Agronomist - Eastern Region

Role purpose

To create demand for Syngenta products and services at grower level by successfully implementing agreed marketing campaigns within a given geographic area. Build strong business relationships with key stakeholders focusing on growers and including local channel partners. Use a combination of interpersonal and technical skills to suitably influence and accelerate the purchase of Syngenta products.

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 (who?).
• 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.

As a world market leader in crop protection, we help farmers to counter these threats and ensure enough safe, nutritious, affordable food for all - while minimizing the use of land and other agricultural inputs. Syngenta Crop Protection keeps plants safe from planting to harvesting. From the moment a seed is planted through to harvest, crops need to be protected from weeds, insects and diseases as well as droughts and floods, heat and cold. Syngenta Crop Protection is headquartered in Switzerland.

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 have sales background.
• 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.

This position is based in Polokwane.