Business Development Agronomist (Key Accounts)

Position Summary: Supports the Key Account team and identified key accounts by leveraging deep agronomic expertise to grow revenue, accelerate adoption of specialty fertilizers and biologicals, and demonstrate measurable return on investment (ROI) through data-driven customer engagement and launch execution.

The Business Development Agronomist is a customer-facing technical and commercial partner to the Key Account team. This role is responsible for engaging and influencing customer R&D and agronomic stakeholders, strategically planning and supporting new product launches, and creating/communicating agronomic and economic proof points that drive revenue growth. The ideal candidate is outgoing, highly credible in agronomy, and able to connect across a broad range of audiences—from researchers and crop consultants to retail leadership and sales teams. 

Essential Responsibilities:

• Revenue growth support: Partner with Key Account Managers (KAMs) to develop and execute account strategies that expand penetration and drive profitable growth in specialty fertilizers and biologicals.
• Technical influence & relationship building: Build trusted relationships with customer R&D, agronomy, and technical services teams; identify unmet needs and position solutions that fit customer programs and priorities.
• Strategic launch planning: Support go-to-market readiness for new product launches within key accounts, including positioning, use recommendations, trial plans, and internal/external training.
• ROI & data storytelling: Design, coordinate, and interpret field trials, demonstrations, and on-farm evaluations; translate results into clear ROI narratives, economic analyses, and adoption recommendations.
• Sales enablement: Create and deliver sales tools (talk tracks, technical sheets, trial summaries, objection handling, and competitive differentiation) to assist KAMs and key retail partners.
• Customer program execution: Coordinate product placement, agronomic protocols, and measurement plans with account stakeholders to ensure consistent execution and data integrity.
• Cross-functional collaboration: Work closely with Product Management, R&D, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Regulatory/Stewardship to align customer needs with product capabilities and availability.
• Pipeline development: Identify new opportunities within assigned key accounts (crops, geographies, segments, use cases) and document next steps, timelines, and resource needs.
• Communication & presentations: Deliver engaging presentations and trainings to audiences of varying technical depth; represent the company at customer meetings, field days, and industry events.
• Forecasting & reporting: Provide timely updates on trials, account activity, launch milestones, and opportunity progression; maintain accurate records in CRM and shared reporting tools. 

Core Competencies:

• Strategic account support and opportunity development
• Agronomic problem solving and technical credibility
• Influence without authority; cross-functional leadership
• Data-to-decision storytelling (agronomic economic)
• Customer empathy and consultative approach
• Organization, project management, and follow-through
• Adaptability across crops, geographies, and customer types

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy, Crop Science, Soil Science, Plant Science, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 5 years of experience in agronomy, technical sales, product development, or customer-facing roles within crop inputs (fertility, biologicals, crop protection, seed, or related).
• Demonstrated ability to engage credibly with technical audiences (R&D, agronomists, consultants) and influence decisions through data.
• Working knowledge of field research principles, trial design, and interpretation of agronomic results.
• Strong business acumen with ability to connect product performance to customer economics/ROI.
• Excellent presentation, facilitation, and written communication skills.
• Outgoing, relationship-driven style with proven ability to connect across a broad range of audiences and roles.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word); comfort using CRM tools.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel as required. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Agronomy, Soil Science, Plant Physiology, or related discipline.
• Experience with specialty fertilizers (e.g., enhanced efficiency fertilizers, micronutrients, foliar nutrition) and/or biologicals (microbials, bio stimulants, nutrient efficiency products).
• Experience supporting key accounts, national/regional retail partners, or strategic distributor relationships.
• Demonstrated success developing technical sales resources and training programs.
• Familiarity with statistical analysis software and/or data visualization tools.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are the representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk; and stoop or kneel. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to ten pounds, occasionally lift and/or move up to twenty pounds, and rarely lift and/or move more than twenty-five pounds. The employee’s work includes office/home office tasks and outdoor field work in varying weather conditions. Ability to lift and carry demonstration/trial materials as needed and to walk fields for scouting and evaluations.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.