Grain Originator

Job Description

Position Overview : This position will provide leadership and direction for Keystone grain purchasing at the assigned location or territory .  The role requires customer service, extensive networking and communicati on with farmer producers, coordination with grain elevator operations, and collaboration with fellow g rain d ivision team members.

Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

- Plan, develop, and implement grain purchasing strategies and tactics, in accordance with Keystone policies and guidelines established through working with the Director of Grain Merchandising
- Coordinate strategies and tactics to align with grain elevator logistics
- Coordinate strategies and tactics to align sales efforts
- Maximize margins by i nteract ing at all levels of a customer’s operation, gain in depth knowledge and insight to the customer’s goals, drivers, and initiatives, to align origination tactics with customer marketing plans
- Target customer approach
- Professional on - farm sales calls
- Recommend risk management strategies and products
- As part of a total farm approach to marketing, build a working relationship with agronomic sales team members
- Participate in sales calls with agronomy sales team members
- Support agronomic sales efforts
- Maintain a future s position for assigned location or territory, regarding routine hedge needs
- Maintain account and sales call records, including customer profiles.
- Gather information regarding local competition and communicate to the appropriate stakeholders

- Position and promote Keystone as the most credible source of grain information
- Explain agricultural markets, local basis, and contracts to our farmer customers
- Participate in informative farmer meetings
- Provide customer service and act as one of the primary points of contact for customers
- Adhere to all safety requirements
- Ensure compliance with all state and federal regulations

​

Skills and Qualifications :

- Understand ing of grain business, including basic merchandising, and local market analysis
- Strong interpersonal communication skills (face-to-face, verbal, written, electronic), with a demonstrated ability to build strong relationships
- Demonstrated ability to plan and implement a variety of on - farm sales calls
- Excellent organization skills and ability to work well within strict time frames
- Solid understanding of grain basis/futures trading and the application of those to the farmer in production agriculture
- Ability and willingness to work long hours, travel, and be on call, as business conditions warrant

​

Education and Experience :

- Bachelor’s degree in agriculture or business preferred, or a combination of related experience