Procurement Agronomist

Avena Foods is a specialty miller that partners with farmers and customers to bring safe, sustainable, nutritious oat and pulse ingredients to consumers around the globe which are non-GMO and gluten-free.  We have three facilities: Regina, SK, Rowatt, SK and Portage la Prairie, MB.

In a career with Avena you can look forward to:

·       Being a part of team committed to building an innovative and diverse culture

·       Supporting your growth through professional development, training, and recognition programs

·       Competitive compensation which includes benefit programs such as: Health, Dental, Life, Retirement Savings, Employee and Family Assistance Program and more!

·       We offer additional benefits for extras!  Take advantage of our Health Spending Account for additional expenses like more expensive glasses.  Or the Wellness Account that covers recreational items like gym membership, running shoes, etc.

If you’d like to join a team that is collaborative, hardworking and provides opportunities for growth.  Please apply.

Reports to: CEO

Avena Foods is actively seeking a Procurement Agronomist to join our team. The Procurement Agronomist is a member of Avena’s procurement team, contributing agricultural knowledge and grower insights to grain sourcing, pricing, inventory management and procurement strategy.

The primary focus of this role is to lead Avena’s regenerative agriculture and sustainability initiatives, build strong, lasting grower relationships and support the management of existing and new crop varieties. These relationships are central to Avena’s continued success and future growth. The Procurement Agronomist also contributes agricultural knowledge and grower insights to procurement decisions, provides agricultural expertise to support Sales, assists with crop inspections and represents Avena at grower and industry events.

Key responsibilities

1. Lead the development and implementation of Avena’s regenerative agriculture initiatives in collaboration with growers and internal teams. This includes:
   a. Collaborate with growers and internal teams to establish practical program requirements and support grower participation.
   b. Support the collection and tracking of information required to demonstrate participation and progress.
   c. Work with Procurement, Sustainability and Sales to align the program with Avena’s objectives and customer requirements.
2. Develop and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective growers. Understand their production capabilities, interests and challenges, and identify opportunities to strengthen their participation in Avena’s supply programs.
3. Play a key role in managing existing and new crop varieties, working with growers, seed partners and internal teams to assess suitability for Avena’s supply program. Support planning for seed availability, grower participation and commercial introduction, considering agronomic performance, processing characteristics and customer needs.
4. Collaborate with the procurement team to develop and implement grain procurement strategies aligned with production requirements, sales forecasts, quality specifications and Avena’s business objectives.
5. Contribute to grain pricing, purchasing and contracting decisions. Monitor market conditions, crop outlook and grower intentions to identify supply risks, sourcing opportunities and recommendations for management.
6. Provide agricultural knowledge and grower insights to support Sales in customer discussions, business development and product opportunities. Help communicate the value of Avena’s sourcing practices, grower relationships and regenerative agriculture initiatives.
7. Participate in trade shows, grower meetings, field days and other industry events to build relationships, promote Avena’s grower programs and stay informed about agricultural developments.
8. Assist with crop inspections and field assessments to monitor crop development, quality and potential supply concerns. Communicate findings and recommendations to growers and relevant internal teams.
9. Work collaboratively across departments to address supply and quality concerns. Provide management with updates on crop conditions, grower engagement, program progress and procurement opportunities.
10. Other duties as assigned.

Skills

• Strong agricultural knowledge and the ability to apply it to procurement and business decisions.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build lasting relationships with growers, customers and industry partners.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to explain agricultural and program requirements clearly.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and contribute effectively as part of a team.
• Sound analytical, negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and follow through on commitments.
• Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment.

·       General proficiency with computer systems and common business software.

• Willingness to travel and participate in field activities, grower meetings and industry events, with flexibility during key growing and procurement periods.
• Having experience with seed development would be an asset.

Qualifications

·       Post-secondary education in agriculture, agronomy, agribusiness or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

·       Experience in grain procurement, grower relations, crop production or a related agricultural role. An agronomy background is preferred.

·       Experience in sustainability, regenerative agriculture, grower program development or new variety commercialization would be beneficial.

*Employment is subject to successfully completing pre-employment checks which may include criminal record check, education verification and reference review.

*Avena is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. If you require accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact hr@avenafoods.com to request assistance.

*By submitting your resume, the applicant acknowledges that providing false, misleading or inaccurate information on their resume or during the interview is grounds for disqualification or dismissal.