Senior Director of Operations (GM)

CHS Inc. is a leading global agribusiness owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives across the United States that provides grain, food and energy resources to businesses and consumers around the world.  We serve agriculture customers and consumers across the United States and around the world.  Most of our 10,000 employees are in the United States, but today we have employees in 19 countries. At CHS, we are creating connections to empower agriculture.

Summary

CHS Inc has an exciting senior leadership opportunity within our Ag retail division. We are seeking a GM/Senior Director of Operations to lead our Southwest Grain and South Central business units in North Dakota. This role involves collaborating with local Producer Boards and requires strong financial acumen, planning, business process controls, supervisory, public relations, and organizational skills to manage the entire operation. The ideal candidate will be decisive, able to work independently, detail-oriented, and possess excellent verbal and written communication skills.

 

Location: Southwest Grain is a diverse cooperative with 13 locations, and CHS South Central has 3 locations, all within central to western North Dakota. This includes Grain, Agronomy, Energy, Feed, and Animal Health. The candidate must live in or near Dickinson, North Dakota, and will office out of our Taylor, ND location.

Responsibilities

• Manage business unit operations in alignment with company objectives to provide patrons with prompt, courteous, and effective service while maintaining efficiency to achieve maximum profit margins.
• Establish and implement safety and equipment maintenance programs to prevent breakdowns and minimize safety hazards, ensuring accountability.
• Ensure compliance with all company safety policies.
• Work collaboratively with CHS Enterprise product lines to maximize value return for the organization.
• Support credit implementation in accordance with company policies and assist in the collection efforts of accounts receivable.
• Collaborate with trading and go-to-market teams to monitor daily long/short positions for fertilizer, grain, and energy, effectively controlling market and inventory risk while overseeing handling, storage, and transportation capabilities.
• Educate employees and patrons on the Co-op’s business objectives to enhance employee effectiveness and improve customer relations, prioritizing customers.
• Establish and implement short-term goals that align with long-range plans for operational growth, including facility, equipment, and personnel development.
• Utilize team personnel within the business unit to maximize profitability for the Co-op, driving purpose.
• Develop talent within the region’s workforce through responsible training, clear job assignment definitions, organizational charts, job descriptions, and regular employee reviews.
• Monitor employee performance to correct deficiencies and effectively reward and develop all employees, ensuring accountability.
• Engage in month-end close activities, inventory valuation, contract management, physical inventory, freight, and other related tasks.
• Oversee the administration of company policies and procedures to ensure our promise of helping our owners grow is fulfilled.
• Communicate effectively with business unit management and staff to coordinate and complete all aspects of consolidated operations.
• Maintain ongoing communication with the local Producer Board, senior management, and appropriate divisional personnel.
• Stay informed of industry trends and changes to accurately address patron inquiries, fostering a culture of continuous learning.
• Work extended hours as needed to meet business needs.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (required)

• High School diploma or GED
• 10+ years of experience in Operations and/or Business Operations
• Prior leadership experience with progressively advancing level of leadership responsibilities

Additional Qualifications

• Agriculture retail experience in Operations or Sales/Marketing/Merchandising
• Ability to make decisions and work effectively both independently and with a team
• Detail oriented with strong communication skills, both verbal and written with an ability to influence others
• Possess strong negotiation, public relations and organizational skills
• Bachelor’s degree preferred in Business or Agriculture related program
• Co-op experience preferred
• Pre-employment screening is ba