Grain and Feed Merchandiser at Waukon Feed Ranch in Waukon, IA

Position Overview:
This position is responsible for buying and selling grain and other commodities, managing risk and inventory positions, writing and managing contracts, and selling feed products to customers. This position builds long-term producer, customer, and supplier relationships.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Learn and apply WFR core values, contribute to a positive culture, and represent the company well with every producer and customer.
• Buy grain from farmers, including quoting bids, discussing delivery periods and terms, and negotiating purchases within approved position limits and pricing.
• Write, confirm, and manage purchase and sale contracts, including cash, forward, and basis contracts.
• Oversee risk position and maintain adequate hedges to minimize futures risk on all owned grain.
• Manage public bid positions.
• Effectively purchase feed ingredient commodities at the best price possible utilizing negotiation and thoroughly understanding market conditions.
• Sell feed products to livestock producers and other customers, including understanding their operation and recommending products and delivery schedules that fit.
• Proactively build and maintain relationships with farmers, livestock producers, feed customers, and commodity buyers/sellers through regular contact in person and by phone.
• Study markets daily, including futures, basis, freight, and local conditions, to determine market opinion and communicate this information to customers.
• Run the scale as needed, including weighing loads, grading and probing samples, and verifying that scale tickets are accurate and complete.
• Manage the scale help, including assigning tasks, training on scale operation, ticketing, grading, and customer service, and overseeing their work during harvest.
• Create and communicate the fall schedule including hours and staffing needed to handle harvest volume.
• Coordinate logistics including scheduling delivery and pickup, trucking, storage space, and timing, so contracts are fulfilled as agreed.
• Enter contracts, tickets, orders, and customer information accurately and on time, and resolve contract, quality, weight, discount, and settlement questions with producers and customers promptly and fairly.
• Support collection of accounts by communicating terms, following up on past due balances as directed, and keeping the manager informed of credit concerns.
• Assist with customer service at the front counter, including greeting walk-in customers, answering questions, taking orders and payments, and directing customers to the right person when needed.
• Follow all applicable laws, licensing requirements, and standard operating procedures, including grain buying and warehousing requirements, contract documentation, weights and measures, and trading rules.
• Plan and communicate a weekly schedule to hit sales targets and objectives.
• Value customer and partner relationships, attend industry and producer meetings, and complete personal growth opportunities as assigned.
• Maintain confidentiality with respect to producer, customer, contract, pricing, and company information, and share it only with individuals who have a legitimate business need to know.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Reasonable Accommodations Statement: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties of the position.

Education and Experience

• Associate’s degree required. Bachelor’s degree is preferred, in agricultural business, agricultural economics, animal science, or a related field.
• Experience in agriculture or sales is preferred.
• Working knowledge of grain contracts, basis, and futures markets is preferred, or willingness to learn.
• Working knowledge of livestock nutrition and feed products is preferred, or willingness to learn.

Qualifications

• Must have a valid driver’s license and ability to be insured by WFR insurance
• Ability to learn grain contracts, basis, futures, and the mechanics of buying and selling commodities
• Strong negotiation skills and the ability to reach agreements that work for both the producer and the company
• Background and/or interest in livestock and nutrition.
• Credibility with farmers and livestock producers and a genuine interest in their operations
• Customer service skills
• Ability to direct and train others, give clear instructions, and build a schedule that covers harvest demand
• Consistently professional and levelheaded, staying calm and composed under pressure and during difficult conversations
• Sound judgment, comfort making decisions quickly in a moving market, and the ability to know when to decide and when to ask or escalate
• Accurate and detail oriented with contracts, quantities, prices, discounts, and settlements
• Ability to communicate clearly and follow through on commitments, both verbally and in writing
• Proficient with computers and mobile devices
• Self-motivated, reliable, and dependable, willing to learn and follow protocols, and available to work extended hours during peak seasons

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Frequently sit at a desk and work on a computer, multiple monitors, and telephone for extended periods, including during active market hours
• Frequently drive to farms and, stand, walk, and work outdoors on uneven ground, gravel, and grain and feed handling areas
• Occasionally bend, stoop, reach, squat, and kneel to pull samples, inspect product, and access equipment, and lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 lbs.
• Sufficient vision, hearing, and speech to read contracts, tickets, and market data and communicate clearly in person, over the telephone, and in a noisy facility environment
• Ability to tolerate exposure to grain and feed dust, odors, outdoor weather, temperature extremes, and moderate to loud noise

Work Environment

• Schedule: Must work scheduled days and hours assigned by the manager, full-time, a minimum of 80 hours per payperiod. This position requires additional nights and weekends during peak seasons, including harvest and other periods of high volume.
• Environment: Combination of office and farm settings, with exposure to grain and feed dust, equipment, weather, and varying noise levels.
• Travel: Regular travel via work vehicle to farms, livestock operations, and company facilities, with occasional overnight travel for industry meetings and training. Completes training and personal growth opportunities as assigned.

Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of duties or responsibilities. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.