Employment Opportunities: Join the ISA team!

Click a title to learn more about the position and to apply.

 Digital Media Manager

Are you a metrics-driven, creative communicator who understands the nuances of social media, email marketing and website management? We are looking for a go-getter can assist in all facets of Iowa Soybean Association communications and public relations activities. They will assist in integrating all channels of marketing with a focus on social media, website management, email marketing and other areas of communications. The Digital Media Manager plays a crucial role in maintaining branding and messaging consistency across all platforms.

Essential Functions

 

Website Management

  • Maintain and update content of iasoybeans.com
  • Develop and execute SEO and content strategy across the site
  • Maintain a link tracking strategy utilizing UTM parameters
  • Serve as the main point of contact with the website contractor
  • Monitor and report key metrics from Google Analytics, provide quarterly reports
  • Execute, track and report the results of Google Ads campaigns
  • Liaison with IT department and run periodic audits to ensure quality user experience

Email Marketing

  • Deploy and provide strategic support on all email campaigns, including the ISA Weekly newsletter and bi-weekly Advocate Update
  • Maintain subscription lists in coordination with other team members
  • Liaison with IT department to maintain optimal MSCRM integration
  • Monitor and report key metrics and provide quarterly reports
  • Serve the as main point of contact with email marketing contractor

Social Media

  • Create a regular publishing schedule and editorial calendar to manage content across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube
  • Plan and execute specific, timely campaigns related to ISA’s top priorities
  • Determine which platforms are best suited for each piece of content
  • Administrate the creation and publishing of relevant, original, high-quality content
  • Manage the delivery and budget for paid social advertising campaigns
  • Track and report metrics for all social media channels

 

Education & Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, public relations or related field

  • Familiarity with agriculture, especially soybeans

  • Proficient using the individual content management systems that social media platforms provide (Facebook/Instagram Creator Studio, Twitter scheduling, YouTube Studio etc.) and/or using multi-social posting programs (Hootsuite, HubSpot, Spout Social, etc.)

  • Proficient or familiarity with using email marketing automation technology

  • Past experience with email marketing, lead nurturing, marketing automation, and/or web analytics

  • Proficient at Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Power Point) and Adobe Suites, Canva, or other design software

  • General knowledge of Search Engine Optimization and internet ranking for web content

  • Experience managing a social media and/or other budgets

  • Experience working within a CMS, Dynamics 365 preferred

  • Familiarity with Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, Google Search Console and Google Ads preferred

Apply Now
 Consumer Insight & Engagement Manager

Improve the lives of Iowa soybean farmers by increasing awareness, understanding and trust of modern agriculture among key constituents including food-minded consumers, brand leaders and influencers.

Essential Functions 

  • Monitor and communicate issues pertaining to the soybean industry and their relationship to consumers’ quality of life; identify and act on opportunities to make these topics relevant to non-farm audiences and communicate them using high-value, consumer-facing channels.
  • Oversee Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) ag awareness portfolio that includes the Iowa Food & Family Project (Iowa FFP), CommonGround Iowa, Iowa Ag Literacy Foundation and more.
  • Develop and implement the strategies and activities of the Iowa FFP in partnership with allied partners and stakeholders.
    Collaborate with an external team of communications professionals to execute priority activities that drive greater trust in modern agriculture among key publics.
  • Establish and oversee ISA’s ag awareness budget; network with allied partners to leverage soybean checkoff investment in support of external funding.
  • Collect and apply quantitative and qualitative consumer research, including annual Consumer Pulse survey.
    Serve as editor of Fresh Pickings Magazine, a publication of the Iowa FFP; oversee its editorial schedule, distribution and finances including the procurement of advertising.
  • Lead content development for owned channels including social media, email newsletter and magazine.
  • Coordinate with ISA team members for content development across owned, earned and paid media channels.
  • Coordinate activities and tactics including community events, farm tours, keynote speakers and partner events.
  • Represent the organization with external partners, sponsors, media and Iowa FFP consumer audience.
  • Author quarterly reports, present updates to ISA board and external partners.
  • Provide timely feedback and input to the Sr. Dir., Information & Education, for the betterment of the team and ISA’s service to soybean farmers and industry stakeholders.

Education & Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in public relations, communications or related field.
  • 2 – 5 years of experience in related field such as public relations, communications, industry relations.
  • Passion for working with farmers and understanding of agriculture is strongly preferred
Conservation Agronomist – Cooperative Farmers Elevator (CFE)

The Conservation Agronomist will work with Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) ag retail partner Cooperative Farmers Elevator (CFE) to engage landowners and farmers in northwest Iowa and surrounding areas. The purpose of this role is to provide conservation and agronomy technical assistance to local farmers and landowners. This technical assistance will result in increased farmer participation and engagement in programs and projects that improve production, profitability, and natural resource outcomes. 

