📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Area Marketing Representative
🔹 Company: Richardson International
🔹 Location: Vulcan South, AB
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Agriculture, Food & Beverage
🔹 Date Posted: May 14, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: Intermediate (2-5 years)
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Building and maintaining strong customer relationships in the agriculture industry
- Selling crop inputs such as seed, fertilizer, and crop protection products
- Purchasing grain and coordinating logistics for grain movement
- Managing credit within the assigned region
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a balance of sales, customer service, and logistics skills, with a strong focus on building and maintaining customer relationships in the agriculture sector.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Maintain strong customer relationships and act as the key contact with all farm customers, managing credit within the region
✅ Sell seed, fertilizer, and crop protection products to customers in the assigned area
✅ Purchase grain from customers and coordinate the logistics of grain movement
ASSUMPTION: The role involves a significant amount of travel within the assigned region, requiring strong communication and organizational skills to manage multiple customers and tasks effectively.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Diploma/Degree in Agriculture/Business
Experience: Several years of related agriculture experience
Required Skills:
- Strong communication and organizational skills
- Valid driver's license
- Ability to work independently and manage time effectively
- Knowledge of the agriculture industry and its trends
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in a merchandising role
- Bilingualism (English/French)
ASSUMPTION: While a degree or diploma in Agriculture/Business is preferred, relevant experience in the agriculture industry may be considered equivalent.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: Competitive salary (industry standard for intermediate-level agriculture roles in Western Canada)
Benefits:
- Pension plan
- Flexible benefits plan
- Training and career development opportunities
Working Hours: Full-time, with flexible hours during peak seasons
ASSUMPTION: The salary range is estimated based on industry standards for intermediate-level agriculture roles in Western Canada. Actual compensation may vary based on experience and performance.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Food and Beverage Manufacturing, specifically focused on agriculture and agribusiness
Company Size: 1,001-5,000 employees, providing a mid-sized company structure with opportunities for growth and development
Founded: 1857, with a rich history and established reputation in the agriculture industry
Company Description:
- Richardson International is Canada’s largest agribusiness, handling and merchandising all major Canadian-grown grains and oilseeds
- Vertically integrated processor and manufacturer of oats and canola-based products
- Offers a world of expertise in grain handling, merchandising, logistics, crop inputs sales, oilseed processing, milling, and food product development
Company Specialties:
- Canola oil processing
- Food service packaging
- Milling
- Oat milling
- Global agribusiness
Company Website: http://www.richardson.ca
ASSUMPTION: Richardson International's extensive experience and expertise in the agriculture industry make it an attractive employer for professionals seeking a career in the sector.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Intermediate, with opportunities for growth and advancement within the company
Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Ag Business Centre Manager
Work Arrangement: On-site, with frequent travel within the assigned region
Growth Opportunities:
- Advancement to senior marketing or management roles within the company
- Expansion of responsibilities and territory as the company grows
- Cross-functional learning opportunities within Richardson International's diverse business units
ASSUMPTION: The Area Marketing Representative role offers strong potential for career growth and development within the company, given Richardson International's size and diverse business units.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Ag Business Centre, located in Vulcan South, AB
Office Location(s): Vulcan South, AB
Geographic Context:
- Vulcan South is a small town in southern Alberta, with a population of approximately 2,000 people
- Located near major highways, providing easy access to other parts of Alberta and neighboring provinces
- Surrounded by agriculture and farming communities, with a strong focus on the industry
Work Schedule: Full-time, with flexible hours during peak seasons (spring and fall)
ASSUMPTION: The Vulcan South location provides a unique opportunity to work closely with local farmers and agriculture communities, fostering strong customer relationships and understanding of the local market.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screening
- In-person or video interview with the hiring manager
- Background check and reference checks
- Job offer
Key Assessment Areas:
- Industry knowledge and understanding of agriculture trends
- Sales and customer service skills
- Communication and organizational skills
- Problem-solving and decision-making abilities
- Adaptability and resilience in handling multiple tasks and customers
Application Tips:
- Highlight relevant agriculture experience and industry knowledge in your resume
- Tailor your cover letter to demonstrate your understanding of the role and enthusiasm for working in the agriculture sector
- Prepare examples of your sales and customer service skills, as well as your ability to manage multiple tasks and customers
- Research Richardson International and the agriculture industry to showcase your knowledge and interest in the role
ATS Keywords: Agriculture, Sales, Customer Service, Grain, Crop Inputs, Logistics, Farm Customers, Credit Management
ASSUMPTION: The application process for this role may involve assessments of sales and customer service skills, as well as industry knowledge and adaptability.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software
- Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software
- Grain management and logistics software
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
ASSUMPTION: The tools and technologies required for this role may vary depending on the specific needs of the Ag Business Centre and the company's broader technology infrastructure.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Integrity
- Respect
- Accountability
- Teamwork
- Safety
Work Style:
- Self-motivated and independent
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Adaptable and resilient in handling multiple tasks and customers
- Results-driven and focused on customer satisfaction
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you demonstrate integrity and respect in your daily work?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you had to manage multiple customers or tasks effectively?
- How do you prioritize and organize your work to ensure customer satisfaction?
ASSUMPTION: Richardson International values employees who embody their core values and exhibit a strong work ethic, with a focus on customer satisfaction and results-driven performance.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing a large customer base and maintaining strong relationships with all customers
- Adapting to the fluctuating demands of the agriculture industry and market conditions
- Balancing sales, customer service, and logistics responsibilities effectively
- Working in a rural location, which may require frequent travel and flexibility in work hours
ASSUMPTION: The Area Marketing Representative role presents unique challenges related to customer management, industry adaptability, and work-life balance in a rural setting.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other marketing roles, this position has a stronger focus on sales and customer service, as well as logistics and grain management
- In the agriculture industry, this role is unique in its combination of marketing, sales, and logistics responsibilities
- Career progression may involve moving into senior marketing or management roles within the company, or expanding responsibilities and territory as the company grows
ASSUMPTION: The Area Marketing Representative role offers a unique blend of marketing, sales, and logistics responsibilities, with strong potential for career growth and development within the company.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and implementing a marketing plan to increase sales of a specific crop input product in the assigned region
- Coordinating a grain purchase and logistics plan for a large customer, ensuring efficient and timely delivery
- Managing a customer credit portfolio, maintaining strong relationships, and minimizing risk
ASSUMPTION: The sample projects provided are intended to illustrate the diverse range of responsibilities and skills required for the Area Marketing Representative role.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into the overall strategy of the Ag Business Centre and Richardson International?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days?
- How does the company support the professional development and growth of its employees?
- What are the most challenging aspects of working in a rural location, and how does the company address these challenges?
- How does the company measure the success of the Area Marketing Representative role, and what key performance indicators (KPIs) are used?
ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful and insightful questions during the interview process demonstrates your interest in the role and commitment to understanding the company's goals and expectations.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link by June 4, 2025
- Tailor your resume to highlight your relevant agriculture experience and industry knowledge
- Write a cover letter that demonstrates your understanding of the role and enthusiasm for working in the agriculture sector
- Prepare examples of your sales and customer service skills, as well as your ability to manage multiple tasks and customers
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your interest and reiterate your qualifications
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
