Role Purpose
Due to significant and continued growth within the business, we are seeking an experienced and commercially focused Breeding Advisor to join our Breeding Consulting team in the Cork area.
The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and maintaining strong relationships with dairy farmers within their designated territory, identifying customer needs and providing high-quality breeding advice, product recommendations and technical support.
The role combines technical breeding expertise, customer relationship management and sales, with the successful candidate expected to contribute to the continued growth of the business through excellent customer service, expert advice and the effective promotion of our breeding solutions.
The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of modern dairy breeding and breeding systems, excellent communication skills and the ability to build trusted, long-term relationships with customers.
Key Responsibilities
Customer Relationship Management
- Develop and maintain strong, professional relationships with existing and prospective customers throughout the Cork area.
- Act as a trusted breeding advisor to customers, understanding their individual breeding objectives and providing practical, commercially focused advice.
- Regularly visit customers on farm and maintain a strong understanding of their business, breeding goals and requirements.
- Identify opportunities to develop existing customer relationships and attract new customers.
- Provide a high standard of customer service and ensure customer queries are dealt with promptly and professionally.
- Build long-term relationships based on trust, technical expertise and a strong understanding of the customer's business.
Breeding Advice & Technical Support
- Provide expert advice on dairy breeding programmes, breeding strategies and breeding systems.
- Understand and interpret herd breeding information and use relevant data to support recommendations.
- Advise customers on appropriate breeding products and solutions in line with their herd objectives.
- Keep up to date with developments in dairy genetics, breeding technology, genomic information and industry best practice.
- Support customers in achieving their breeding and herd improvement objectives.
- Provide technical support to customers and colleagues where required.
- Develop a strong understanding of the company's product portfolio and be able to clearly communicate the technical and commercial benefits of products to customers.
- Develop knowledge of beef breeding and its application within dairy herds.
Sales & Business Development
- Achieve agreed sales and business development targets within the designated territory.
- Proactively identify new business opportunities and potential customers.
- Promote the company's breeding products and services in a professional and knowledgeable manner.
- Understand customer requirements and translate these into appropriate product and service recommendations.
- Monitor local market developments and competitor activity.
- Participate in customer events, farm meetings, breeding discussions, agricultural shows and other promotional activities as required.
- Maintain accurate records of customer activity, sales opportunities and follow-up actions.
Communication & Teamwork
- Work closely with colleagues across the Breeding Consulting and wider commercial teams.
- Share customer feedback, market intelligence and relevant technical information with colleagues.
- Communicate effectively with customers, colleagues and other stakeholders.
- Represent the company professionally at all times.
- Contribute positively to a collaborative and customer-focused team environment.
Administration & IT
- Maintain accurate and timely customer and sales records.
- Use company IT systems and CRM tool (Intact) effectively.
- Prepare reports and provide regular updates on sales activity and customer engagement as required.
- Manage territory activity effectively, ensuring customer visits and follow-ups are planned and prioritised.
- Complete all required administrative tasks accurately and within agreed timescales.
Key Accountabilities
The successful candidate will be accountable for:
- Delivery of agreed sales and business development targets within their territory.
- The development and retention of strong customer relationships.
- The quality and effectiveness of breeding advice provided to customers.
- Maintaining a strong understanding of the company's products, services and technical offering.
- Identifying and converting new business opportunities.
- Providing a consistently high standard of customer service.
- Accurate and timely use of company systems and reporting processes.
- Representing the company and its values professionally within the farming community.
Person Specification
Essential Requirements
Knowledge & Experience
- Extensive knowledge and understanding of dairy breeding and modern dairy breeding systems.
- Demonstrable experience working within the dairy breeding, genetics, agricultural or related sector.
- Strong understanding of the practical requirements and challenges faced by modern dairy farmers.
- Proven ability to provide technical advice and translate technical information into practical recommendations for customers.
- Experience in a customer-facing or commercially focused role.
- Strong IT skills and confidence using digital systems and technology.
Skills & Competencies
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
- Commercial awareness and a clear understanding of customer needs.
- Strong influencing and negotiation skills.
- Ability to work independently and manage a geographical territory effectively.
- Strong organisational and time-management skills.
- Ability to analyse information and use it to make sound recommendations.
- Ability to work collaboratively as part of a wider team.
- Confident presenting technical information to customers and groups.
Desirable Requirements
- Experience within a dairy farming environment.
- Knowledge and experience of beef breeding, particularly within dairy herds.
- Experience in a sales or business development environment.
- Knowledge of genetics, genomics and/or herd improvement programmes.
- Relevant agricultural, animal science, genetics or breeding qualification.
Personal Attributes
The successful candidate will be:
- Customer focused – builds trusted relationships and genuinely understands customer needs.
- Commercially driven – motivated by achieving sales and business objectives.
- Technically credible – able to provide knowledgeable, practical and evidence-based breeding advice.
- Proactive – identifies opportunities and takes ownership rather than waiting for direction.
- Approachable and personable – able to communicate effectively with farmers and colleagues at all levels.
- Organised – able to manage a busy territory, prioritise activity and maintain accurate records.
- Adaptable – comfortable working in a changing and growing business.
- A strong team player – contributes positively to the wider team while being capable of working independently.
- Professional – represents the company positively and maintains high standards in all customer interactions.
Benefits:
- Company car
- Company pension
- Sick pay
Work Location: On the road
