Western Rail Feed Grains Lead Merchant

Purpose of the Lead Merchant: 

The Lead Merchant is an experienced commodity trader with proven history of deploying established trade skills.  This senior role has responsibility to interpret markets, formulate and communicate market opinions and take risk/reward positions for Scoular. In partnership with the Trade Group Manager or Trade Unit Manager, this position contributes to the formulation and execution of the business unit strategy and overall Scoular 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 mentoring, guiding and collaborating with relevant Enterprise merchants to enhance the quality of risk decisions being made more broadly.  

Job Responsibilities: 

Market Analytics: 

• Responsible for buying and selling commodities in the short term and intermediate markets. 

• Develop commodity trading strategies to achieve desired profit objectives within established risk limits. 

• Assure that the trade unit is in compliance with all risk management policies. 

• Identify and evaluate current and long-term market needs, supply availability and new market opportunities. 

• Evaluate proposed arbitrage and hedge opportunities for domestic and foreign commodities markets continually.   

• Determine supply and demand, survey market conditions and analyze other economic forces in order to establish position in the market place. 

• Pursue growth though efforts to expand Scoular’s presence in existing markets and developing market niches. 

• Evaluate and advise strategy for the trading business. 

Logistics/Execution: 

• Lead execution logistics planning and strategy. Includes fundamental knowledge of truck/rail execution and commodity arbitrage. 

• Manage relationships with the freight providers. 

• Negotiate freight contracts. 

• Arbitrage the position for optimal execution. 

• Expected to problem solve in midst of execution and day to day execution issues. 

Customer Relationship Building: 

• Develop and maintain the extensive and varied business relationships in the marketplace. 

• Build effective, on-going interaction with both current and potential customers and continuously monitoring competitive landscape. 

• Act as a front line negotiator for handling trading conflicts. 

• Responsible for customer experience to ensure Scoular delivers a favorable customer experience (supplier, end user, carrier). 

P&L Planning & Management: 

• Participate in forecasting & budgeting with accuracy and timeliness.  Ability to explain and articulate variances. 

• Ensure that all product valuations are marked according to policy. 

• Partner with Trade Group Manager or Trade Unit Manager to prepare monthly, quarterly, annual P&L estimates for the trade unit or product group. 

• Manage daily position report for assigned product 

• Accountable to maintain position limits, credit limits and in store inventories for assigned products and their respective trade contracts. 

• Create forecasts to inform the Trade Leadership team. 

People Development/Training: 

• Coach/mentor Merchandisers on the team and give Merchandiser Assistants daily direction. 

• Create/drive collaboration within the division and company. 

• This position may have direct management responsibilities.  

• Participate in broader company initiatives such as technology enhancements, talent acquisition/development strategies and optimizing cross-functional processes.   

Minimum Qualifications: 

• 7+ 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. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Active involvement in industry agriculture association groups. 

• Demonstrated knowledge of agricultural macro economics. 

• Proficiency with Microsoft Suite, along with desire to learn new programs. 

The Scoular Company is an equal opportunity employer.