:
You should endeavour to work with the logistical team so that all our farmer customers can receive the best possible delivery service which meets their needs.
You are responsible for collecting customer's debts and must engage with and co-operate with the company's UK credit controller to collect payment in accordance with the company's terms of business.
You will be expected to provide any information and reports on business activities that may be requested by your line manager.
You will utilise business systems to make recommendations and enter cropping data and product forecast data at the earliest opportunity and keep the data entry up to date. All business-critical data should be backed up regularly in accordance with the company's Information Technology policies.
You should supply crop data for at least 20% of their serviced acreage for the company system at the earliest opportunity after harvest.
You will comply with Information Technology, internet usage, e-mail and Data Protection policies always.
There is a structured training programme for trainee agronomists which will provide you with the opportunity to gain the knowledge and develop the skills required of a successful agronomist. You will be expected to invest time and effort in following the outlined training program:
The first objective is to obtain the BASIS qualification in the first year.
The second objective is to obtain a FACTS qualification by the end of the second year with the company. Nutritional advice should not be given until this qualification is gained.
Commercial skills training will be given during the training program. You will be expected to cooperate when a sales trainer requests to accompany you on a day of farm visits.
Farm recording computer software training will be given.
You will be expected to attend briefings, training courses and conferences relevant to your role.
In addition, you will be coached by experienced colleagues who will provide constructive feedback about on the job performance and development needs.
You will be required to attend quarterly progress reviews.
In the event of a customer complaint, you should immediately make your line manager and the technical department aware of the issue and not admit any liability. The details of the farmer discontent should be recorded using the company dissatisfaction report forms.
You are required to familiarise yourself with company policies and procedures, and always comply with Health and Safety.
How to apply:
Please click on the APPLY NOW button.
Please send your CV to; Kate Moxon - Managing Director
