Grain Specialist - Elgin, NE

Central Valley Ag Cooperative•Elgin, NE

About The Position

The Grain Specialist originates grain for Central Valley Ag’s overall position profitably through direct producer contact and manages sales activities from lead generation through close in an assigned territory. The role works with sales and support teams to achieve customer satisfaction, generate revenue, and meet long-term account goals in line with CVA’s brand, vision, and values. The specialist develops relationships with strategic customers and prospects, makes on-farm sales calls, identifies customer needs, and presents whole-farm solutions. The position educates producers on CVA risk-management tools, follows the cooperative’s grain marketing policies, monitors market and customer trends, and maintains complete sales and prospecting records in the CRM. Working with the sales manager, the specialist creates an annual business plan and strategic customer list, supports cross-selling across the territory, and represents CVA through customer focus, collaboration, effective communication, integrity, and problem-solving. Other duties may be assigned. The role has no supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Agriculture, Agribusiness, or a related field.
Have or be able to obtain a Series 3 license.
Proven background in profitably purchasing grain from farmers and commercial elevators for ethanol production.
Clear understanding of grain marketing, including hedging, basis analysis, and flat-pricing grain.
Understanding of grain accounting and contract recordkeeping.
Leadership skills and high integrity.
Solid business profit-management experience.
Ability to research and prepare analysis to respond to internal and external inquiries in a timely, professional, and thorough manner.
Proficiency in Excel and ability to learn AgriCharts.
Proven results and sustained growth in sales and market share.
Ability to communicate professionally and establish effective working relationships with internal operations and external customers.
Commitment to safety and promoting a safe work environment.
Strong listening and interpersonal skills.
Ability to plan, prioritize, organize, and manage resources to accomplish goals within defined timelines.
Ability to work well with others toward a common goal.
Strong competencies in computer applications, including Microsoft products.

Responsibilities

Originate grain profitably in accordance with Central Valley Ag’s overall position, using merchandising principles and risk-management tools.
Develop a customer base among strategic customers and prospects through direct personal contact and support in an assigned territory.
Conduct on-farm sales calls, identify customer needs, and engage customers with whole-farm solutions from Central Valley Ag.
Educate producers on the benefits of CVA risk-management tools for mitigating operational risk.
Follow the cooperative’s grain marketing policy, including policies for transportation-based bids, margins and costs, owned inventory and open grain positions, price-later contracts, sales and hedging contract limits, deferred-payment contracts, grain bank policy and rates, and drying rates and shrink discounts.
Stay current on market trends, CVA’s credit policy, competitor practices, and customer behavior.
Maintain accurate records in Central Valley Ag’s CRM for sales and prospecting activities, including sales calls and follow-up activities.
Develop an annual business plan and strategic customer list with the sales manager to meet or exceed sales and profit goals.
Identify customers’ preferred communication methods and use technology to make doing business with Central Valley Ag easier and more effective.
Communicate with location managers, operational support staff, and sales professionals in the territory to promote cross-selling.
Represent the Central Valley Ag brand by building trust, valuing others, communicating effectively, driving execution, fostering innovation and problem-solving, focusing on customers, collaborating, and demonstrating integrity.
Perform other duties as assigned.