Senior Merchant - Cross Country Trucks

The Scoular Company•Overland Park, KS

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Merchant is an experienced commodity trader who interprets markets, formulates and communicates market opinions, and takes risk/reward positions for Scoular. The role builds deep relationships with buyers and sellers, with particular focus on origin elevators and end-user customers. It also mentors and guides other Merchants. Based in Overland Park, Kansas, the position supports the cross-country truck trade team and customers in Kansas and the Midwest region. The Senior Merchant analyzes market trends and leading indicators, reviews supply and demand, maintains local, state, and country-level supply-and-demand information, and uses it to forecast and communicate market changes. The role manages a position or portion of the business’s overall position and ensures compliance with risk-management policies. The position leads logistics planning and execution strategy, including truck and rail execution, commodity arbitrage, freight-provider relationships, freight contract negotiation, and problem-solving during execution. It recruits and serves customers, provides accurate market information, handles trading conflicts, and supports a positive experience for suppliers, end users, and carriers. The Senior Merchant assists the Trade Unit Manager with monthly, quarterly, and annual P&L estimates and forecasts; manages the trade unit’s daily position report; and maintains position limits, credit limits, and in-store inventories. The role also coaches and mentors Merchants, provides daily direction to Merchandiser Assistants, and promotes collaboration across the division and company.

Requirements

At least 4 years of merchandising experience.
College degree in a 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.
Ability to perform in a fast-paced environment.
Demonstrated aptitude in accounting and financial practices and procedures.
Highly skilled in problem-solving techniques.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency with Microsoft Suite and a desire to learn new programs.
Active involvement in agricultural industry association groups.
Demonstrated leadership skills.
Demonstrated knowledge of agricultural macroeconomics.

Responsibilities

Interpret market conditions, formulate and communicate market opinions, and take risk/reward positions for the company.
Ensure the trade unit complies with risk-management policies.
Assess market trends and leading indicators, review product supply and demand, and make trade decisions that generate revenue.
Manage a position or a subset of the business’s overall position and maintain daily market opinions.
Maintain local, state, and country-level supply-and-demand information and use it to forecast and communicate changes to the broader team.
Lead execution logistics planning and strategy, including truck and rail execution and commodity arbitrage.
Manage freight-provider relationships, negotiate freight contracts, and arbitrate positions for optimal execution.
Resolve execution and day-to-day operational issues.
Participate in Organic SOPs and monitor and report compliance.
Recruit customers and business that support the business unit’s strategy, and develop and maintain marketplace relationships.
Provide customers with accurate market information and answer questions about business transactions, including settlements.
Build ongoing relationships with current and prospective customers and negotiate trading conflicts as a front-line representative.
Help ensure a favorable customer experience for suppliers, end users, and carriers.
Assist the Trade Unit Manager with monthly, quarterly, and annual P&L estimates and forecasts.
Manage the trade unit’s daily position report and maintain position limits, credit limits, and in-store inventories as established by division leadership and trade finance.
Coach and mentor Merchants, provide daily direction to Merchandiser Assistants, and foster collaboration within the division and company.