Crop Nutrients Associate Product Manager - GROWMARK Inc Bloomington, IL

SALARY RANGE: $79,500.00 - $

GROWMARK is an agricultural cooperative serving almost 400,000 customers across North America, providing agronomy, energy, facility engineering and construction, and logistics products and services, as well as grain marketing and risk management services. Headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois, GROWMARK owns the FS trademark, which is used by its member cooperatives. GROWMARK also owns and operates SEEDWAY, the largest full-line seed company in the United States.

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Under the direction of the Director, Crop Nutrients Supply and Merchandising, assists with managing supply and pricing for assigned products. Secures supplies with cost optimization objectives, provides pricing direction to Agronomy Area Sales Managers, and matches available supply and demand appropriately.

• Positions supply at terminals to meet sales opportunities per day-to-day collaboration/discussions with Agronomy Area Sales Managers and per sales forecast.
• Actively searches and recommends new supply opportunities for assigned products to grow GROWMARK's business.
• Negotiates with manufacturers, distributors, and other potential vendors to purchase supply at least possible cost and minimum risk of adverse market-price movement. Timing of purchases to coincide with sales opportunities and/or supervisor direction. Collaborates with Legal to minimize commercial/legal exposures on purchase contracts.
• Under the direction of the Director, Crop Nutrients Supply and Merchandising, provides pricing direction to Agronomy Area Sales Managers on sales opportunities with objective of obtaining best-potential price for GROWMARK and maximizing product margins, but also meeting FS-member supply objectives, overall sales objectives and assessing near term market direction, supply and price risk.
• Acts as key lead for truck delivered sales model by working closely with Area Sales Managers to develop new and existing locations to leverage truck delivered pricing opportunities.
• Coordinates the appropriate netback to a given supply point. Analyzes potential to use alternative sales/merchandising approaches (to maximize returns to GROWMARK from a given supply/sales opportunity, to leverage long-term GROWMARK supply sources as well as to leverage GROWMARK logistic capabilities).
• Maintains merchandising (pricing) models for assigned products to provide the Area Sales Manager with a proactive reference guide to delivered and FOB pricing.
• Manages supply positions by matching supply and sales opportunities appropriately, to avoid post-season carryover and avoid overselling/uncontrolled short-selling of positions.
• Gathers market intelligence on a consistent, daily basis to use in assessing market direction, and to communicate to ASMs to make GROWMARK a recognized "go-to" resource for transparent market intelligence by our customers.
• Clearly articulates domestic and international market information in the form of Market Notes and Market Snapshots on a weekly basis but also communicates relevant market news on Constant Contact and EzText to our member companies. Participate in market update calls as they are scheduled.
• Executes strategies to mitigate day-to-day price risk on positions per supervisor direction.
• Conducts analysis of GROWMARK annual supply contracts with key vendors to ensure GROWMARK maximizes returns and to highlight risk/return tradeoffs. Conducts supplier-comparison analyses of returns generated from supply contracts.
• Makes supply and sales recommendations for assigned products to profitably grow GROWMARK's business in line with Crop Nutrients growth and income targets.
• Actively seeks out cross-product/cross-functional learning opportunities to expand knowledge of the crop nutrients business and products.

Follows GROWMARK's Code of Conduct and Corporate Compliance Program, Environmental Health and Safety, OSHA and DOT policies and procedures, as they apply.

Performs all other duties as assigned.

Normally requires bachelor's degree in agronomy, ag economics, ag business, or other business-related field or equivalent. Prefer at least one to three years of experience in sales, product procurement and/or customer service areas.

Demonstrates essential abilities including business knowledge, negotiating, collaboration, communication, customer focus, decision making and skill development.

Must have a valid driver's license and passport with the ability to work extended hours and travel independently overnight.

Ability and willingness to participate in required training that may include education on GROWMARK's policies and procedures and additional training as it relates to the requirements of the position.

At GROWMARK, we are dedicated to supporting the long-term financial well-being of our employees through a fully funded pension, a cornerstone benefit that ensures security for the future. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that…