Equipment Support Specialist - Horticulture

This is a remote position.

Job Title: Equipment Support Specialist – Horticulture     

Reports to: Equipment Support Specialist – Strategic Accounts Horticulture

Customary Hours: 40 hours per week; hours may be extended when work load is increased

Position Summary

This position provides technical support to grower customers using processing equipment needed to fully expand and utilize HydraFiber products.

• Provide post-machine installation technical support, including answering customer questions regarding operation and calibration.
  
• Perform various activities for grower customers to ensure success of HydraFiber utilization:
  

• Train onsite staff on the functions of the specific machinery they’ll be using to process their HydraFiber products;
  
• Visit growers to ensure HydraFiber inclusion rates are correct/as expected; and
  
• Act as point of contact for HydraFiber Equipment questions.
  

• Train and assist growers concerning process and machine adjustment needed to insure satisfactory container filling.
  
• Assist in facilitating communication between Profile Products, AgriNomix, and the growers by performing activities including, but not limited to:
  

• Participating in conference calls between AgriNomix and growers during processing line layout and implementation phase;
  
• Developing/maintaining overview showing milestones from time of commitment to time of installation; and
  
• Acting as point of contact to AgriNomix to obtain pictures and/or other information needed from customer to ensure accurate drawings and efficient installation.
  

• Assist in managing Equipment R&D by performing activities including, but not limited to:
  

• Next generation equipment development
  
• New product development and testing.
  

• Perform QC complaint management activities including, but not limited to:
  

• Inspect complaints;
  
• Troubleshoot equipment/Product Grower customers; and
  
• Provide timely responses on complaints to Technical Account Manager.
  

• Provide education to growers by performing activities including, but not limited to:
  

• Participating in Grower Clinics
  
• Travel to HF customers with Technical Representative, or at Technical Representative’s request, to troubleshoot machine functionality.
  

• Support Technical Account Team as needed during visits and presentations of HydraFiber to prospects.
  
• Assist Technical Account Team as needed during visits to trial sites.
  
• Provide input to R&D team for use in Protocol Development; assist as needed in executing R&D projects.
  
• Provide reports of customer engagement to affected parties as needed within 48 hours of occurrence. Circulate and file reports in CRM and/or DropBox weekly.
  
• Assess any production-related issues on walks during client visits; report issues to Technical Account Team.
  
• Collaborate with R&D Team to produce accurately written protocols.
  
• Act as back-up support to Equipment Support Specialist – Key Accounts.
  
• Perform additional duties as required.
  

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture, Agriculture, Mechanical Engineering or Agricultural Engineering related field
  
• 2 years’ commercial horticulture production experience preferred, with a background in commercial production and mechanized processing technology is a plus
  

Essential Qualifications:  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  
• Strong analytical and mechanical skills
  
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide range of people and personalities
  
• Ability to work independently, as well as to collaborate in a team environment
  
• Solid decision-making skills
  
• Excellent PC skills including proficiency with MS Office
  
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and handle tasks with a high degree of accuracy 
  

Language Skills:

• Ability to read, write, and speak English; bilingual in Spanish preferred
  

Physical Demands:  The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. 
  
• Possess the ability to fulfill office activities normally expected in an office setting, to include, but not limited to: remaining seated for periods of time, performing computer entry, participating in filing activity, and lifting and carrying office supplies (paper reams, mail, etc.).
  
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
  
• May require more than 40 hours per week to perform the essential duties of the position.
  
• While at production facilities, the employee may be required to make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls; use hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls; use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
  
• Fine hand manipulation (keyboarding).
  

Work Environment:  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• This position works in home office and production environments. 
  
• The noise level in the home office work environment is usually moderate; the noise level in the production environment is typically loud and dusty.
  
• This position travels approximately 60% of the time.