About Big River Agro Ltd
Big River Agro Ltd is an agribusiness serving growers across the Peace River region of northern Alberta. We provide crop inputs, soil fertility products, crop protection solutions, and agronomic advisory services to a diverse client base of grain, oilseed, and forage producers. Our team works closely with farmers through every stage of the growing season, from soil testing and fertility planning through to in-season scouting, disease management, and harvest recommendations.
We are seeking a Sales Agronomist to join our team in Fort Vermilion, Alberta. The successful candidate will be willing to relocate to and reside in this remote northern Alberta community.
Job Description
The Sales Agronomist is responsible for providing expert agronomic advisory services to growers in the Peace River region, driving crop input sales, and building long-term client relationships. This role combines technical agronomy with business development in a northern Alberta agricultural market characterized by unique growing conditions, including short growing seasons, Luvisolic and Gray Wooded soils, and evolving pest and disease pressures such as clubroot expansion and cereal rust management.
Responsibilities
- Conduct field visits and assessments to evaluate soil health, crop growth, pest and disease pressure, and nutrient management across client operations in the Peace River region.
- Provide tailored agronomic recommendations to growers on crop selection, seeding rates, planting techniques, fertilization strategies, crop protection programs, and harvest timing, taking into account regional soil types and short-season growing conditions.
- Interpret soil test reports and develop site-specific fertility plans, including seed-placed nutrient strategies, micronutrient recommendations, and pH management for Luvisolic soils common to the region.
- Monitor and advise on emerging crop disease threats relevant to northern Alberta, including clubroot management in canola, stripe rust in wheat, and other regionally significant pathogens.
- Develop and implement agronomic sales plans to drive crop input revenue, including fertilizers, crop protection products, seed, and specialty inputs.
- Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with existing and prospective growers through regular field visits, agronomic support, and responsive service.
- Collaborate with internal teams including marketing, logistics, production, and management to ensure customer needs are met and product commitments are delivered.
- Provide technical support and troubleshooting assistance to customers, including product recommendations, application guidance, and in-field problem-solving.
- Stay current on agricultural industry trends, new product developments, regional research findings, market conditions, and competitor activities.
- Attend trade shows, agricultural conferences, industry events, and grower meetings to promote Big River Agro products and services and to maintain professional development.
- Maintain accurate records of client interactions, agronomic recommendations provided, sales activities, and field observations.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree or diploma in agronomy, crop science, soil science, agricultural sciences, or a closely related field.
- Minimum 2 years of professional experience in agricultural advisory, crop consulting, retail agronomy, or a directly related role.
- Strong working knowledge of agronomic principles, crop physiology, plant nutrition, soil fertility, and integrated pest management.
- Experience interpreting soil test data and developing fertility recommendations, including familiarity with extraction methods used in Western Canadian soil testing (e.g., Modified Kelowna, Olsen P, DTPA micronutrients).
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain long-term client relationships in an agricultural retail or advisory environment.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to convey technical agronomic concepts to diverse audiences including growers, farm managers, and industry partners.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, manage multiple client accounts simultaneously, and prioritize tasks across a large geographic territory.
- Proficiency in data analysis tools and Microsoft Office Suite; experience with precision agriculture tools or GIS mapping is an asset.
- Willingness to travel frequently across rural areas and work outdoors in various weather and field conditions, including during peak seasonal periods.
- Valid driver’s licence and clean driving record. Access to a reliable vehicle for extensive field travel is required.
- Eligibility for membership or active membership in the Alberta Institute of Agrologists (AIA) is a strong asset.
Preferred Qualifications
The following qualifications are considered strong assets and will be given preference in candidate evaluation:
- Direct experience advising growers in northern Alberta, the Peace River region, or comparable short-season Prairie environments with similar soil and climatic conditions.
- Familiarity with the agronomic challenges specific to the Peace River region, including Luvisolic and Gray Wooded soil management, clubroot monitoring and resistance stewardship in canola, and cereal disease management (e.g., stripe rust Yr-gene resistance, fusarium head blight).
- Proven track record of managing a client portfolio and delivering measurable sales growth in an agricultural retail setting.
- Experience with or knowledge of crop scouting, variable-rate application, and precision agriculture technologies used in Western Canadian farming operations.
- Professional Agrologist (P.Ag.) designation or active progress toward obtaining the designation through the Alberta Institute of Agrologists.
- Established professional network within the agricultural community in northern Alberta or the broader Peace River corridor.
Work Location & Conditions
This position is based in Fort Vermilion, Alberta, a remote community in northern Alberta approximately 740 km north of Edmonton. The successful candidate must be willing and able to relocate to Fort Vermilion and reside in the community. Big River Agro is willing to assist the right candidate with relocation.
The role involves extensive travel across rural areas of the Peace River region. Field work in varying weather conditions — including extreme cold in winter and long days during the growing season — is a regular part of the position. Seasonal overtime may be required during peak periods (seeding, spraying, harvest).
NOC Code:
21112 — Agricultural Representatives, Consultants and Specialists (TEER 1)
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: Up to $30.00 per hour
Benefits:
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Fort Vermilion, AB: reliably commute or be willing to relocate with an employer-provided relocation package (required)
Education:
- Bachelor's Degree (required)
Experience:
- agriculture advisory: 2 years (required)
Work Location: In person
