Seed, Soil & Crop Health, Strategic Account Manager

Job Summary: The Seed, Soil & Crop Health, Strategic Account Manager (Upper Midwest) manages strategic accounts and serves as a trusted advisor to UPL field sales, technical service, marketing, portfolio management and key account managers in the in the states of N. Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota. The selected candidate will gain a deep understanding of assigned accounts and develop strategies to grow the seed applied technology, nutritionals, seed, soil health, and aligned biological portfolio business, executing tactics to achieve budgeted sales and profit objectives. 

Job Responsibilities:

30%: In partnership with Crop Protection Key Account Manager (CP KAM), establish strong business relationships with assigned national & regional distributor accounts. Elevate Seed and Soil & Crop Health (SS&CH) to a strategic position with accounts, and work with KAM’s on integrated CP/SAT/NPP road maps, business plans, and offers. Create new business development

• Other key initiatives are customer forecasting by quarter; customer planning; drive SS&CH New Product Launches; and driving key UPL initiatives with customers that drive growth.

30%: Manage relationships with assigned seed companies, specialty distributors and corporate farms.  Identify and prioritize customers with the highest potential, and design offers that match needs and are sustainable over time, leading to new business development.

30%: Identify and establish strong working relationships with field sales force members who manage large strategic retail accounts. Become a long-term trusted advisor to those identified members – including their regional manager(s). providing support, training, and leading by example through strategic account management and sustainable new business growth.

Required Skills/Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree with a focus in Agronomy, Agribusiness, or similar.
• 10+ years of experience with Seed/Seed Treatment/Crop Protection/Biologicals/ Nutritionals preferred. 
• Previous experience working with distributors, retailers, agricultural consultants, and key growers to accomplish territory objectives a plus
• Ability to communicate productively with diverse groups of internal and external stakeholders 
• Must be a creative problem solver with strong lateral leadership and active listening skills. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and ability / willingness to learn new platforms as required (e.g., Salesforce & forecasting platforms). 

TRAVEL: Approximately 50% of the time spent on the job, including overnights.

 UPL COMPETENCIES: 

• Adaptability & Resilience: Recognizes and is open to changing circumstances and alters behavior and scales up as necessary; increases personal awareness and appreciation of individual and cultural differences to create an open, inclusive, and accepting workplace.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Has a creative mindset and ability to think holistically, takes calculated risks and maximizes opportunities.
• Results Orientations: Takes action, pursues goals with persistence and achieves results; communicates goals and vision to the team to drive enthusiasm and ambition.
• Execution Excellence: Enhances the speed of execution and builds efficiency in processes, systems and people; has sharp focus on quality-orientation.
• Strategic Orientation: Demonstrates knowledge of the social, economic, and environmental factors and how they impact the business. Identifies key issues that could impact the business and develops strategy through an analytical lens / design thinking.
• Building Teams and Talent: Empowers colleagues through knowledge sharing and delegation, quickly establishing rapport; provides recognition for achievements and accomplishments.
• Customer Centricity:  Understands the customer needs and pain points, fulfills the needs and expectations by focusing on creating value for customers.