This ISA staff position will be officed with CFE at their location in Rock Valley, Iowa, and will work closely with CFE’s agronomy and precision team. The person in this role will provide conservation and agronomy expertise to ISA farmer members, CFE farmer members, and area landowners. This person will also provide conservation expertise to the CFE agronomy team. An important aspect of this role will be to build relationships with CFE agronomy and precision staff, local watershed projects, soil and water conservation district staff, and other conservation partners. This person filling this position must reside or be wiling to move within reasonable daily commute distance of Rock Valley.

Essential Functions 

  • Serve as a conservation and agronomy technical specialist.
  • Identify appropriate in-field and edge-of-field agronomy and conservation practices for soil and water resource improvement.
  • Promote management practices and systems to address resource concerns, farmer/landowner conservation, production and productivity goals, and grant project goals.
  • Execute on-farm research, including collection of data and management information.
  • Monitoring agronomic and conservation practice performance.
  • Connect farmers and landowners with financial assistance and secure necessary technical design standards for practice application.
  • Build relationships and serve as a technical agronomy and conservation liaison between watershed coordinators, other local conservation organizations and CFE.
  • Build relationships and coordinate projects with project sponsors and a variety of audiences in the ag retail territory including farmers, landowners, CFE staff, CCA’s, USDA Service Center personnel, local partners, and other commodity organizations.
  • Successfully engage CFE staff in building relationships, conducting outreach to their farmer members in a cooperative manner, and providing conservation expertise as requested.
  • Participate in ISA, CFE, and other relevant meetings, trainings, events, and field days.
  • Prepare work plans, budgets, quarterly and annual reports, and support grant development and implementation.
  • Coordinate with other ISA departments and staff including communications and outreach, producer services and finance and accounting.

Education & Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree or higher in environmental sciences, agriculture, biological sciences, ecology, sociology, or related field.
  • Minimum of three to five years of experience working directly with farmers in agronomy and/or conservation.
  • Strong understanding of:
  • conservation practices and financial support programs
  • agricultural industry and the ag retail system
  • cropping systems
  • Capable of working in a team environment while working independently to achieve specific project deliverables.
  • Ability to work remotely and from affiliated office locations.
  • Understanding or ability to learn various computer technologies including data management programs, CRM software, and GIS software.
  • Valid driver’s license required.
  • Master’s degree in Agronomy, Agricultural Engineering, Environmental/Biological Science, or related field preferred.
  • Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) certification preferred.

Apply Now
 Senior Writer II

Provide in-depth coverage and communications of issues impacting the production and profitability of soybeans. Emphasis on increasing awareness, understanding and engagement of Iowa soybean farmers in ISA’s Research Center for Farming Innovation.

Essential Functions 

  • Play a lead role in the development and implementation of a comprehensive research communications plan to elevate awareness and farmer engagement in the Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI).
  • Provide in-depth coverage of ISA’s programs and activities with a focus on the work of the RCFI including topics centric to agronomic research, soybean production, soil and water health and research analytics.
  • Generate timely stories, info graphics, farmer testimonials and in-depth discoveries of on-farm trials and outcomes for ISA’s digital and e-communications including for publication in the Iowa Soybean Review.
  • Serve as editor of the RCFI annual report (published in February).
  • Develop, in collaboration with RCFI, promotions and outreach to growers to encourage greater farmer participation in ISA research activities. This includes webinars, printed materials, field events and special publications.
  • Develop promotions working collaboratively with ISA field operations team to drive awareness and attendance at field days, webinar participation and other research-specific events.
  • Maintain timely and accurate progress schedule of all assignments and deliverables as included in research contracts and proposals involving communications and farmer outreach activities.
  • Assist the communications & editorial director, public relations manager and Iowa Soybean Review editor in the development and execution of ISA’s editorial calendar.
  • Develop info graphics and content contributions for ISA social media.
  • Network closely with ISA public relations manager to maintain timely and accurate content for ISA message mapping pertaining to the ISA Research Team.
  • Provide copy editing and proofing of communications centric to the RCFI, Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance and Ag Clean Water Alliance.
  • Create farmer profiles/success stories that bring research work to life and encourage more farmers to get involved using print, photography, audio and video.
  • Strengthen association’s relationship with Iowa State University faculty and Extension staff by providing timely coverage of agronomic research, plant science, weed management and other soybean-focused activity.
  • Participate and provide update reports at weekly I&E team meetings and Friday Memo.

