Primary Purpose:

The Grain Merchandiser is responsible for developing and maintaining strong producer relationships while executing grain marketing and merchandising strategies that support the cooperative's growth and profitability.

This position serves as a trusted resource to producers by providing market insight, contracting opportunities, and grain marketing solutions while actively originating grain and developing new business opportunities. The Grain Merchandiser monitors market conditions, manages commodity positions, assists with risk management activities, and works collaboratively with operations personnel to ensure successful execution of grain contracts and customer commitments.

The ideal candidate possesses a strong understanding of grain markets, excellent relationship-building skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with producers, customers, and cooperative leadership.

Success Criteria:

To be successful in this role, the Grain Merchandiser should consistently demonstrate the ability to:

• Producer retention and growth
• New producer relationships established
• Grain origination volume
• Contracting activity
• Gross margin contribution
• Customer satisfaction
• Risk management effectiveness
• Accuracy of contract execution
• Market intelligence provided to producers and leadership
• Represent United Ag in a professional and service-oriented manner at all times.

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

Risk Management & Hedging

• Monitor futures, basis, spreads, and market conditions to manage grain positions.
• Assist in developing and executing risk management strategies.
• Maintain awareness of market exposure and communicate risks to leadership.
• Utilize hedging tools and merchandising programs to support profitability and producer success.

Producer Relationship Development

• Build and maintain strong relationships with producers and customers.
• Conduct producer visits and participate in industry events.
• Provide marketing alternatives and grain marketing education to producers.
• Contract Administration
• Prepare, review, and maintain grain purchase and sales contracts.
• Ensure contracts are accurately executed and documented.
• Maintain contract files and assist with audit and compliance requirements.
• Resolve contract discrepancies and customer concerns.

Market Intelligence

• Provide market commentary and recommendations to management and producers.
• Identify opportunities to improve margins and expand market share.

Technology & Reporting

• Utilize grain accounting and merchandising software to manage positions and contracts.
• Prepare reports related to grain inventory, purchases, sales, and market exposure.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation.
• All other duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions

The work environment characteristics and physical demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Work is performed in offices, work stations, fields, sites, stores and meeting rooms.

The position requires extreme temperatures, ability to climb ladders, inspect equipment, enter operation areas, lifting up to 50 lbs, extending hours during harvest, dust and noise exposure, outdoor/ag facility conditions.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Work involves everyday risks and discomforts which require normal safety precautions when operating equipment or performing job duties. May work prolonged or irregular hours and must be able to maintain emotional control under stress.

In its efforts to promote nondiscrimination and as required by law, United Agricultural Cooperative, Inc. does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, military status, genetic information, or on any other basis prohibited by law.

Additionally, the Company does not discriminate against an employee or applicant who acts to oppose such discrimination or participates in the investigation of a complaint related to a discriminatory employment practice. Employment decisions will be made on the basis of each applicant’s job qualifications, experience, and abilities  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Business, Agricultural Economics, Finance, or related field preferred.
• Minimum of two (2) to five (5) years of experience in grain merchandising
• South Texas market preferred.
• Grossman experience, preferred, not required.