Assistant Grain Merchandiser

Agtegra Cooperative is a local agricultural cooperative headquartered in Aberdeen, SD. It is owned by over 6,700 farmers and ranchers, predominantly in North and South Dakota, with a network of over 70 locations and 850 employees. For more information, please visit www.agtegra.com.

At Agtegra, our mission is simple: ‘Do something great for my farm and family that nobody else will do.’ To accomplish this, Agtegra offers diverse career opportunities where employees can grow and work in their local communities. Your personal and professional needs matter here – which is why we offer a variety of competitive benefits to employees, including healthcare and retirement, generous paid-time-off (PTO), family leave, and a clothing allowance just to name a few. It’s not just a job at Agtegra – it’s a place where we invite all employees to Start Here. Grow Here.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Assistant Grain Merchandiser works closely with the Product Line Managers in the marketing of corn, soybeans, milo, and wheat through a system of over 40 elevators including 11 shuttle loaders located in North and South Dakota. This position enhances the value proposition by successfully executing market risk management tools and services. Merchandisers identify opportunities which may include but are not limited to origination strategies, hedging, basis trading, cash positioning, logistics management, quality control, supporting various producer programs, and Agtegra’s safety culture.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for achieving targeted origination and sales volumes by supporting origination strategies designed to meet the needs of our producer members, and our origination teams in the field.
• Assist in the development of merchandising strategies unique to our locations and markets.
• Maintains a thorough knowledge of market values, rail freight rates, car costs, truck freight rates, and is the company’s primary contact to cash grain markets such as ethanol plants, exporters, processors, millers, feeders etc.
• Proactively focus on sales customer relationships and makes sales to maximize the value received for grain.
• Support Product Line Managers in maintaining a detailed matrix of bids for the assigned commodity; helps manage the company’s basis positions, develop hedge and spread positions, and make sales; all in accordance with established risk management policies.
• Contributes to development of policies and procedures for various activities related to the companies assigned commodity activities, such as: origination, warehousing, contracting, hedging, risk management, marketing, freight, and logistics, etc.
• Support the development of programs designed to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of the company’s grain presence and work with Agtegra teammates to increase origination.
• Promotes company communication efforts at all levels regarding grain market intelligence, grain policies, procedures, and grain division direction as it relates to the assigned commodities.
• Participates in establishing budget volume and margins and is responsible for company wide margin management of assigned commodities.
• Drives company objectives, including volume growth, market share expansion, alternative market development, comparative advantages, and intra-company efficiencies.
• Provides input on grain related capital expenditure projects, such as revenue and expense analysis, risk assessment, strategic importance and fit in the company.
• Acts as a mentor to all full-time staff and interns while helping them progress as employees and individuals.
• Utilize forecasts and software programs while relying on experience to help leverage inventory control.
• Additional responsibilities may include participating in meetings, training, recruiting, community relations, or committees.
• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university; minimum of one (1) year related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge of the agricultural business and grain industry.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suites (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Knowledge of Environmental Health and Safety, OSHA, EPA and the Department of Agriculture policies and procedures as they apply.
• Knowledge of Agtegra’s operating requirements, policies, procedures, and practices; and local, state, and federal regulations related to department programs and operations.
• Knowledge of rail, ethanol, container, processor, barge, and other truck markets.
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States without visa sponsorship.
• Must be 18 years or older.
• English proficiency.

The physical and work environment characteristics described in this description are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions or as otherwise required by law. Employees needing reasonable accommodation should discuss the request with the employee’s supervisor.

• This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, frequently requires standing, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions and occasionally requires walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling and reaching with hands and arms.
• Work has standard vision requirements.
• Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.
• Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels.
• Work is generally in a moderately noisy office setting (e.g. business office, light traffic).

Agtegra Cooperative is an equal opportunity employer.