Conservation Agronomist - AgOutcomes
WHAT WE OFFER
- Organizational culture emphasizing teamwork, flexibility, ideas and respect
- Professional growth and development opportunities to help advance your career
- Tuition and cell phone reimbursement
- Comprehensive health care, dental, life and disability insurance (including family options)
- Wellness program with incentives
- 401(k) savings plan featuring generous company match
- Paid holidays, sick time and vacation
- Competitive salary
- Casual dress atmosphere
OBJECTIVE: The Conservation Agronomist is the farmer face for AgOutcomes and the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund (www.theoutcomesfund.com). The Conservation Agronomist works to enroll farmers in the Soil & Water Outcomes Fund, assists farmers and affiliated recruiters in the enrollment process, provides quality control of incoming farmer data and translation of resulting environmental and ecosystem service data. Additionally, this position provides conservation and agronomic advice to enrolled farmers and maintains excellent customer relationships with farmers.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Provide support to current and prospective farmers for collection of management practice data and other necessary enrollment information
- Maintain a strong understanding of the Soil & Water Outcomes Fund and associated farmer enrollment platform
- Conduct three check-ins (at time of enrollment, during the summer, and post-harvest) per year with enrolled farmers
- Provide oversight, guidance and support to affiliated farmer recruiters (CCA, ag retail, etc.)
- Track acres enrolled by affiliated recruiters, provide payment and report status
- Assist farmers in interpreting and understanding outcomes-based payment structure and estimated payments based on models
- Provide technical assistance to enrolled farmers for agronomy and conservation practice implementation, either directly or through intermediaries like certified crop advisors or agronomy advisors
- QA/QC all farmer provided data
- Provide opportunities for enrolled farmers to participate in on-farm research/benchmarking with other enrolled farmers
- Work with 3rd party verifiers to ensure efficient process of collecting required farm-level data
- Analyze and interpret outcomes data received from 3rd party verifiers
- Provide conservation practice expertise farmer and Soil & Water Outcomes Fund partners
- Provide guidance on relevant trends and developments in the agricultural landscape related to markets, innovations, potential customers, etc.
COMPETENCIES
- Agronomy Expertise
- Communicating Effectively
- Coordinating Project Activities
- Displaying Technical Expertise
- Managing Resources
- Prioritizing and Organizing Work
- Establishing Relationships
- Customer Service
TRAVEL
This position requires up to 50% travel, typically in Iowa. Frequently travel is outside the local area and may be overnight. Some of the travel may be in other states.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
This position has no supervisory responsibility.
REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in agronomy, environmental sciences, agricultural engineering, biological sciences, ecology or related field.
- Minimum of three to five years of experience working in agronomy or conservation.
- Strong understanding of Midwest cropping systems and conservation practices.
- Capable of working in a team environment while working independently to achieve specific project deliverables.
- Understanding of computer technologies including cloud-based data storage and GIS.
PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) certification
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. This job could be conducted remotely if necessary.
OTHER DUTIES
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
AAP/EEO STATEMENT
The Iowa Soybean Association provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.