Senior Merchandiser - Specialty Grains

The Senior Merchant is an experienced commodity trader with developed trade skills. This role has responsibility to interpret a market, formulate and communicate market opinions and take risk/reward positions for the Scoular company. A Senior Merchant is expected to build deep customer relationships with both the buyer and seller and plays a critical role in mentoring and guiding other Merchants on the team. Works closely with NGMO Corn & Soybean Container Export business, as well as our growing domestic IP programs.  Working closely with Andres & Covington facilities, origination team, logistics, MA’s, and docs team.

Market Analytics:

• Assure that the trade unit is in compliance with all risk management policies.
• Assess market trends, key leading indicators and is proficient in the market.
• Review product supply and demand and formulate opinions related to the market to make trade decisions that create revenue for the trade unit or product group.
• Manage a position or subset of the overall position for the business.
• Expected to have opinion on market everyday.

Logistics/Execution:

• Lead execution logistics planning and strategy. Includes fundamental knowledge of truck/rail execution and commodity arbitrage.
• Manage relationships with the freight providers.
• Negotiate freight contracts.
• Arbitrage the position for optimal execution.
• Expected to problem solve in midst of execution and day to day execution issues.

Customer Relationship Building:

• Recruit customers and business that support the business unit’s business strategy.
• Develop and maintain the extensive and varied business relationships in the marketplace.
• Provide customers with accurate market information and answers to questions about their business transactions, such as settlements.
• Build effective, on-going interaction with both current and potential customers.
• Act as a front line negotiator for handling trading conflicts.
• Responsible for customer experience to ensure Scoular delivers a favorable customer experience (supplier, end user, carrier).

P&L Planning & Management:

• Partner with Trade Unit Manager to manage the P&L for the assigned business or subset of the business.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, annual P&L estimates for the trade unit or product group.
• Provide monthly P&L results and quarterly forecasts.
• Manage daily position report for the trade unit.
• Accountable to maintain position limits, credit limits and in store inventories as defined by division leadership and trade finance.
• Create forecasts to inform the Trade Unit Manager.

People Development/Training:

• Coach/mentor other Merchants on the team and give Merchandiser Assistants daily direction.
• Create/drive collaboration within the division and company.

Qualifications

• 4+ years merchandising experience.
• College degree in business related field or equivalent experience.
• Proven critical thinking skills and ability to drive strategy forward.
• Demonstrated exceptional customer service skills and relationship building capability.
• Proven ability to perform in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated aptitude in accounting and financial practices and procedures.
• Highly skilled in problem solving techniques

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficiency with Microsoft Suite, along with desire to learn new programs.
• Active involvement in industry agriculture association groups.
• Demonstrated leadership skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge of agricultural macroeconomics.