Northern Technical Sales Agronomist

About Vive

Vive is a high-growth trajectory, sustainable agtech firm founded in 2006 and headquartered in Mississauga, ON. Our Made in Canada, patented Allosperse delivery technology helps farmers do more with less. By bringing the power of Precision Chemistry to agriculture, Vive is connecting the lab to the field, enabling growers to cut costs and reduce their environmental footprint. We are fully commercial with established distribution across the US, and our products were used on 1.2 million acres in 2023.

We were recently selected as part of the inaugural cohort of the Government of Canadas Global Hypergrowth Project, and we are well on our way to becoming Canadas leading anchor agtech firm. Our global expansion ambition has started with our first product Canadian registration in spring 2023. Weve received several awards for innovation, been named the SDTC Changemaker of the Year, and ranked #196 on the list of the fastest-growing companies in the Americas. With over 100+ patents, and a vision of having a Vive solution on every acre of cropland globally, were looking for passionate, growth-minded individuals to join us on our journey!

At Vive, our core values (G-CROP) are the foundation of everything we do and are a guiding force for all the exciting and unique experiences you will have when working with us.

• We are GROWER-focused

• We succeed through COLLECTIVE genius

• We are passionate about building something REAL

• We are all confident and adaptive OWNERS

• We are PRECISE, data-driven, and science-based

If you are looking to build something real with a team of smart, confident, and adaptive owners (and like to have LOTS of fun along the way), keep reading to learn more about the Northern Technical Sales Agronomist role and the role you will play in helping us reach our goals!

Mission

As a core member of the Sales team, you will play an integral part in the companys success through solid agronomic recommendations and technical support, including data generation, and training, and influencing key stakeholders. This role is primarily for the Northern USA Market, but at times may be involved in our Canadian expansion opportunities. You have an excellent understanding of the U.S. agricultural marketplace, an excellent understanding of many core and secondary crops as identified by Vive (currently sugarbeets, cotton, peanut, potato, corn, soybean, alfalfa, some fruit/vegetable crops) and have past experiences in agronomy or technical service. You possess the ability to influence and build relationships with key influencers, universities, consultants, and customers (both growers and retailers) to support the technical expertise of Vive Crop Protections Precision Chemistry – innovative nano-enabled agricultural crop protection products.

You will deliver on this mission by:

• Establishing productive and professional relationships with key influencers across the northern US crop markets and increase their product knowledge and confidence in our products.

• Prioritizing and overseeing the execution of applied field trials, data analysis, visualization, and agronomic training to support growth of the current portfolio and readiness for product launches.

• Working in partnership with Product Management, drive localized agronomic insights to assist in messaging that addresses grower pain points and production challenges with Vives useful solutions.

• Collaborating with Product Development and Biology teams, and building capabilities that optimize agronomic data capture, analysis, key learnings, and knowledge transfer.

• Assist in department expense budgeting, forecasting and tracking.

• Providing innovative ideas for business growth using your creativity, technical knowledge, market knowledge and agronomic knowledge.

• Collaborating closely with the Sales and Marketing team to support the voice of the customer.

• Working closely with all departments in Vive in supporting our overall culture and business growth.

• Collaborate closely with leadership and local sales reps to identify and fill education and knowledge gaps.

Interacts with:

• Internally Sales team, Marketing team, Biology, Product Development and Research

• Externally COI, Universities, Retail Agronomy staff, National and Regional Distributor Agronomy staff, and Consultants

Accountability – In Your First 12 Months You Will:

• COI influencer – develop relationships with and provides agronomic support to key retail, distribution, COIs, as well as key grower groups to achieve sales expansion of Vives portfolio. Serve as one of Vives external spokespersons for the agronomic value Vive products deliver.
• Agronomic training – develop and deliver agronomic training programs and data presentations to internal and external audiences. Support retailers, distributors, and growers in their use of Vive Crop Protections precision chemistry portfolio.
• Market expansion – identify new opportunities and unmet market needs for product line expansion through networking externally and soliciting from Vive Sales and Commercial team members.
• Field trial program – ensure 2024 trial program wrap-up is successful with a high completion rate of trial data, pictures and where appropriate, testimonials. Build out 2025 trial plan needs for budgeting and alignment with product management with an emphasis on new product launch support.

Skills & Experiences

• Masters degree required in agronomy, crop physiology, plant pathology, agriculture science, plant production or equivalent with a strong focus on crop protection.

• 7+ years of agronomy support or technical service in the US ag market

• Demonstrated knowledge and expertise in managing small plot trial programs and a similarly strong background in general agronomy and cropping systems in the US

• Experience with ARM to generate protocols and utilizing the program to analyze trial data

• Strong understanding of crop protection products and their use (knowledge of biologicals is a plus)

• Superior understanding of key agronomic decision-making by growers in various cropping systems

• Experience with key influencers, seed companies, ag retailers, distributors & key growers, experience working as an agronomist for an ag-retailer is a plus

• Experience working in potato and sugar beet markets is also desired, but not required

• Experience with introducing new products and/or technologies into the marketplace

• Understanding of Precision Agriculture technologies and best practices used with growers

• Excellent communication and presentation skills

• Effective in small team settings driving collaborative approaches

• Flexible approach to implementing deliverables

• Problem solving attitude with strong analytical skills

• Independent, can-do attitude, self-starter

Requirements

• Valid passport with ability to travel as needed, primarily across the northern US, and across the US and Canada as needed (travel up to 50%, depending on home location)

• Valid driver’s license and good driving record