Grain Originator

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A great job-and a great future-awaits you at Smithfield Foods. We are an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products. We’re looking for motivated people who want to join our team and grow lasting and meaningful careers with us. Apply Now!

Your Opportunity

This position will work to improve the year over year profitability of Smithfield Hog Production by establishing a beneficial local presence at and around our outlying feed mills. This role involves buying more local grain at prices increasingly close to prices in effect in the company.

Core Responsibilities

• Collaborates with the milling, production and nutrition departments to develop an overall grain forecast usage by week for twelve-month increments.

• Works with procurement department to develop a strategy to fill grain needs with the highest quality and lowest cost grain for the business.

• Trains mill, quality and receiving staff in grain grading and handling techniques as well as increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of receiving grain shipments at the mill in organized and timely manner.

• Spends approximately 40% of time cultivating direct business relationships with local farmers including but not limited to hosting and/or participating in farmer group meetings, industry tradeshows, and one on one meetings with farmers and their farming resources.

• Creates working relationships with area farmers to develop strong buyer/seller processes with long term purchasing and marketing capabilities.

• Researches the business plans and activities of area competitors and utilizes the information to develop business strategies enabling Smithfield Hog Production to outperform its local competition in terms of local grain pricing and market share.

• Coordinates grain movement and deployment with SHP grain elevator managers, SHP logistics, SHP receiving personnel, mill managers, SHP area managers, and other area originators to achieve optimal supply chain efficiency.

• Monitors and reports to upper management the mill’s performance in terms of customer service, receiving, maintenance projects, and all programs geared towards maximizing storage space and efficiency at the mill.

• Collaborates with Procurement management to establish a competitive bid for each grain type, grain crop, and purchasing period in order to pursue local grain at a lower cost while preserving and/or improving market share performance.

• Negotiates directly with farmers and other sellers of grain to purchase grain at the lowest possible price.

• Directly supports area farmers and the local community in order to implement strategic programs of Smithfield Hog Production (Sorghum, Irrigation, Sludge for agronomical benefits, forward pricing crops, database marketing, etc.)

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. May perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Business Administration, Agricultural Business, Economics, Agronomics or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience, required.

• Company will consider a currently enrolled college student with an anticipated graduation by end of current school year as qualified.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent comprehensive, verbal, and written communication skills. - Proficient in Microsoft Office products.

• Ability to work well with others in fast paced, dynamic environment.

• Ability to be respectful, approachable and team oriented while building strong working relationships and a positive work environment.

EEO/AA Information

Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status, status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job characteristic as directed by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment selection process, please call us at 757-357-1595.