Crop Inputs Specialist

Providing excellent service, and guidance to a 3500 strong membership base, working closely with professional agricultural supply chains to deliver timely and efficient service.

Working predominantly in the Crop Protection department, but also supporting the Seed category, you will be procuring essential products for crop production and farming operations.

Under the supervision of procurement managers, the role will require working to negotiate prices and secure orders for external customers and internal subsidiaries. A strong comprehension of the agricultural industry and an understanding of crop protection/seed technologies is a desired attribute.

The role is predominantly office based although there will a requirement for external visits to Members, suppliers, and relevant industry events.

Duties and Responsibilities

· Working closely with colleagues to implement our growth strategy

· Dealing with members order requests via phone and email, and placing these orders with suppliers

· Taking ownership of gap analysis management utilising the current tools

· Proactive member account management

· Benchmarking current and prospective members

· Regular communications to members regarding savings and benefits

· Providing technical support with cost saving alternatives or guiding on substitute solutions

· Building supply chain relationships within this sector chain to ensure timely and efficient delivery

· Working collaboratively within the team to achieve results

· Identifying and developing new business with members

· Regular analysis and reporting on member spend, co-ordinating with the team to understand and changes in member spend

· Making on farm visits to members to build relationships and deliver increased business

· Building relationships with agronomists associated to the AF Group

· Increasing knowledge on other seed products

· Supporting the wider seed business where required

· Maintaining commercial, technical and product knowledge across crop protection and seed categories

· Dealing with members order requests via phone and email, and placing these orders with suppliers

· Managing and developing the supply chain from placement of orders to delivery for assigned suppliers

· Supporting member's with additional requests such as data or product information

· Analysis of results from member surveys and market data

· Bright, pleasant and dedicated to great customer service

· Working on other tasks as required - we're here to get the job done!

· Confident and professional communication skills

· Customer focussed

· Competent negotiation skills

· Competent with Microsoft Excel

· Demonstrable ability to identify and make process improvements

Experience

· Experience of the arable inputs supply chain or arable farming

· Exposure to farming community and rural business owners

· Strong IT and data presentation/analytical skills, including Microsoft Office - especially Excel.

· Confidant at communicating pleasantly and professionally with all of our stakeholders.

· Excellent attention to detail, together with a 'can-do' attitude are both essential for this busy and varied role

· Team orientated, able to establish rapport and become part of an engaging team

Knowledge

· Track record of high level, accurate administration

· Knowledge of crop protection markets and products

· Understanding of varieties and crop groups

Personal Attributes

· Attention to detail

· Able to take direction and instruction

· Confident to use own initiative

· Used to working to very tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment

· Hungry to win new business and grow portfolio

· Passionate about the food supply chain and helping the farming community

· Team player but able to work individually

· Drive, enthusiasm and resilience - we work in a multi-faceted and challenging environment

· Sense of ownership and pride in your performance and its impact on company's success

· Commitment to attain delivery goals and personal objectives

· Strong interpersonal skills.

· Friendly and approachable personality, expert at building rapport

· Initiative and self-confidence

· Experienced user of Microsoft Office packages, especially Excel.

· Views problems as challenges that we work together to resolve

· Patient, good at planning and methodical in your approach to work

· Pro-active in your work and always thinking 'what's next to do' and 'what can I improve?, · Qualification or background within the agricultural sector, · Knowledge of the fertiliser market desirable but not essential

· On farm, practical cropping experience

Up to £35,000 a year - Permanent, Full-time, Pulled from the full job description

• Additional leave


• Bereavement leave


• Company events


• Company pension


• Cycle to work scheme


• Discounted or free food


• Employee discount, Salary: Up to £35,000 per annum


Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Additional Benefits:

• 8% employer pension contribution


• 26 days holiday per annum, plus bank holidays. This rises with each years service by an additional day, up to 7 extra days


• Have your birthday off as an extra days holiday, if it falls on your working day


• Free lunch daily from our onsite Café


• AF Membership (giving discounts at hundreds of retailers and suppliers)


• Life assurance


• Discounted gym membership


• Cycle to work scheme


• Hybrid working


• Free onsite parking, Job Types: Full-time, Permanent


Pay: Up to £35,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Additional leave


• Bereavement leave


• Company events


• Company pension


• Cycle to work scheme


• Discounted or free food


• Employee discount


• Enhanced maternity leave


• Enhanced paternity leave


• Free flu jabs


• Free parking


• Health & wellbeing programme


• Life insurance


• On-site parking


• Paid volunteer time


• Sick pay


• Work from home


Schedule:

• 8 hour shift


• Day shift


• Monday to Friday


• No weekends