Education & Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications or related field
  • 5 to 10 years proven experience in agricultural journalism and communications
 Monitoring and Verification Technician (Seasonal)

The Monitoring and Verification Technician is the monitoring and verification lead for AgOutcomes and the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund (www.theoutcomesfund.com). This position will implement the field verification, soil sampling and water sampling program of the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund in Iowa, Illinois, Ohio and other states TBD. This position will report to the Monitoring and Verification Coordinator, who oversees the implementation of Soil and Water Outcomes Fund monitoring and verification protocol. The position will work with partners and seasonal staff to coordinate and conduct the verification and monitoring, manage sampling locations, results and associated data management. The Monitoring and Verification will also support Soil & Water Outcomes Fund enrollment and other tasks on a as needed basis. This role reports to the Monitoring and Verification Coordinator. 

Essential Functions 

     

    • Conduct field verification and soil and water sampling
    • Perform QA/QC on all soil and water sampling data collected
    • Utilize system to collect field level data including but not limited to field notes, photo, sampling notes, monitoring results, etc.
    • Work with water and soil scientists to conduct analysis of sampling results
    • Work with Midwest Labs, Waypoint Labs, Iowa Soybean Association and other labs to receive and analyze soil and water samples.
    • Maintain a strong understanding of the Soil & Water Outcomes Fund

    Education & Experience 

     

    • Bachelor’s degree in agronomy, environmental sciences, agricultural engineering, biological sciences, ecology or related field.
    • Experience collecting soil or water samples.
    • Strong understanding of Midwest cropping systems and conservation practices.
    • Understanding of computer technologies including cloud-based data storage and GIS.
    • Ability to use GPS and/or mobile devices to navigate to sampling locations.

     

     

    Apply Now
     Research Field Technician (Seasonal)

    The Research Field Technician will assist the ISA Research Center for Farming Innovation with water quality and crop production research.  The employee will be expected to collect water quality, soil, and plant samples; conduct crop scouting and imagery analysis; process and organize data; and assist with data analysis. The research will be used to help ISA improve the productivity and sustainability of crop production in Iowa. This role reports to the Sr. Research Program Manager. 

    Essential Functions 

     

    • Assist ISA Research on water sample collection throughout the state. Includes taking samples at defined locations, and collection of samples that are dropped off at collection points.
    • Assist Field Services Program Managers in execution of on-farm research.
    • Interact with farmers in a professional manner to execute experiments and data collection.
    • Collect soil and plant samples from farm fields.
    • Ability to take direction and work independently.
    • Ability to enter and work with data collected using commonly used tools (Excel, Word, etc.).
    • With proper training, conduct crop scouting and use aerial imagery for pest, disease, and different stresses.
    • Assist in other ISA Research program areas as needed.

    Education & Experience

    • Ability to work efficiently on individual and team projects.
    • Strong writing and oral communication skills.
    • High level familiarity with farming practices, agricultural conservation, and water quality
    • Undergraduate degree (BA or BS), in progress or completed, with a focus in agriculture or environmental science.
    • Experience in agronomy or environmental science and field data collection and analysis preferred.
    • Understanding of production agriculture and agricultural conservation practices preferred.

     

     

     

    Apply Now
     Producer Services & Event Management Intern

    The intern will work with Amplify Association Management, who serve various state and national professional and trade association clients, and the ISA Producer Services Team, interacting with Iowa’s soybean farmers. Internship will include projects relating to meeting management, sponsor/exhibitor assistance, membership campaigns, social media content creation, writing, marketing and administrative tasks. 

    Essential Functions 

       

      • Assist with developing, writing, designing, proofreading and creating/ordering materials (can include signage, brochures, website content, social media posts, surveys and e-mails)
      • Communicate with farmers, members, clients and sponsors/stake holders
      • Assist with meeting planning, preparation, registration and follow up or evaluation
      • Track engagement and make entries in membership or education credit databases
      • Assist with event emergency/crisis planning
      • Assist in the creation and implementation of an ISA membership campaign
      • Represent ISA at farmer-centric meetings, field days and trade shows
      • Onsite assistance at Amplify client events as needed
      • Other tasks as assigned

      Education

      • Undergraduate degree (BA or BS), in progress or completed, with a focus in agriculture or hospitality/event management 

       

      Apply Now