Workforce Wednesday: Meet a Training Lead

Courtesy of Tara Tubbs

New technologies and methods are regularly introduced within the agricultural industry. In order to maintain a well-trained workforce, many companies have dedicated training professionals to help their staff.  

Meet Tara Tubbs. She is a Training Lead for Organizational Change Management with Nutrien. Her job is to manage the development, design, distribution and tracking of training materials for team members to ensure they can service their customers' needs adequately. 

Tubbs said no two days are the same working in the training department, but there are similar daily tasks. 

“My position contributes to the industry by helping our front-line workers have the necessary tools to work with growers to get the biggest return on their investment, work in a sustainable fashion and have the proper solutions to help feed the world,” Tubbs said.  

Her favorite part of her job is the relationships she gets to build. She also loves the “ability to be innovative and the impact we have on the future of the world,” she said. 

She works with administrators, sales teams, executive leadership and even Nutrien’s technological support team. Part of her role is to identify gaps in knowledge and develop solutions to those. She also tracks and manages the completion of training programs. Maintaining updated training materials is critical within the industry.  

“Agriculture is always evolving and one of the most innovative industries,” Tubbs said. 

Because of regular developments, training programs must continuously be updated as well. Tubbs said it’s important to keep an open mind. 

“Different people look at things differently,” Tubbs said. “It is always important to have an open mind and ensure the right people are involved in decision making, knowing that you don’t always have all the answers, and you may not always be right.” 

Tubbs is most excited about the “continued transition to digital technologies, increased data, carbon programs, sustainability and full solutions to help feed the growing population.”  

The industry is ever-changing and evoloving through advancements.  

“I reference to having a phone on the wall to our iPhone,” Tubbs said. “Agriculture is changing at this same speed, and it will look drastically different tomorrow from what it does today.” 

To feed 10 billion people by 2050 with less land and fewer resources, Tubbs said a diverse workforce is needed. Tubbs said “agriculture is bigger than working in the field and science.”

“It takes a team,” Tubbs said. “It takes agronomists, sales, administrative, managers, grain, real estate, animal health, applicators, operations, scientists, lab workers, safety team members, accounting teams, government liaisons, human resources, marketing, diversity and Inclusion, sustainability teams, manufacturing, mining teams and more.” 

Tubbs began her career with Nutrien in the early 2000s in an internship while pursuing an accounting degree. In her 18.5 years with Nutrien, she has continued to engage in learning and has held more than 10 positions and working in multiple departments within various states and locations. 

She has also earned a Diversity and Inclusion Certification and a Change Management Certification. 

“I firmly believe if you are engaged and willing to learn, you can do almost anything you set your mind to,” Tubbs said. “Keep your eyes open to things around you.  Your path may change, but always be willing to learn new things and never be afraid to ask questions.  Every role is critical to help the agriculture industry continue to be successful.”  

What is something that you wish you had known on your first day:

Change is never ending.