POSITION SUMMARY:

Roeslein Alternative Energy is developing a platform at the intersection of regenerative agriculture, waste-to-value systems, and environmental markets to create new revenue streams that support economically viable prairie restoration and sustainable land use.

As part of this platform, the company is establishing a nutrient products business focused on converting outputs from anaerobic digestion into high-value agricultural inputs.

The Commercial Director, Nutrients is responsible for leading the commercialization of this platform, including solid digestate and liquid NPK fertilizer products, and advancing these products from concept through market adoption.

This role is accountable for developing and executing commercial strategies, translating market demand into product development requirements, and supporting the design, validation, and scaling of nutrient products. The position works cross-functionally with customers, engineering, agronomy, and external partners to ensure product performance, market fit, and commercial viability.

Initial research conducted in partnership with Iowa State University has demonstrated strong product performance and market potential. This role supports the advancement of these findings through continued field validation, product refinement, and commercialization efforts, leveraging available funding, including the USDA-supported AMP program.

The Commercial Director, Nutrients plays a central role in aligning market demand, product development, and commercialization strategy, supporting the transformation of waste-derived materials into market-ready agricultural inputs and contributing to the development of scalable nutrient solutions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is performed in an office and uncontrolled atmosphere.  Exposure to harsh conditions—such as:  dust, fumes, chemicals, hazardous materials, noise, and varying weather and temperatures—for long periods of time is possible.  All employees are required to follow safety standards and wear all personal protective equipment in designated areas. 

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.   While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to walk, stand, use hands and fingers, grip, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; and talk and hear.  Ability to lift and carry 25 lbs. on a regular basis is required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Commercial Strategy & Product Development

• Lead commercialization strategy for nutrient products, including solid digestate and liquid NPK formulations
• Identify and prioritize target markets, with initial focus on specialty crops (e.g., vineyards, orchards, high-value fruit and vegetable systems)
• Translate customer needs into product specifications, pricing models, and go-to-market strategies
• Partner closely with R&D Tech Lead, engineering and operations to co-develop product formats, quality specifications, and logistics models

Customer Discovery & Market Validation

• Conduct deep customer discovery across growers, agronomists, distributors, and input providers
• Identify unmet needs, value drivers, and willingness to pay across crop systems and regions
• Build an early adopter pipeline and secure partners for field trials and pilot programs
• Develop feedback loops to continuously refine product-market fit

Trials, Partnerships & Product Credibility

• Design and execute field trials in partnership with growers, universities, and NGOs
• Collaborate with external partners in adjacent spaces, including: soil amendments (e.g., biochar), biologicals / microbial inputs, regenerative agriculture programs
• Generate data, case studies, and insights to support product performance, positioning, and claims
• Lead coordination with internal and external experts on environmental and regulatory requirements, ensuring nutrient products meet all applicable standards and are positioned for successful commercialization

Go-to-Market & Commercialization

• Develop channel strategy (direct sales, distributors, and strategic partnerships)
• Support development of branding, positioning, and product narratives
• Build commercial models including pricing, margin structure, and scaling pathways
• Advance opportunities from pilot through contracted sales

Execution & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Work cross-functionally with engineering, operations, agronomy, and finance to ensure readiness for scale
• Identify and resolve bottlenecks across product development, logistics, and customer onboarding
• Leverage grant funding and partner networks to accelerate development and reduce risk

KNOWLEDGE / SKILL / ABILITY / EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE

• Strong commercial acumen, including experience with pricing, business case development, and/or financial modeling
• Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, early-stage environments and drive initiatives from concept to execution
• Experience working cross-functionally across technical, operational, and commercial teams
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills across diverse stakeholder groups
• Demonstrated ability to influence without direct authority and drive outcomes through others
• Analytical mindset with ability to structure problems and develop actionable insights
• Passion for agriculture, sustainability, and market-based solutions
• Experience in fertilizers, soil health, specialty crops, agricultural inputs, or adjacent industries
• Strong product mindset, ability to translate customer needs into technical product design
• Experience working with growers, agronomists, or agricultural input value chains
• Experience running or supporting field trials and product validation (preferred)
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and ability to travel as required
• Ability to work in both office and field environments, including exposure to varying weather and conditions
• MBA or advanced degree in a related field (e.g., agriculture, environmental science, business, or engineering) preferred
• Experience working in startup, high-growth, or innovation-focused environments, preferred
• Experience in strategy, consulting, or early-stage business model development, preferred