SUMMARY

Provide overall leadership to the organic wheat product line by effectively merchandising organic wheat consisting of sales to end use customers, origination from an internal network of assets, farmers, and 3^rd party marketers. The position is also expected to establish effective collaboration with other product lines and job families in the company including but not limited to Finance, Compliance, Operations, Business Development & other commercial areas. 

Responsibilities

•  P&L Management
  • Assume P&L responsibility for trading and merchandising of organic spring wheat, hard red winter wheat, and durum, rail and truck freight. 

• Trading, Hedging Strategy and Risk Management
  • Lead the company organic wheat strategy, based on information from the internal and external network and precise proprietary analysis.
  • Manage within company approved limits and adhere to risk policy parameters.
  • Form a cohesive gameplan, including weekly email updates and actively participate in weekly trade calls.
  • Communicate insightful information to the overall commercial team in a timely manner.

• Customer, Supplier, and Storage Management
  • Collaborate with local merchandising teams to establish a daily posted bids at the Northgate, Delmar, and Nicklen Siding facilities.
  • Work with 3^rd party suppliers to establish put throughs and origination agreements.
  • Establish daily gameplans to determine offers/bids to key customers and markets.

• Strategy Development
  • Annually review, update and set direction for organic wheat product line strategy.
  • Collaborate with Business Development and the Regenerative Ag teams on organic wheat strategic initiatives.
  • Identify new customers and suppliers in the organic wheat space and other products.
  • Identify potential acquisition targets or joint commercial endeavors.
  • Expand company reach to new markets and customers.

• Communication and Collaboration
  • Clearly communicate merchandising and trading positions and game plans weekly or as needed depending on the environment or market development opportunity.
  • Actively participate in weekly merchandising meetings and constructively challenge other product lines on respective gameplans, as needed.
  • Collaborate with other product lines to live Ceres mission of being an enabler for shared customers to achieve their organic/sustainability goals.
  • Hold weekly organic wheat product line merchandising meetings.
  • Present volume & logistics forecasting clearly and concisely at scheduled meetings.
  • Lead annual budget forecasting for organic wheat product line.
  • Represent Ceres at industry functions in a professional manner.

• Exhibit fair, ethical, and legal commercial standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned and/or required.  

Qualifications:

• Required
  • Bachelor’s degree in a business-related field or equivalent experience in lieu of degree.
  • 5+ years of experience managing merchandising risk in commodity markets, preferably in agricultural commodities.
  • 5+ years of experience in the organics market
  • Significant past P&L responsibilities.
  • Significant experience developing/maintaining customers and planning strategy.
  • Strong communication and problem-solving skills.
  • Must be able to travel 20% of the time.
• Preferred
• Supervisory experience, particularly managing other commercial staff in merchandising, and at multiple levels (origination, sales, trading, etc.) is preferred but not required.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to talk or hear and sit. The employee is frequently required to use hands type, write and grasp. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to lift 20 pounds. The vision requirements include close vision. 

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