Feed Sales/Operations Intern

Summary:

To provide feed sales and services in a manner that will optimize Heartland Co-op market share and savings, improve the cooperative’s efficiency, help achieve the cooperative’s mission and goals, and result in excellent customer service.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Providing feed product recommendations for the customer needs 
• Evaluate animal performance.
• Assist in the manufacturing of the feed products.
• Deliver feed products to the customer in a timely manner.
• Work with the sales team to evaluate new products to the market or Heartland Co-ops’ product offerings.
• Assist customers with loading of product.
• Place orders and bill customers accurately.
• Advise the retail locations of specials and promotions throughout the year.

• Keep equipment in operating condition for the duration of the year.
• Lose no customers due to services provided by the feed program.
• Encourage repeat sales.
• Make sales calls throughout assigned and monitored territories to determine feed needs, create solutions and build long term relationships with customers that will generate sales of all classes of feed products.
• Keep current on feed products, trends, problems and challenges to make educated recommendations to producers.
• Utilize current marketing programs, products, services, and resources to sell agronomy products in an ethical manor.
• Relays competitive sales, pricing, and marketing information to management in a timely manner.
• Must maintain a valid driver’s license and commercial insurability at all times.

• Other duties as assigned by management.

Competencies

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner.
• Project Management - Communicates changes and progress.
• Leadership - Accepts feedback from others.
• Cost Consciousness - Contributes to profits and revenue.
• Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction.
• Quantity - Completes work in timely manner.
• Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures.

Education and/Or Experience:

Associate's degree (A. A.) or equivalent from two-year College or technical school; or Bachelor's Degree in an agricultural related field or working towards a Bachelor's Degree.

Language Skills:

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.  Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.  Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

Mathematical Skills:

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.  Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

Must maintain a valid driver’s license and commercial insurability at all times, a valid commercial drivers license (CDL) is preferred.

Other Skills and Abilities:

• Must be proficient in MS Word, Excel, Power Point, Lotus Notes and the Internet.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills required.
• Professional appearance and telephone manner is essential.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles and toxic or caustic chemicals.  The employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts and outside weather conditions.  The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Lift Level: Medium

Exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly.