OBJECTIVE:  The Conservation Agronomist will work with Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) ag retail partner Cooperative Farmers Elevator (CFE) to engage landowners and farmers in northwest Iowa and surrounding areas. The purpose of this role is to provide conservation and agronomy technical assistance to local farmers and landowners. This technical assistance will result in increased farmer participation and engagement in programs and projects that improve production, profitability, and natural resource outcomes. 

This ISA staff position will be officed with CFE at their location in Rock Valley, Iowa, and will work closely with CFE’s agronomy and precision team. The person in this role will provide conservation and agronomy expertise to ISA farmer members, CFE farmer members, and area landowners. This person will also provide conservation expertise to the CFE agronomy team. An important aspect of this role will be to build relationships with CFE agronomy and precision staff, local watershed projects, soil and water conservation district staff, and other conservation partners. This person filling this position must reside or be wiling to move within reasonable daily commute distance of Rock Valley.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

  • Serve as a conservation and agronomy technical specialist.
  • Identify appropriate in-field and edge-of-field agronomy and conservation practices for soil and water resource improvement.
  • Promote management practices and systems to address resource concerns, farmer/landowner conservation, production and productivity goals, and grant project goals.
  • Execute on-farm research, including collection of data and management information.
  • Monitoring agronomic and conservation practice performance.
  • Connect farmers and landowners with financial assistance and secure necessary technical design standards for practice application.
  • Build relationships and serve as a technical agronomy and conservation liaison between watershed coordinators, other local conservation organizations and CFE.
  • Build relationships and coordinate projects with project sponsors and a variety of audiences in the ag retail territory including farmers, landowners, CFE staff, CCA’s, USDA Service Center personnel, local partners, and other commodity organizations.
  • Successfully engage CFE staff in building relationships, conducting outreach to their farmer members in a cooperative manner, and providing conservation expertise as requested.
  • Participate in ISA, CFE, and other relevant meetings, trainings, events, and field days.
  • Prepare work plans, budgets, quarterly and annual reports, and support grant development and implementation.
  • Coordinate with other ISA departments and staff including communications and outreach, producer services and finance and accounting.

COMPETENCIES

  • Practical understanding and application of agronomy and environmental science
  • Prioritizing and organizing work
  • Establishing relationships
  • Customer service
  • Evaluating and implementing ideas
  • Navigating organizations
  • Acting as a champion for change
  • Communicating effectively (written and oral)

TRAVEL

  • This position requires remote work in the field and requires up to 50% regular travel, typically in northwest Iowa. Occasionally travel is outside the local area and overnight. Occasional travel to the ISA office in Ankeny, Iowa is required.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

  • This position has no supervisory responsibility.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

  • Bachelor’s degree or higher in environmental sciences, agriculture, biological sciences, ecology, sociology, or related field.
  • Minimum of three to five years of experience working directly with farmers in agronomy and/or conservation.
  • Strong understanding of:
    • conservation practices and financial support programs
    • agricultural industry and the ag retail system
    • cropping systems
  • Capable of working in a team environment while working independently to achieve specific project deliverables.
  • Ability to work remotely and from affiliated office locations.
  • Understanding or ability to learn various computer technologies including data management programs, CRM software, and GIS software.
  • Valid driver’s license required.

PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

  • Master’s degree in Agronomy, Agricultural Engineering, Environmental/Biological Science, or related field.
  • Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) certification

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; drive long distances; walk in fields and uneven terrain; collect water samples from streams, tile outlets, and other water sources; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment will vary.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and software platforms such as Office 365. Occasional field work is required and sampling equipment such as water sampling equipment, handheld garden shears, soil probes, and GPS equipment are also used.

Benefits

  • Medical, Dental and Vision insurance
  • Flexible Spending Account available
  • Cellphone and Wellness reimbursement
  • 401(k) with generous company match
  • Tuition reimbursement program
Accessibility: If you need an accommodation as part of the employment process please contact Human Resources 

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled and veterans.

 

View Company Information

To see other positions, click here.