Grain Originator Trainee - Oakland, NE

PURPOSE

As a Grain Trainee at Central Valley Ag, your responsibilities will include assisting the grain merchandisers and grain specialists by preforming customer service duties, buying grain from producers and working towards mastering CVA’s grain contracts and offerings. 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 Central Valley Ag’s brand, vision, and values. CVA views the Grain Trainee position as a transitional role from entry level to a Grain Specialist.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Originates grain in accordance with Central Valley Ag’s overall position utilizing merchandising principles and risk management tools.
• Begins to establish/develop a customer base with strategic customers and prospects through direct personal contact and support in an assigned territory.
• Conducts on farm sales calls that identify the customer’s needs and engage in whole farm solutions from Central Valley Ag.
• Educates producers on the benefits of utilizing CVA’s risk management tools to mitigate risk for their operations.
• Follows 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) and deferred payment contracts; grain bank policy and rates; drying rates and shrink discounts.
• Stays abreast of market trends, Central Valley Ag’s credit policy, competitor practices and customer behavior.
• Maintains accurate records using Central Valley Ag’s CRM tool for all sales and prospecting activities, including sales calls and follow-up activities. 
• Identifies the customer’s preferred method for communication and utilizes technology to make it easier and more effective to do business with Central Valley Ag.
• Communicates with all Central Valley Ag location managers, operational support staff and sales professionals in sales territory in order to promote cross selling.
• Represents the CVA 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 job duties as assigned.

SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES

None.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

• Bachelor's degree (B.A.) in Accounting, Finance, Agriculture, Agribusiness or related field required.  
• Proven background in profitably purchasing grain from farmers and commercial elevators for ethanol production required.  
• Clear understanding of grain marketing including hedging, basis analysis and flat pricing grain required.
• Demonstrates an understanding of grain accounting and contract recordkeeping required.  
• Solid business profit management experience required. 
• Proficiency in Excel required and must possess the ability to learn AgriCharts.   
• Ability to multi-task several assignments simultaneously and establish job priorities. 
• To consistently meet internal and external deadlines.  
• Must have the ability to research and prepare analysis to respond to internal and external inquiries in a timely, professional and thorough manner.    
• Proficient at Software: Merchant Ag, Membrain, HMS, DocuSign, and Microsoft Products including Word, Excel, Outlook, Power BI, and Teams.
• Manages a variety of responsibilities in a timely and efficient manner.
• Follows through with commitments and can be counted on to meet deadlines.
• Always maintains a positive attitude.
• Actively looks for ways to help customers. 
• Works well with others to achieve a common goal. 
• Works in a way that demonstrates safety is a priority.   Promotes a work environment that is safe for everyone. 
• We value the highest ethical standard-our word is our bond.
• Ability to communicate in a professional manner and establish effective working relationships with internal operations and external customers.  

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:   April 2023