Merchandiser, Grain ZFS

Job Summary:

Responsible for building long-term relationships with customers trading commodities. The merchandiser originates and sells commodities with these customers from a risk-management perspective that mutually benefits customers.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Analyzes market movement, price action, factors influencing price and make positioning recommendations.
• Quotes and negotiates prices and credit terms and prepares sales contracts for orders obtained.
• Inform buyers of market conditions of the products we sell. Builds and communicates annual customer grain marketing plans.
• Successfully develops and maintains purchase and sales positions for all customers.
• Implementation of hedging and other risk management methods and techniques applied to trading positions based on profitability, market trends, and account history.
• Develops and maintains positive relationships with customers and other business contacts by regular site visits, seminars, and community events. Maintains existing customer base while identifying, developing, and building new opportunities.
• Investigates and resolves customer problems with products or deliveries and responds quickly to errors.
• Works with the credit & accounting departments for paperwork and contract efficiencies.
• Prepares paperwork associated with loads and maintains current information in the computer database. Maintains customer contact through process to insure timely delivery/pick-up of commodities.
• Manage third party trucking logistics.
• Conducts presentations with the public during events, seminars, meetings & tours to establish positive relations within the community.
• Provides a “Customer Service” attitude when interacting with internal and external customers while accomplishing work, production, and achieving quality standards.
• Conforms with and abides by all regulations, policies, work procedures, instruction, and all safety requirements.
• Maintains a clean, orderly, and safe workstation/environment at all times.
• Performs all other tasks as requested.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• This position has the role of supporting assistants in the merchandising department where applicable.

Education and Experience:

• Education: Associate’s Degree or equivalent from two-year college or technical school preferred.
• Experience: 2-5 years’ related experience and/or training preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Demonstrates knowledge of local/regional grain markets.
• Proficient in mathematics. Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to analyze data and make data-driven decisions.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
• Ability to build relationships with internal and external customers.
• Ability to communicate effectively with co-workers and senior level management.
• Proficiently working with various software programs.
• Ability to maintain good attendance habits.
• Abide by all relevant SOPs as per Company policy as they are related to the position covered by this Job Description.
• Abide by company’s safety, quality, environmental and HR policies at all times.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

• Frequently required to walk, stand, sit.  
• Use of stairs and ladders may be required.
• Occasionally lift and/or move 50 pounds or more.  
• Operate mostly in an office environment.
• Travel may be required for customer relation events and settings.