Summary:The Sr. Grain Merchandiser is responsible for leading Miller Milling's merchandising strategy and financial performance, with ownership of Hard Red Spring (HRS) wheat and byproduct positions, merchandising P&L, wheat origination, commodity price risk management, and supply assurance across the flour mill network.
This role develops and executes HRS wheat sourcing, origination, and merchandising strategies that optimize mix and blend opportunities, secure competitively priced wheat supplies, and enhance company profitability while operating within established risk parameters.
The position serves as the company's lead market analyst for HRS wheat and byproducts, leveraging market fundamentals, quality characteristics, freight economics, and supply chain dynamics to determine the lowest-cost combination of wheat origin, protein, quality, and transportation alternatives needed to meet customer flour specifications. Responsibilities include actively managing basis exposure, hedge positions, and sourcing strategies; identifying merchandising margin opportunities; reconciling commodity positions; and providing market intelligence that supports commercial decision-making throughout the organization.
The Sr. Grain Merchandiser partners closely with mill operations, sales, logistics, quality, and leadership teams to maximize merchandising returns, ensure reliable wheat supply, and effectively manage market risk.
Primary Duties:
HRS Wheat Origination & Merchandising
- Purchase the appropriate quality and quantity of HRS wheat required by Miller Milling flour mills, securing timely delivery and competitive pricing while contributing to merchandising P&L objectives.
- