Product Line Manager, Spring Wheat

SUMMARY

Provide overall leadership to the spring wheat product line by effectively merchandising the collective wheat book consisting of sales to end use customers, origination from an internal network of assets & 3rd party marketers, basis risk, and flat price directional trading. This position is also expected to establish effective collaboration with other product lines and job families in the company including but not limited to Finance, Compliance, Operations, Business Development & other Commercial areas.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• P&L Management
  • Assume P&L responsibility for spring wheat cash, spreads, rail freight, futures and options trading & merchandising.

• Trading, Hedging Strategy and Risk Management
  • Lead the cultivation of a company spring wheat point of view on flat price direction, based on information from the internal and external network and precise proprietary analysis.
  • Effectively manage spread and delivery positions and game plans.
  • Manage within company approved limits and CME hedge exemption and delivery rules.
  • Effectively manage delta equivalent flat price exposure resulting from spring wheat product line cash/futures/options positions and form a cohesive flat price trading game plan.
  • Take a leading role trading and merchandising the company and product line rail freight book. Collaborate with rail freight desk to maximize opportunities.
  • Communicate insightful information to the overall commercial team in a timely manner.
  • Adhere to risk policy parameters and contribute to formation of those policies.

• Customer, Supplier, and Storage Management
  
  • Expand the footprint of the track trading deck from country direct to destination customers.
  • Collaborate with local merchandising teams to establish a daily posted bids at facilities.
  • Collaborate with JV partners to establish competitive farmer bids and assist on local merchandising game plans related to spring wheat.
  • Establish daily gameplans to determine offers/bids to key customers and markets/gateways.
  • Collaborate with the greater merchandising and operations teams to determine optimal space allocations by location in order to maximize storage opportunities for the company.

• Strategy Development
  • Annually review, update and set direction for spring wheat product line strategy.
  • Collaborate with Business Development team on spring wheat strategic initiatives.
  • Identify new customers and suppliers in the spring wheat space and other products.
  • Identify potential acquisition targets or joint commercial endeavors.
  • Expand company reach to new markets and customers.

• Communication and Collaboration
  • Clearly communicate merchandising and trading positions and gameplans weekly or as needed depending on the environment or market development.
  • Actively participate in weekly merchandising meetings and constructively challenge other product lines on respective gameplans, as needed.
  • Hold weekly spring wheat product line merchandising meetings.
  • Present volume & logistics forecasting clearly and concisely at scheduled meetings.
  • Lead annual budget forecasting for spring wheat product line.
  • Represent Ceres at industry functions in a professional manner.

• Exhibit fair, ethical, and legal commercial standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned and/or required.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION / EXPEREIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in a business-related field or equivalent experience in lieu of degree.
• 5+ years of experience managing merchandising risk in commodity markets, preferably in agricultural commodities.
• Significant past P&L responsibilities.
• Significant experience developing/maintaining customers and planning strategy.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills.
• Supervisory experience, particularly managing other commercial staff in merchandising, and at multiple levels (origination, sales, trading, etc.) is preferred but not required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to talk or hear and sit. The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to lift 20 pounds. The vision requirements include close vision.

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