Area Manager - Agronomy/Grain

Agtegra Cooperative is headquartered in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and is one of the nation’s largest locally-owned agricultural cooperatives. It is owned by over 6,800 farmers and ranchers, predominantly in North and South Dakota, with a network of over 70 locations and over 850 employees. 

At Agtegra, our mission is simple: ‘Do something great for my farm and family that nobody else will do.’ To accomplish this, Agtegra offers diverse career opportunities where employees can grow and work in their local communities.  Your personal and professional needs matter here – which is why we offer a variety of competitive benefits to employees, including healthcare and retirement, generous paid-time-off (PTO), family leave, and a clothing allowance just to name a few.  It’s not just a job at Agtegra – it’s a place where we invite all employees to Start Here. Grow Here.  

POSITION SUMMARY  
We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Area Manager to join our team in the Miller, Highmore, and Harrold area. The area manager will manage, directs, facilitates, and coordinates the operational activities of several locations in each geographic region to obtain optimal operational efficiency, communication, and asset utilization for the company. The position will play a significant role in training, supporting, and developing location employees and key personnel for promotion and career enhancements.   Plans, directs, and coordinates operational activities to ensure that policies, goals, or objectives are consistent with those established by the Regional Manager.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Provide day-to-day Operations leadership and management to meet the adopted mission and core values of the company. 
• Assure the organization’s policies and goals relating to agronomy products and services are achieved. 
• Leads activities of specified locations such as operating, safety, environmental, planning, maintenance, to effect operational efficiency and regulatory compliance; includes recommendations of necessary purchases and replacement of equipment.  Reviews asset requests for the given area.
• Analyzes area’s location budgets to identify areas to support or where reductions need to be recommended. Plan, develop and prepare the locations annual operating budget.
• Responsible for locations achieving and surpassing sales, profitability, cash flow and business goals and objectives. 
• Work closely with specified location personnel and participate in activities and operations to enhance a positive company culture and community activities.
• Provides direction to their area’s location personnel outlining policy, program, or operations issues/changes to be implemented.
• Provide mentoring to your area’s managers, supervisors, and key employees.
• Conduct performance appraisals and recommend wage and salary adjustments for personnel supervised.
• Ensure all personnel under direct supervisors are thoroughly trained in accordance with requirements of their position.  
• Attend training, meetings, staff and employee meetings and membership meetings.
• Coordinate with agronomy department heads on marketing strategies.
• Help determine project proposals or plan to determine time frame, funding limitations, procedures for accomplishing project, staffing requirements, and allotment of available resources to various phases of project.
• Makes on-farm calls and deliveries to solidify customer relationships.
• Must have willingness to learn all aspects of the business and be prepared to proficiently execute any task that is required.
• Acts as a mentor to all full-time staff and interns while helping them progress as employees and individuals.  
• Utilize forecasts and software programs while relying on experience to help leverage inventory control.
• Build and grow the team through continues improvement efforts.
• Additional responsibilities as directed by upper management, may include participating in meetings, training, recruiting, community relations, or committees. 
• Other duties as assigned.
  
  

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Valid driver’s license.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States without visa sponsorship. 
• Must be 18 years or older. 
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from two-year college or technical school and five (5) years related experience or training, or combination of education and experience. 
• Knowledge of the agricultural business - Agronomy and Grain
• Knowledge of Environmental Health and Safety, OSHA, EPA and the Department of Agriculture policies and procedures as they apply. 
• Knowledge of management and supervisory principles and practices, including program planning, contract requirements, budgeting, direction, coordination, and evaluation.
• Knowledge of Agtegra’s operating requirements, policies, procedures, and practices; and local, state, and federal regulations related to department programs and operations.
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. 
• Ability to develop, implement, and evaluate projects and programs.
• Ability to establish and maintain accurate records of assigned activities and operations.
• Ability to interpret and implement local policies and procedures; written instructions, general correspondence; Federal, State, and local regulations. 
• Skill in organizational and time management to prioritize duties to accomplish a high volume of work product while adapting to constant changes in priority.
• Ability to perform detailed work accurately and independently in compliance with stringent time limits with minimal direction and supervision.
• Knowledge of management and supervisory practices and principles, including the ability to make final employment recommendations, preparing performance evaluations, managing time off, and maintaining personnel records.
• Ability to adapt and take control of situations, dictating subordinate activities in a responsible manner.
• Knowledge of current office practices and procedures and knowledge of the operation of standard office equipment and software.
• Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and effectively in English in both written and verbal form.
• Ability to prepare and maintain accurate and concise records and reports.
• Ability to apply sound judgment and discretion in performing duties, resolving problems, and building teams.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with individuals within and outside the organization.
• Proficient in Microsoft office (M.S. Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and internet.
• Ability to always maintain professionalism.
• Ability to think quickly, maintain self-control, and adapt to stressful situations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands; talk or hear and taste or smell. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to sit. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.  

WORK ENVIRONMENT 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.