Regional Agronomist

Job Description

As the Regional Agronomist, you will support the Tessenderlo Kerley Crop Nutrition and Tiger-Sul sales team in expanding market share and developing markets for Tessenderlo Kerley products in the Great Lakes Region. You will utilize your technical knowledge of specialty fertilizers, be insightful towards customers’ needs, and offer best management practices in using Tessenderlo Kerley products to enhance customer fertility programs. 

Key Accountabilities: 

• Identify plant fertilization needs and benefits using TKI Crop Nutrition and Tiger-Sul products for the regions cropping systems. 

• Design and implement appropriate field testing and demonstration trials to fill knowledge gaps that support sales and marketing efforts. 

• Establish good working relationships with university and private researchers. 

• Visit locations to evaluate the quality of research. 

• Work with the TKI Crop Nutrition and Tiger-Sul Sales Team, Agronomists, and Marketing colleagues to develop technically sound marketing messages. 

• Provide technical support for customers and end-users to ensure successful use and positioning of TKI Crop Nutrition and Tiger-Sul products. 

• Research competitor’s product offerings and evaluate potential licensing, acquisitions and develop new products in line with company goals. 

• Engage with external researchers—both university and private—to support trials, validate product performance, and translate findings into practical recommendations. 

• Monitor competitive activity by maintaining relationships with fertilizer and crop protection industry sales and agronomy personnel to understand market dynamics and emerging trends. 

• Strengthen distributor and customer relationships through technical support, training, product education, and field-based troubleshooting. 

Qualifications

Key Knowledge, Skills and Behaviors: 

• A master’s degree in crop science, soil science, or agronomy is preferred or a bachelor’s degree with 1-3 years of experience in a related field. 

• Possess a Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) license or willing to obtain one within one year. 

• Strong communication skills: must be fluent in English with the ability to read, write and present technical information one-on-one and to large groups. 

• Knowledge of specialty fertilizer products, including nitrogen stabilizers. 

• Knowledge of the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Program, precision agriculture, and emerging fertilizer technologies. 

• Experience independently conducting agronomic research and a strong understanding of 

statistical analysis and experimental design. 

• Knowledge of TKI Crop Nutrition and Tiger-Sul competitors’ products and service offerings in the specialty fertilizer arena, with familiarity with crop protection products. 

• Working knowledge of customer segments and needs, including crop production and input practices, suppliers, wholesalers, retailers, and growers. 

• Experience with product evaluation, marketing, and product launch. 

• Experience with the development of training modules focused on product technical data, selling messages, and tools for the sales team. 

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office products (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, etc.). 

Physical Requirements: 

• Ability to travel frequently within the designated region, including overnight stays (up to 50% of the time). 

• Ability to work outdoors in various weather conditions (heat, cold, rain, wind, etc.) during field visits and trial evaluations. 

• Must be able to walk, stand, bend, and stoop for extended periods while inspecting crops or conducting field demonstrations. 

• Ability to lift, carry, and handle materials or equipment weighing up to 50 pounds. 

• Comfortable driving long distances and operating standard motor vehicles, including farm vehicles, on rural and unpaved roads. 

• Visual acuity to observe crop conditions, read data instruments, and review printed or digital materials. 

• Manual dexterity sufficient for data collection, note-taking, sample handling, and operating electronic equipment (laptops, tablets, GPS, etc.). 

• Ability to sit for prolonged periods when performing administrative tasks, data analysis, or computer work. 

• Willingness to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) as required during field and lab activities. 

Additional Information

Why join Tessenderlo Kerley:

Working at Tessenderlo Kerley

• Work/life balance
• Fun and rewarding environment
• Learning, development and teamwork
• Community involvement/outreach
• Challenging and meaningful work

Benefits & Rewards:

• Medical-Dental-Vision-Prescription (Low employee premiums!)
• 401(k) plan with dollar-for-dollar matching up to the first 5% of employee contribution
• 401(k) company retirement contribution at year-end, equal to 4% of annual base salary
• Short-term incentive awards based on measured performance criteria
• Life Insurance (2x annual base salary)
• Paid vacation and sick time, and 10 paid holidays per year
• Tuition Reimbursement: Up to $5,000 per calendar year (non-taxable)
• Adoption Assistance: Up to $7,500 in reimbursement assistance
• Paid maternity and parental time off
• Business Travel Life & Accident Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account
• Telemedicine program for you and your dependents
• Long-Term Disability insurance
• Company referral program

Tessenderlo Kerley is part of Tessenderlo Group, an industrial group that focuses on agriculture, valorizing bio-residuals, machinery, mechanical engineering, electronics, energy, and providing industrial solutions with a focus on water. With its headquarters in Belgium, the group is active in over 100 countries, and it has a global team of more than 7,000 employees. Its belief that “Every Molecule Counts” is at the heart of the strategy of the group: Tessenderlo Group continually strives to valorize its products and processes to the maximum and to add value to everything it does. For more information about Tessenderlo Group, its people, and its brands, please visit www.tessenderlo.com.

Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.