Grower Support - California

Fall Creek is creating a world with better blueberries through its friendly, collaborative team spread across the globe. To help us accomplish this, we are seeking a qualified Grower Support Representative. This position will provide grower support and execute sales for clients located in California, Texas, North Carolina and related areas.

The position requires consistent travel to client sites and should be located in the area served by this position. The position will receive in-house training in our main Oregon location for the first year.

The Fall Creek Grower Support is responsible for providing site evaluation, pre-plant preparation, and post-plant cultural care to commercial customers. In addition, assists in variety selection, data collection, and other functions related to customer support. The role is a front-line position, in charge of providing excellent commercial support to our current and potential clients. This position has a salary range of $75,000 - $90,000, depending on experience.

What you'll do at Fall Creek:

• Primarily responsible for providing a high level of grower support services to commercial customers in the assigned regions. This includes site evaluation, pre-plant preparation, and post-plant cultural care. 
• Assists customers with variety selection. This includes selection for location, climate and growing conditions, ripening times, yields, flavor and berry quality. Grower Support engages growers to collect data for Row Trials and Preview Plants.
• Works with Fall Creek customer service teams to help qualify potential customers.
• Works with the regional team to plan and schedule customer visits.
• Facilitates and directs customers to ensure proper sampling and evaluation of soil and water chemistry, plant nutrition and any IPM issues.
• Provides feedback to management regarding the state of the industry in the regions served and intel on our competition and on future plans of new projects.
• Identifies new opportunities for selling Fall Creek plants and genetics portfolio to existing and potential customers.
• Communicates nursery product timelines to prospects and existing customers.
• Works closely with customers and Fall Creek’s customer service and shipping/logistics teams to ensure that growers are ready to receive their plants and communicates back to the team any adjustments that need to be made.
• Supports Applied Research at the trials sites by observing trial plantings, providing general assistance for cultural care, and varieties' evaluation.
• Represents the company at regional meetings, tradeshows, and industry events.
• Responsible for scheduling and managing visits to the nursery from existing and prospective customers from the assigned growing region.
• Plans and implements educational seminars for growers and customers in the assigned region as needed.
• Assures the highest level of confidentiality on sensitive matters concerning the nursery.

What you bring to Fall Creek:

• Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture, Crop Science or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Requires 3+ year of related technical, sales or customer service experience preferably in an agricultural business. Must be results driven and customer focused.
• Strong understanding of soil & water chemistry, plant nutrition, fertigation systems, irrigation design and field management.
• Requires a proven track record of building successful, professional relationships including the ability to interact with customers as well as colleagues.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to effectively present information in formal and informal settings to peers, customers and industry leaders. Ability to actively listen.
• Proficient with MS Office products.
• Ability to take initiative and prioritize tasks; excellent time management, organizational, problem-prevention, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to collaborate with other team members and maintain a positive attitude. Must be able to exercise good judgment in recognizing scope of authority.
• Proven ability to work independently.
• Requires a valid driver’s license.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position.
• Ability to travel internationally.
• Must demonstrate professional and ethical business practices, adherence to company values, and a commitment to personal and professional development.