Grain Specialist - Elgin, NE

Purpose

As a Grain Specialist, your responsibilities will include originating grain for Central Valley Ag’s overall position in a profitable manner through direct producer contact. You will be responsible for sales activities from lead generation through close in an assigned territory. You will work within the sales and support teams for the achievement of customer satisfaction, revenue generation, and long-term account goals in line with the CVA brand and Central Valley Ag’s vision and values. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Originate grain in accordance with Central Valley Ag’s overall position utilizing merchandising principles and risk management tools.
• Establish/develop a customer base with strategic customers and prospects through direct personal contact and support in an assigned territory.
• Conduct on farm sales calls that identify the customer’s needs and engage in whole farm solutions from Central Valley Ag.
• Educate producers on the benefits of utilizing CVA risk management tools to mitigate risk for their operations.
• Follow the cooperative’s grain marketing policy, which includes: bids based on various transportation; margins in cents per bushel or percent based on settlement prices plus interest, storage and other costs; amount of owned inventory or open grain position at any time; price later contracts; sales and hedging contracts (limits); deferred payment contracts; grain bank policy and rates; drying rates and shrink discounts.
• Stay abreast of market trends, CVA’s credit policy, competitor practices, customer behavior.
• Maintain accurate records using Central Valley Ag’s CRM tool for all sales and prospecting activities, including sales calls and follow up activities. 
• Develop a business plan and strategic customer list annually with sales manager to focus on meeting or exceeding goals for sales and profits.
• Identify the customer’s preferred method for communication and utilize technology to make it easier and more effective to do business with Central Valley Ag.
• Communicate with all Central Valley Ag location managers, operational support staff and sales professionals in sales territory in order to promote cross selling. 
• Represent the brand by building trust, valuing others, communicating effectively, driving execution, fostering innovation and problem solving, focusing on the customer, collaborating with others and demonstrating a high degree of integrity. 
• Other duties as assigned. 

SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES

None

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Agriculture, Agribusiness or related field. 
• Have or be able to get 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. 
• Demonstrates understanding of grain accounting and contract recordkeeping. 
• Demonstrates 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. 
• Proficient in Excel and ability to learn AgriCharts.
• Demonstrates leadership skills and solid business profit management experience required. 
• Proven results and sustained growth in sales and market share.
• Ability to communicate in a professional manner and establish effective working relationships with internal operations and external customers. 
• Works in a way that demonstrates safety is a priority. Promotes a work environment that is safe for everyone. 
• Has great listening skills.
• Has great interpersonal skills.
• Can plan, prioritize, organize and manage resources in order to accomplish goals within the defined timetable. 
• We believe in a culture of constant improvement.
• Works well with others to achieve a common goal.
• Strong competencies in computer applications including Microsoft products.

BENEFITS

Central Valley Ag offers a competitive benefits package, including:

Central Valley Ag

Central Valley Ag is a farmer-owned cooperative headquartered in York, Neb. CVA has locations in Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska. CVA is an innovative leader providing products and services in grain, agronomy, feed, and energy. You can find more information about Central Valley Ag by visiting www.cvacoop.com.

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Updated: March 2022