Rail Merchandiser Trainee

Louis Dreyfus Company is a leading merchant and processor of agricultural goods. Our activities span the entire value chain from farm to fork, across a broad range of business lines, we leverage our global reach and extensive asset network to serve our customers and consumers around the world. Structured as a matrix organization of six geographical regions and ten platforms, Louis Dreyfus Company is active in over 100 countries and employs approximately 18,000 people globally.

Overall Purpose and Objective of Position

This position provides a valuable link within the merchandising, logistics and execution function. This includes originating grains and oilseeds for domestic and export, while also performing various documentation duties such as pricing contracts, train contract applications, preparing train sheets, determining contract over/underfill quantities and prices and logistical support. This position provides crucial support to the merchandising, execution and logistics teams.

Primary Responsibilities/Essential Functions

• Works with balance of LDC’s rail team to optimize rail logistics
• Apply trains to contracts, complete train sheets, Price contracts, Monitor rail pipeline.
• Learn to bill trains on the BNSF, UPRR and CPKC railroads.

Ensure contracts are entered timely and fills/settlements are completed timely

• Communicate with country rail terminals daily with a goal of buying grain and picking up valuable market information
• Report on real-time market information on the Louis Dreyfus intercompany chat system
• Participate in daily conference calls reporting market information to regional traders
• Compose market wires, position updates & track lineups as requested
• Build and maintain long-term relationships with customer bases
• Participate in customer visits and industry social events

Additional Responsibilities

• • Gather news, statistics and information related to individual commodity supply and demand from customers and trade sources, and distribute that information to the remainder of the group to support overall strategic trading/positioning (i.e., contributes to research function)

• Identify, qualify and capture new business
• Learn CINCH, FGIS Grading requirements, Power BI and Copilot
• Participate in regular crop tours to assess conditions and potential yields to anticipate markets.

Education/Professional Certifications/Licenses

Basic qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Valid Driver’s License

Preferred qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, Agricultural Economics, Finance, Business Administration or other business discipline.

Experience

Basic qualifications:

• Up to two years in one or more of the following:
• Previous experience as a Merchandising Assistant, Settlements associate, or logistics specialist within the Grain industry.
• Commodity Risk Management
• Logistics (i.e., coordination of shipments and deliveries)

Preferred qualifications:

• Merchandising trainee experience on a trading desk.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities (including any physical demands)

Basic qualifications:

• Basic knowledge of futures markets, hedging and arbitrage
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong quantitative skills, including basic knowledge of statistics, algebra (e.g., supply and demand relationships, analysis of price relationships)
• Ability to organize multiple responsibilities, prioritize workload and perform multiple tasks simultaneously
• Ability to work with minimal supervision
• Foundational experience with Power BI
• Knowledge and interpretation of position reporting.
• Proficiency with spreadsheet and word processing software, (e.g., Excel and MS Word).
• Must be a motivated self-starter

Equipment Used

• Typical office equipment: PC, telephone, scan/fax machine, PDA’s.
• Where appropriate, personal protective equipment (PPE) will be worn in compliance with Company standards and governmental regulations

Other

• Candidates must be mobile with flexibility to relocate to both Kansas City, MO.

Working Conditions

• Primarily works in a climate-controlled office environment with periodic visits to operational areas resulting in exposure to a variety of temperatures and prevailing weather conditions. This may also result in occasional exposure to dust, odors, gases, vapors, wet or slick surfaces and loud noises. The extension of regular working hours is occasionally necessary to complete time-sensitive projects, attend training or respond to emergencies.

Employee Supervision

• No direct supervision responsibilities

Decision Making/Accountability

• Processes a variety of information and data to devise and assist with developing desk trading strategies. Negotiates with trade counterparts to maximize corporate returns. Advises and executes various logistics, position reporting, and merchandising duties as assigned.

What We Offer

We provide a dynamic and stimulating international environment, which will stretch and develop your abilities and channel your skills and expertise with outstanding career development opportunities in one of the largest and most solid private companies in the world.

• Comprehensive benefits program including medical, dental and vision care coverage, flexible spending account plans, employee assistance program, life insurance and disability coverage
• 401k with Company Match
• Family Friendly Benefits including childbirth and parental leave, fertility and family building benefits
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and Paid Holidays
• Flexible work available (not applicable to all roles)

Diversity & Inclusion

LDC is driven by a set of shared values and high ethical standards, with diversity and inclusion being part of our DNA. LDC is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity, equity and inclusion.

LDC encourages diversity, supports local communities and environmental initiatives. We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

Equal employment opportunity (EEO)

Louis Dreyfus Company provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Sustainability

Sustainable value is at the heart of our purpose as a company.

We are passionate about creating fair and sustainable value, both for our business and for other value chain stakeholders: our people, our business partners, the communities we touch and the environment around us