Lead Merchant

Scoular is an employee-owned $6B agribusiness leading the way since 1892. We buy, sell, store, handle and process grain and ingredients by leveraging our global networks and expertise in international trade and transportation. Employing more than 1,000 people in over 100 offices and facilities in North America and Asia, we provide safe and reliable solutions to farmers, grain processors, renewable energy producers, and manufacturers of animal feed, aquafeed, pet food, and food, beverage, and supplements. Our deep involvement in the global agricultural supply chain gives us the ability to quickly assess market needs and identify opportunities for growth and innovation.

Position Overview:
The Lead Merchant is an experienced commodity trader and/or IP product expert with a proven history of deploying established trade skills and meeting customers' quality and delivery requirements. This senior role has responsibility to interpret markets, formulate and communicate market opinions and take risk/reward positions for Scoular within the IP Soybean Export Space. In partnership with the Trade Unit Manager, this position contributes to the formulation and execution of the business unit strategy and overall SGGO (Select Global Grain & Oilseeds) strategic objectives. The Lead Merchant role requires critical thinking, operates with prescribed trade limit authority while having significant emphasis in developing or enhancing long term relationships with key customers and suppliers. The Lead Merchant plays a critical role in collaborating with the IP Trade Unit Manager and mentoring, guiding, and collaborating with other SGGO merchants and functional support teams to enhance the quality of risk decisions being made and grow the IP Trade Unit’s market share.

Job Responsibilities:
Trading and Execution:
Drive day to day trade activity for IP and non-gmo soybeans.
Collaborate with the Trade Unit Manager and origination teams to establish contracting levels at all Scoular facilities for IP varieties.
Identify and evaluate current and long-term market needs and develop trade strategies around new and upcoming soybean varieties.
Evaluate and communicate with team proposed arbitrage and hedge opportunities for domestic and foreign commodities markets continually.

Logistics/Execution:
Leads execution logistics planning and strategy for IP. This includes regular calls and joint management of load planning.
Communicate with external customers regarding their requested shipment planning. Includes managing all IP origin and destination customer expectations.
Be knowledgeable on freight market dynamics with an ability to analyze and take freight positions for Scoualr.

Customer Relationship Building:
Primary external facing Scoular representative to IP buyers in North Asia Markets and 3rd party suppliers in the US and Canada.
Maintain and recruit customers and suppliers that support the business strategy.
Enhanced focus on communicating back customer needs with larger SGGO team to drive effort around specific varieties and geographies.
Develop and maintain extensive and varied business relationships in the industry through trade associations and other networking events.
Act as a front-line negotiator for handling trading conflicts within the IP space.

Business Planning & Growth:
Collaboratively work with the Trade Unit Manager to plan and implement new strategies to improve the efficiency and profitability of the trade unit and business unit.
Support the IP Trade Unit Manager in forecasting & budgeting with accuracy and timeliness. Ability to explain and articulate trends in the market and variances that may arise.

P&L Planning & Management:
Assist the IP Trade Unit Manager in reporting accurate weekly P+L estimates and quarterly forecasts.

People Development/Training:
Drive Collaboration across the IP and SGGO group consisting of regular information sharing and knowledge transfer through identified Create/drive collaboration within the division and company.
Mentor origination team members within the IP group.

In performing their responsibilities, employees are expected to perform quality work within deadlines with or without direct supervision, interact professionally with other employees, customers and suppliers, work effectively as a team contributor and independently while understanding the necessity for communication with other employees and throughout Scoular.

The Scoular Company is an equal opportunity employer.

Requirements
Minimum

5+ years merchandising experience.
College degree in business related field or equivalent experience.
Proven critical thinking skills and ability to drive strategy forward.
Demonstrated exceptional customer service skills and relationship building capability.
Proven ability to perform in a fast-paced environment.
Demonstrated aptitude in accounting and financial practices and procedures.
Highly skilled in problem solving techniques.
Demonstrated leadership skills.
Demonstrated understanding of grain markets, hedging, commodity flows and logistics.
Knowledge of the agricultural industry’s trading standards and procedures.
International and domestic travel is required.
Skilled at utilizing Excel to build out pricing and proforma models.

Preferred

Active involvement in industry agriculture association groups.
Demonstrated knowledge of agricultural macroeconomics.
Experience in the trade and merchandising of identity preserved commodities

Physical environment/working conditions:
Scoular is a Drug-Free Workplace (for more information See the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988 or your location’s Federal Workplace Poster)
Scoular is an at-will employer. Employment is considered voluntary for employees and employers.

Equipment and/or technology used:
Must have the ability to operate a standard office telephone, use a keyboard, view and read computer screens, and run other office equipment.
Must have excellent PC skills; knowledge of Digital, MS O365, Mobile, SharePoint, is preferred.

Location: 250 MARQUETTE AVE. SUITE 1050,Minneapolis,MN,US 55401, Minneapolis, MN 55401

Job Type: Full-time