Agronomist x2 at Syngenta

Job Description
Role purpose

• To drive a farmer-centric approach by providing technical expertise and support to optimize crop productivity and farm profitability.  
• The agronomist will develop strong relationships with farmers and key stakeholders to understand the challenges they face.  This will lead to delivery of tailored agronomic solutions.

Accountabilities

• Build, develop and maintain an Area Grower Map for the given geographic area, that includes farm and crop detail, grower info and demographic information – to be housed and maintained on SalesForce.com 
• Explore and develop biopotential as per the iPlan and Crop Atlas data.
• Regularly liaise and align with the relevant Key Account Manager (Sales Manager) and Campaign managers in furtherance of the Sales Key Account Plan.
• Manage an optimum portfolio of key growers and grow Syngenta’s market share in the “area”. 
• Facilitate positive influence on the wider grower network aimed at demand generation and aligned to the implementation of the Marketing campaigns.
• Regularly coordinate demand generation activity with the local KAM (Sales Manager) and Technical Leads.
• Manage other key influencers in the area in line with campaign direction, e.g.study groups, large growers, Potato Growers SA etc. 
• Support the achievement of sales targets for the defined sales area by influencing grower purchasing decisions.
• Feedback market intelligence and value chain information to relevant members of the Syngenta team via SalesForce (SF, the Syngenta Customer Relationship Management system). 
• Maintain good communication and networking across a multi-functional business  
• Actively contribute to the regional campaign teams with relevant market info and trends. 
• Have a full technical knowledge and commercial perspective of Syngenta and key competitor products and relevant crops.
• Support Campaign Leads with the conversion of trial data to sales and marketing messaging.
• Operate within all legal and company policy frameworks. 
• Continuously promote Syngenta Health, Safety & Environmental activities by ensuring that all operations under direct control comply with HSE policies and guidelines as well as any other relevant Syngenta or statutory policies.
• Closely align with Technical personnel of the Channel network on all technical aspects and benefits/ROI of the Syngenta product range.

Qualifications
Knowledge, Experience & Skills

• Critical Knowledge
• Bachelor’s degree in agronomy, horticulture or Agriculture or equivalent knowledge gained though proven experience. 
• Basic Croplife Course qualified (or willing to qualify) 
• Agri-economics and farm practice. 
• Techno-commercial understanding of SA agriculture  
• Technical profile of Syngenta & key competitor products.  
• Knowledge of MS Office.  
• Superior presentation skills
• Communicating with all levels within a business. 
• Knowledge of business drivers within arable agriculture.

Critical Experience 

• Experience of establishing and maintaining successful business relationships 
• Experience of working in agriculture and understanding the crop growing cycle 
• Experience of working in and contributing to successful team working. 
• Proven record of communicating across a wide target audience.  
• Ideally 2 years of successful account management or business relationships with the larger- type farms

Critical Skills

• Developing productive working relationships across the value chain.   
• Developing 1-2-1 relationships with the most important contacts in the area.   
• Working with the Sales and Marketing teams so that campaigns are effectively implemented. 
• Development of an Area Business Plan in concert with the Sales Key Account Plans and the continuous utilisation of SalesForce.

Critical success factors & key challenges

• The successful applicant must be able to demonstrate that they are eligible to live and carry out the role in South Africa. 
• The role is home based – in the assigned area of responsibility.
• The role will involve travel (locally and abroad), SA driving licence is required. 
• Flexibility in working hours with out of office hours required to fulfil the role successfully
• Knowledge of market dynamics, including competitor and regulatory requirements.