Technical Advisor

**SPRAY PROGRAMS**:

- Assume responsibility for the development of spray programs incorporating in-house products for the clients which integrate agrochemical and nutritional products and adhere to MRL guidelines and label recommendations.
- Use crop programmes and technical support services to drive sales strategies in the region.
- Monitor the correct implementation of recommendations.
- Carry out regular crop inspections with Crop Advisers during season to find solutions for problems found and make recommendations for corrective action to be taken
- Perform relevant in-house product trials on specific crops to build knowledge and confidence in products.

**TRAINING**:

- Engage effectively with customers through the Turbo toolbox selling methodology of problem identification and solution finding.
- Provide technical support to Crop Advisors through training and on-field analysis across all product classes.

**SALES SUPPORT**:

- Work closely with Advisory Manager to compile a sales strategy for the respective Advisory team for the specific crops.
- Interact with key influencers in industry to promote in-house products and grow existing client base and act on leads for new products or programmes based on specifics of a crop or region.
- Execute the company NuWay strategy to grow in-house nutritional products and differentiate AECI Plant Health in the market place.
- Responsible for meeting sales budget targets as set by the company and broken down into the regions.
- Communicate product strategies with Portfolio Specialists and Regional Managers
- Work with Crop Associations and Exporters to offer AECI Plant Health solutions for better management of residues and to create awareness of AECI Plant Health products and services.
- Meet budget targets as set by the company
- Communicate product strategies with Portfolio Managers

**SALES MEETINGS**:

- Work closely with Advisory Manager, Advisory Specialist and Regional Manager in the area to determine the strategy and budget of in-house and 3rd Party products.
- Set up budget per product and Crop Advisors on in-house products to enable them to include these into regional budgets and forecasts.
- Responsible for the technical support and training of Crop Advisors on in-house products to enable them to include these into regional budgets and forecasts.
- Gather data from customer to steer in-house product recommendations and sales.
- Ensure implementation of recommendations is carried out by the clients.
- Liaise with Portfolio Specialists to identify the strategy for the area and incorporate in the Regional Sales Strategy.

**Qualifications & Experience**:

- Minimum educational requirement Grade 12 with post matric tertiary qualification of a B.Agric/B.Sc Agric degree.
- Must possess AVCASA or BASOS accreditation and be prepared to work towards acquiring both accreditations within a reasonable period of time.
- Minimum of 5 years post graduate experience in the agricultural industry

in agrochemicals and/or agriculture and/or nutrition.
- Must possess technical knowledge and experience within the citrus, table and wine grape industry.
- Must possess good customer relationship skills.
- Must possess technical and agrochemical knowledge.
- Computer literate MS Office (Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Outlook)
- Knowledge of.NET would be advantageous.
- A sound working knowledge of Safety, Health and Environmental practices is essential.
- Must be in possession of a valid driver’s license, have own reliable transport and be medically fit to drive.
- Must be able to travel to support all allocated Crop Advisors and service cross-border clients if required.
- Ability to work independently.
- Must possess good communication (verbal and written), planning, organisation, presentation, technical, people and presentation skills.
- Must be safety orientated
- Possess the ability to solve problems systematically
- Fluency in both English and Afrikaans is a prerequisite.