Senior Trader - Specialty Grains

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 17,000 people globally.

Overall Purpose and Objective of Position

This position develops and executes the commercial strategy of LDC’s North American specialty grains business with a focus on GMO/non-GMO white corn, specialty yellow corn and non-commodity soybeans.

Primary Responsibilities/Essential Functions

• Develops & implements long term business plan for the North American specialty grains platform
• Works with LDC and 3rd party terminaling operators to secure logistics access to execute business plan  
• Directs merchandising team to establish grower direct supply chains for each of the products traded
• Partners with seed technology providers to ensure growers have access to highest quality seed traits
• Oversees sales & marketing effort and logistics management of all products within the platform purview
• Builds and maintains local supply/demand balance sheets for use in shaping position strategy
• Identifies opportunities to expand LDCs reach in the new products through organic/inorganic growth  
• Leads commercial & administrative team and drives team’s professional development
• Distributes daily/weekly market wires to regional group recapping relevant trade highlights
• Develops and maintains commercial relationship with customers, peers, others to expand information flow
• Ensures timely entry of trades into position management system & validates daily positions and P&Ls
• Tuned into all CBOT, NGFA, GAFTA etc.,trade rule developments
• Actively participates in regularly scheduled market calls, internal market chats and balance sheet discussions
• Assists in business analysis for internal and external implementation
• Participates in strategic planning discussions

Additional Responsibilities

• Merchant lead on KPIs, daily production report and other internally produced industrial reports
  • Gathers news, statistics and information related to individual commodity supply and demand from customers and trade sources and distributes that information to the remainder of the group to support overall strategic trading/positioning (i.e., contributes to research function).

• Assists other team members when needed
• Customer visits.
• Other duties as assigned

Company Conformance Statements

In the performance of their respective tasks and duties all employees are expected to conform to the following:

• Perform quality work within deadlines with or without direct supervision.
• Interact professionally with co-workers, Company business associates and the general public.
• Work together in a cooperative spirit to serve the best interests of the Company.
• Operate in a fully responsible manner and comply with all laws and Company policies.

Education/Professional Certifications/Licenses

Basic qualification: 

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

Experience

Basic qualifications:

• 10+ years in the Grains and Oilseeds industry
• Asset management & people management experience in the G&O industry
• Solid understanding of hedge & position management, balance sheet analysis & P&L reporting

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities (including any physical demands)

Basic qualifications:

• Working knowledge of futures markets, hedging and arbitrage
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong quantitative skills, including basic knowledge of statistics
• Ability to organize multiple responsibilities, prioritize workload and perform multiple tasks simultaneously
• Ability to work with minimal supervision
• Must have valid driver’s license

Equipment Used

• Typical office equipment: PC, telephone, fax machine.

Working Conditions

• Primarily climate-controlled office environment.  Periodic visits to industrial operations areas are necessary with exposure during such visits to variety of temperatures and prevailing weather conditions. Interacts closely with personnel in other departments and company locations, interacts closely with middle and senior level management, domestic travel to visit customers required (up to 30% at times). 

Employee Supervision

• Oversees commercial and administrative staff (4/6 people total)

Decision Making/Accountability

• Processes a variety of information and data to help devise and execute trading strategies.  Negotiates with trade counterparts to maximize corporate returns.  Advises and recommends trading strategies, assesses risk pertaining to buying and selling and negotiates contract terms with clients.

Louis Dreyfus Company provides equal employment opportunities to all without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other protected status.

Education/Professional Certifications/Licenses

Basic qualification: 

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

Experience

Basic qualifications:

• 10+ years in the Grains and Oilseeds industry
• Asset management & people management experience in the G&O industry
• Solid understanding of hedge & position management, balance sheet analysis & P&L reporting

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities (including any physical demands)

Basic qualifications:

• Working knowledge of futures markets, hedging and arbitrage
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong quantitative skills, including basic knowledge of statistics
• Ability to organize multiple responsibilities, prioritize workload and perform multiple tasks simultaneously
• Ability to work with minimal supervision
• Must have valid driver’s license

Equipment Used

• Typical office equipment: PC, telephone, fax machine.

Working Conditions

• Primarily climate-controlled office environment.  Periodic visits to industrial operations areas are necessary with exposure during such visits to variety of temperatures and prevailing weather conditions. Interacts closely with personnel in other departments and company locations, interacts closely with middle and senior level management, domestic travel to visit customers required (up to 30% at times). 

Employee Supervision

• Oversees commercial and administrative staff (4/6 people total)

Decision Making/Accountability

• Processes a variety of information and data to help devise and execute trading strategies.  Negotiates with trade counterparts to maximize corporate returns.  Advises and recommends trading strategies, assesses risk pertaining to buying and selling and negotiates contract terms with clients.

Louis Dreyfus Company provides equal employment opportunities to all without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other protected status.

This position will sit in Kansas City, we offer flexible working arrangement (4 days in office/1 day remote on Fridays)

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
- Hybrid 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