Territory Sales Representative at Corteva Agriscience

RESPONSIBILITIES
SALE OF OUR PRODUCTS

• Identify and visit all existing and potential customers according to planned strategy (appointments, schedules, routes, etc).
• Convey technical, product and sales knowledge to customer.
• Give advice with respect to the most appropriate products or new products according to agricultural criteria. It may be necessary to have rainfall data analysed, manage soil analysis and obtain and provide additional technical information and knowledge.
• Take orders and send to Head Office.
• Ensure that orders are done correctly and on time.

FOLLOW-UP SERVICE

• Maintain continuous contact with customers who have already ordered to ensure satisfaction and to identify and solve problems that might crop up. Ensure that the products are indeed planted and maintained under the most ideal conditions possible. Give advice on fertilisation, weed control, planting methods and insect control until crop is harvested. The advice may in some cases include the recommendations of the agronomist or researcher.
• Customers who have not yet ordered should be visited again and followed up on to ensure that all possible buyers have been recruited. Do a report on those outstanding.
• Give continual feedback on complaints to the company and ensure feedback to the customer.

CARRYING OUT FIELD TRIALS

• Identify the specific need for trials.
• Identify and recruit the best possible co-operators according to set criteria and requirements (region/product/customer/soil and other aspects).
• Arrange to obtain seed, implements, labour, etc. for planting. Ensure that sound agronomic principles are maintained during planting, crop maintenance and harvest.

ADVERTISING & PROMOTIONS

• The Sales Representative is an extremely important link in the advertising and promotions programme for the following reasons:
• Identifies advertising and promotion requirements in his area.
• Obtains, supplies and distributes advertising and promotional material to customers and organisations, such as posters, articles, brochures, boards, gifts, promotion seed, etc.
• Plays an active role at farmers’ days and shows. This action includes:
• Arrangements with regard to the locality
• Planting and maintaining sites
• Demonstration
• Invitations and advertising
• Presentations
• Entertainment
• Material on show
• Speakers
• Terrain preparation and maintenance.
• Reports on the success of the advertising and promotions programme.

ADMINISTRATION

• Successful and correct coding of orders from signing of order to delivery of seed (process should be done timeously).
• Check on the consignment and the adjustment/amendments of orders (decreases, increases and changes to variety, seed sizes and quantities)
• Play an important role in the recovery of outstanding payments, within 30-60 or more days after arrangements have been made. (current cheques, early payments, post-dated cheques).
• Prepare weekly reports and monthly claims.
• Investigate and answer queries with respect to orders, deliveries and credit.
• Depot management:
• Identify and recruit depot manager (person and locality)
• Do training with depot managers/Co-op’s
• Order seed
• Control and check stock
• See to it that the stacking and maintenance of the seed is done correctly (insect control, rodent control, moisture etc)
• Ensure that the seed depot is maintained according to company policy.
• Ensure that the company car is maintained according to the company policy.
• Gather information and data and feed through to those involved, e.g. Marketing Services, Research, Creditors, etc.
• See to various requests from other departments, such as VAT numbers, interest and order or delivery information.

QUALIFICATION
To Grow What Matters, You Will Need

• Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• English and Afrikaans Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English and Afrikaans language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of computer hardware and software, including applications.
• Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
• Min:N Dip Agriculture Ideal:BSc Agric plus Diploma in Marketing
• Drivers License
• 2 years plus sales experience Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behaviour.
• Active Listening .
• Social Perceptiveness.
• Negotiation Skills.