Field Representative

Job Title: Field Representative

Company: Foremost Farms

Location: Based out of Northeast Iowa/Southeast Minnesota

Description: 

Position Overview

This position is responsible for providing world-class services to the dairy farm families of the cooperative, recruiting new members, and building appropriate dairy industry contacts and relationships, in an assigned geographic area, in accordance with company policies and procedures. This role contributes to the success of the cooperative through their attention to detail, service mindset, and upholding the mission to create value for our dairy farm families by partnering with our customers to deliver high quality, nutritious, safe, and sustainable milk products to the marketplace. 

Key Accountabilities

Providing world-class service to the dairy farm families of the cooperative:

• Assisting and taking all appropriate action with cooperative member-owners to achieve and maintain high-quality milk production
• Ensuring members follow all cooperative quality standards and regulations, including the Minimum Standards program and European Union (EU) Quality Program
• Performing appropriate milk and quality tests, including tests for inhibitors (antibiotics), and water/glycol testing per regulatory requirements.
• Acting as liaison between the cooperative and the members to ensure proper communication in addressing cooperative business and issue resolution
• Assist members with regulatory and compliance topics such as: state and federal regulatory milk quality and on-farm premises requirements, inspection preparation, and customer-specific requirements.
• Improve member experience by utilizing and facilitating the use of Foremost Farms services such as the member-owner website, LabLink, and risk management services through third-party vendor.
• Communicating cooperative pricing, policy, programs, and membership expectations as appropriate.
• Initiating membership and milk marketing agreements with new and current members.
• Providing appropriate feedback and information to management on various member-related topics that may impact cooperative production and sales planning – Base Program, prospective farms, retirements.
• Maintaining all records in an appropriate manner for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Utilizing business systems such as MPIS, Business Intelligence (BI) Launchpad, Salesforce, and MyFarms to effectively track, monitor, report and resolve issues pertaining to producer milk quality, producer milk checks, lab and milk testing-related issues, and prospective farm recruitment.

Prospective farm recruitment and cooperative promotion:

• Recruiting new members to the cooperative through selling the mission of Foremost Farms to create value for our dairy farm families.
• Using proprietary tools to analyze milk prices and perform price comparisons upon request
• Building appropriate dairy industry contacts and relationships, including hauler relationships.
• Representing Foremost Farms at industry events and meetings – WI Farm Technology Days, World Dairy Expo, Indiana Quality Milk Conference, WPS Farm Show, WI Association of Dairy Plant Field Reps, etc.
• Assisting with on-farm tours and customer visits as requested.

National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management FARM Program:

• Assisting members with National Dairy FARM Program requirements – Animal Care, Environmental Stewardship (ES), and Workforce Development.
• Coordinating with evaluator team to schedule on-farm evaluations.
• Preparing farms for 2nd-party evaluations and third-party verifications.
• Assisting producers in resolving Mandatory Corrective Action Plans and Continuous Improvement Plants to maintain the cooperative’s good standing in the National Dairy FARM Program.
• Use National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and Foremost Farms educational materials to aid farms in creating SOPs for FARM Evaluations.
• Assisting in annual documentation collection/verification – VCPR, Herd Health Plan, and Employee Training.
• Assisting in data collection for FARM-ES evaluations including the Conservation Practices Questionnaire (CPQ).
• Sharing our member farms’ stories of sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Other related duties as assigned. 

Physical Setting Job Setting: Home office based. Continuous travel in assigned geography for work, over 66% of the time. May provide coverage for neighboring field rep territories as-needed. Must have the ability to be on-call 24 hours a day.

Based out of Northeast Iowa/Southeast Minnesota. 

Experience, Skills and Abilities: 

Minimum Qualifications

• Technical school certificate in dairy production, dairy herd management, or related field of study.
• Related technical knowledge or college/technical school coursework.
• Must have the ability to drive a motor vehicle and maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Must obtain professional licenses as required by state Departments of Health and Agriculture including, but not limited to Bulk Milk Weigher and Sampler Licensing, Certifications for Calibrating Bulk Milk Tanks, Certified Industry Analyst Status for Antibiotic Testing, Notary Licenses, as needed.
• Certified FARM Program Evaluator - Animal Care, Environmental Stewardship (ES), and Workforce Development Evaluator. New hires will have a 12-month window to obtain licenses upon hire.
• Must have the ability to operate a variety of small hand tools, the ability to operate milk testing equipment and farm dairy equipment, as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in dairy production, animal science, dairy manufacturing/processing or related field of study.
• Related technical knowledge and one to two years of job-related experience.
• Licensed Bulk Milk Weigher & Sampler

Key Competencies

• Facilitate trusting relationships through effective communication, follow through on commitments, resolving conflicts and recognizing the good work of others.
• Regularly challenge the status quo by identifying opportunities for improvement, challenging the current state, and understanding that change and growth are ongoing.
• Demonstrate agility and resilience with open mind, flexibility, and support of others in difficult situations.
• Communicate to share relevant information proactively and brings others along.
• Take ownership to move self (and team, if applicable) forward with positive approach intended to exceed expectations and inspire same in others. 

Hours/Employment Type: Full Time

Salary/Wages: Competitive wages

How to Apply: Visit our online posting.

Questions? Please contact Claire Selden at claire.selden@foremostfarms.com, (608) 355-8793.