[Hiring] Crop Specialist: Hydroponic Lettuce @Rijk Zwaan U S A Inc

Role Description

In this new role as Crop Specialist: Hydroponic Lettuce, based in the Eastern USA Region, you will service existing and potential new indoor lettuce-focused greenhouse customers in Canada and the United States. You will provide customer service and technical support in North America for the greenhouse business of Rijk Zwaan.

As Crop Specialist: Hydroponic Lettuce, you fulfill an essential role in the strategic product management, technical support, commercial introduction, and coordination of greenhouse lettuce activities in North America. Additionally, you are responsible for:

• Providing feedback on indoor lettuce strategy to Breeders, Crop Coordinators, and Crop Teams.
• Developing and sustaining strong, ethical, and personable relationships with key customers; addressing needs and establishing effective and innovative solutions for our clients.
• Collaborating with Crop Specialists and Crop Teams with follow-up and account management activities.
• Providing technical support to growers by clearly understanding their needs.
• Identifying and developing new opportunities by leading the local planning, assessment of trials, and collaboration on decisions for greenhouse lettuce.

Qualifications

• A completed Ag-business degree in the field of AgriBusiness or AgriScience.
• At least 5 years of relevant work experience. Experience within the vegetable seed business is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated track record of experience in proactively assessing, clarifying, and validating crop & customer needs on an ongoing basis.
• A collaborative nature with both internal and external stakeholders, to include communicating across diverse cultures and inspiring trust at all levels.

Requirements

• Ability to think strategically and have good analytical skills.
• Team-player with persuasive communication skills.
• Independent self-starter with the ability to set your own goals and agenda, and to manage your own progress towards those goals in a structured way.
• Enthusiastic about horticulture and keep track of the latest developments in the hi-tech horticultural industry.

Benefits

• Various training courses through our very own Rijk Zwaan Academy.
• The freedom to take initiative and work on your own development.
• A team-oriented working atmosphere.
• Good work and life balance.
• Excellent full benefits including Health, Dental, Long-Term Disability, Employer Funded Health Reimbursement Account (HRA), Family Fitness Benefit, and an exceptional 401(k) Matching Program.

Company Description

Rijk Zwaan is an international family-owned company with a people-oriented culture. Rijk Zwaan is right at the start of the food chain. We develop vegetable varieties and sell the seeds produced from them globally. We take great pride in contributing to the health and well-being of people all over the world. Rijk Zwaan currently employs over 4,000 people globally in over 30 countries. Our most important focus is the growth for our people: we give you every opportunity to use your own initiative and achieve your full potential. Working with colleagues to produce the best and tastiest vegetables. We continuously strive to work together towards a healthy future.

Rijk Zwaan USA with headquarters in Salinas, California is one of the subsidiaries from where we support commercial-related activities in all of North America. The hydroponic lettuce crop specialist position is remote-based in the Eastern USA Region, ideally within reasonable proximity to the highest concentration of US indoor lettuce growers (Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Upstate New York, etc.). There will be an estimated travel of 25-35% throughout the USA, with occasional travel to Canada and Europe required.