GROWMARK is an agricultural cooperative serving almost 400,000 customers across North America, providing agronomy, energy, facility engineering and construction, and logistics products and services, as well as grain marketing and risk management services. Headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois, GROWMARK owns the FS trademark, which is used by its member cooperatives. GROWMARK also owns and operates SEEDWAY, the largest full-line seed company in the United States. More information is available at growmark.com.

See what it's like to work at GROWMARK: https://youtu.be/CSVMnKCySsY

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY STATEMENT

Responsible for providing grain market information, advice and the development of merchandising strategies to MID-CO accounts and GROWMARK divisions and affiliates. 

 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Maintains regular contact with assigned futures accounts.  Provides market information and analysis as well as the identification and evaluation of hedging opportunities to MID-CO patrons.  Monitors customer’s margin accounts.  Places customer’s futures and option orders and reports fills.

 

Responsible for soliciting new accounts and providing excellent service to existing complex accounts.

 

Shares a portion of the responsibility for the production of MID-CO informational material (i.e., Weekly Fact Sheet, Market Information, Morning and Afternoon Comments, and Merchandising Updates). 

 

Responsible for maintenance of historical market information within MID-CO. 

 

Assists with preparation and presentation of educational meetings and seminars for accounts and their patrons.  Prepares research data for market analysis.  Makes grain presentations such as market outlooks and hedging strategy at outside meetings and account’s annual meetings as requested. 

 

Participates in planning and presenting at appropriate marketing conferences.  Represents MID-CO at appropriate trade shows. Maintains contact and cultivates relationships with a group of companies that offer potential as future clients of MID-CO.  Identifies and develops new accounts.

 

Assists with hedge training classes and workshops, both at the corporate and individual customer level

 

Contributes to the development of MID-CO recommendations on spread and hedge strategy.  Keeps the current market outlook with special emphasis on basis and spreads. 

 

Establishes and maintains an information sharing environment with cash grain and futures market contacts within and outside of the GROWMARK System.

 

Maintains an understanding of order entry technology and related software. 

 

Remains fully informed of regulations, rules and standards pertaining to commodity futures trading.

 

Brings to the attention of their supervisor any customer cash or futures market position which is believed to be high risk. Makes market recommendations which are consistent with the individual account’s ability to bear risk and the manager’s level of market expertise.

 

OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS

Understanding and experience with agricultural marketing-related areas including marketing and merchandising strategy and recommendations; hedging, futures, and options strategies; grain risk management, market information, conditions and trends; price strategy, branding, promotions, industry relations, policies and procedures, and compliance along with planning, budgeting, and communications.

 

Proven professional communication, interpersonal, persuasion, and presentation skills.

 

Proven computer skills and the ability to use the computer to enhance business processes.

 

Follows GROWMARK’s Code of Conduct and Corporate Compliance Program, Environmental Health and Safety, OSHA and DOT policies and procedures, as they apply.

 

Performs all other duties as assigned.

 

REQUIREMENTS

Normally requires a college degree in agricultural economics or marketing-related area or equivalent and 3 or more years' experience in agricultural marketing and the ability to provide grain marketing and risk management program leadership to member cooperatives.

 

Registered with the NFA as an AP or qualified for same within three months of assuming position.

 

Prefer knowledge of cooperative philosophies and principles.

 

Demonstrates essential abilities including business knowledge, collaboration, communication, customer focus, decision making and skill development.

 

Must have and maintain a valid driver's license and have the ability to travel independently and overnight.

 

Ability and willingness to participate in required training that may include education on GROWMARK’s policies and procedures and additional training as it relates to the requirements of the position. 

We are an equal opportunity employer, including protected veterans and qualified individuals with disabilities. Employment may be contingent upon receipt of an acceptable and job-related background check, drug test, motor vehicle report, and/or reference check, as applicable and permissible by law.