Nutrition Agronomist, Wales & West Midlands

There is a need to improve soil fertility and nutrient use efficiency and to maintain a balance between crop production and environmental protection. Fertiliser practice plays a key role in achieving these objectives, but there is a lack of high-quality advice available to farmers in relation to soil and crop nutrition.

Origin Soil Nutrition has developed a range of enhanced efficiency fertilisers (EEF) aimed at achieving the above objectives. The role of Nutrition Agronomist is to work with farmers and merchants in Wales to develop sales of our EEF products.

It is anticipated that the role will be broadened to include primary sales management responsibility for our merchant customers in Wales and West Midlands within the first twelve months.

Key Responsibilities:

▪To build a comprehensive technical knowledge base and understanding of soil, nutrient, crop, animal and manure interactions through:

- Being or becoming FACTS qualified and in-house participative training;

- Understanding soil and crop nutrition and the factors affecting nutrient use efficiency;

- Learning how to interpret analytical data and prepare fertiliser recommendations from it;

▪To utilise this technical knowledge to give best practice advice on soil and crop nutrition to farmers and merchants sales and agronomy staff

▪To develop fertiliser recommendations using EEF as solutions to nutrition-related objectives and challenges as identified with farmers and merchants

▪To work closely with the Area Sales Manager to achieve the company’s EEF sales targets through a combination of:

- Building relations with merchant sales / agronomy staff and dual-calling with them to sell EEF products;

- Participating in merchant meetings to present the company’s EEF products and also representing the business at events, shows, discussion groups, etc;

- Maintaining ongoing communication with Origin staff, key merchant sales staff and key farmers in the area.

Skills Required:

▪Qualified in agriculture-related subject to degree level or similar and / or relevant agricultural work experience

▪Strong commercial desire and acumen, i.e. ability to close a sale on behalf of a merchant or via alternative routes best aligned to circumstances presented;

▪Strong interest in technical aspects of soil, crop and animal nutrition and the ability to utilise technical knowledge and advice on farm;

▪Strong people and communication skills

It’s you we’re interested in

At Origin, we want everyone to have an equal opportunity to achieve their full potential. We positively encourage applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexuality, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy and maternity.

Having a diverse and inclusive business is vital for our future success and that’s why we treat all our applicants fairly and with respect, irrespective of their background or any other protected characteristic.

▪Ability to learn quickly and effectively