Farmer Merchandiser

Company Description

Louis Dreyfus Company is a leading merchant and processor of agricultural goods. Our activities span the entire value chain from farm to fork, across a broad range of business lines, we leverage our global reach and extensive asset network to serve our customers and consumers around the world. Structured as a matrix organization of six geographical regions and ten platforms, Louis Dreyfus Company is active in over 100 countries and employs approximately 18,000 people globally.

Job Description

Overall Purpose and Objective of Position

This position serves as the lead point of contact with local commercial & COOP accounts to source soybeans for the processing operations in Upper Sandusky, OH.

Primary Responsibilities/Essential Functions

• Originates soybeans from commercial accounts in the Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan drawing arc
• Maintains daily communication, organizes logistical services, and assists with accounting issues with suppliers
• Works with soybean meal and soy hull pellet traders to buy grain in areas that maximize backhaul opportunities.
• Communicates regularly with US soybean team to define origination strategy and pricing targets

• Assists with inbound and outbound truck and rail logistics for soybean origination.

Additional Responsibilities

• Gathers news, statistics and information related to individual commodity supply and demand from customers and trade sources, and distributes that information to the remainder of the group to support overall strategic trading/positioning (i.e., contributes to research function).
• Helps manage receivables and facilitates innovative methods to keep accounts receivable and average number of days to pay at a minimum.
• Identifies, qualifies and captures new business; develops and contributes to customer/supplier list.
• Works closely with soybean receiving office, learns Compuweigh and probing / grading operations.  Occasionally communicates with truckers/suppliers regarding quality.
• Assists and participates with Customer visits
• Participates in regular crop tours to assess conditions and potential yields to anticipate markets
• Other duties as assigned
• Weekend work may be required

Company Conformance Statements

In the performance of their respective tasks and duties all employees are expected to conform to the following:

• Perform quality work within deadlines with or without direct supervision.
• Interact professionally with co-workers, Company business associates and the general public.
• Work together in a cooperative spirit to serve the best interests of the Company.
• Operate in a fully responsible manner and comply with all laws and Company policies.

Education/Professional Certifications/Licenses

Basic qualification: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Agricultural Economics, Finance, Business Administration or other business discipline.

Experience

Basic qualifications:

• Three to five years in the grain business in a merchandising capacity

Preferred

• Experience with rail logistics and a familiarity with the eastern rail market

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities (including any physical demands)

Basic qualifications:

• Working knowledge of futures markets, hedging and arbitrage
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong quantitative skills, including basic knowledge of statistics, algebra (e.g., supply and demand relationships, analysis of price relationships)
• Ability to organize multiple responsibilities, prioritize workload and perform multiple tasks simultaneously
• Ability to work with minimal supervision
• Proficiency with spreadsheet and word processing software, (e.g., Excel and MS Word).
• Must have valid driver’s license

Equipment Used

• Typical office equipment: PC, telephone, fax machine.

Working Conditions

• Primarily climate-controlled office environment.  Periodic visits to industrial operations areas are necessary with exposure during such visits to variety of temperatures and prevailing weather conditions. Interacts closely with personnel in other departments and company locations, interacts closely with middle and senior level management, domestic travel to visit customers required (up to 30% at times).  Call-ins or the extension of regular working hours (50-60 hours per week) are occasionally needed to  complete time-sensitive projects or respond to emergencies.

Employee Supervision

• No direct supervision respon