Eastern Region Grower Services Coordinator

Position Overview 

The Eastern Region Coordinator reports to the Vice President of Market Development and Grower Services and is responsible for building relationships with Kansas corn growers and industry representatives who support growers. The Programs Manager works independently to execute the membership plan and grassroots outreach in the eastern region of the state. The Coordinator works in collaboration with the Grower Services team to involve more individuals as members, in leadership and advocacy. 

The Coordinator is located within the eastern third of the state with weekly travel within the region, including farmer visits, industry meetings & events. If the duty station is not the Kansas Corn office in Manhattan, KS, weekly travel to the Manhattan office is required.

Frequent overnight travel is required. This position requires flexibility in scheduling, as work hours may frequently vary from a typical workday to accommodate meetings, events, travel, or organizational needs. Vehicle and cellphone are provided.

Responsibilities

• Membership: The Coordinator is responsible for Kansas Corn Grower Association membership recruitment & retention. 
  • This requires daily phone communication & weekly in-person visits to members & potential members.
  • Organize and design recruitment plans to encourage farmers, industry representatives and students to be new association members.
• Conduct weekly farm visits throughout the region to report on planting, growing & harvest conditions.
• Staff lead for Kansas & NCGA Corn Yield Contest.
  • Outreach & promotion of the program.
  • Technical assistance during signup and harvest reporting.
  • Winner outreach & visits to develop winner video in coordination with Kansas Corn communication team.
• Coordinates with VP of Market Development and Grower Services to carry out the mission of Kansas Corn and works cooperatively with the appropriate staff or leader based on nature of project.
• Represents the organization at farm shows, field days, trade shows, collegiate events, and other opportunities. While representing the organization it is necessary to interact with attendees, gather new contacts, spread the Kansas Corn message, and promote participation through various communications channels including social media.
• Work in collaboration with the Kansas Corn staff in the areas of:
  • Farmer outreach
  • Research
  • Recruitment & development of programming for Kansas Corn programs & events.
• Manage and document interactions with industry representatives and growers and analyze data related to outreach. 
• Develop partnerships with industry supporters, researchers, and other farmer focused organizations to effectively carry out plan of work.
• Market development activities as assigned.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, marketing, or commensurate professional experience
• Proven ability to work in a team environment
• Experience in client relationship management
• Proven experience in partnering with a diverse array of individuals and institutions
• Professionalism: This includes maintaining a respectful and collaborative attitude, communicating clearly and appropriately with colleagues and stakeholders, and demonstrating reliability, accountability, and sound judgment in all professional interactions.
• Confidentiality -All employees are expected to maintain strict confidentiality regarding any non-public information obtained through their work. This includes, but is not limited to, member records, internal communications, policy strategies, financial data, and organizational planning. Confidential information must not be disclosed, shared, discussed, or used for personal advantage during or after employment unless explicitly authorized or legally required.
• Knowledge of production agriculture
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to independently handle multiple projects and deadlines
• A strong customer service attitude 
• Message retention – understanding and ability to share Kansas Corn information and positions on important issues
• Frequent day & overnight travel
• Skilled with MS Office and social media 
• Valid Driver’s License

The Kansas Corn Growers Association is a statewide trade association representing corn producers. It also implements research, education, and promotion programs for the Kansas Corn Commission and checkoff as provided by state law. The Kansas Corn Growers Association is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing a safe and harmonious workplace environment.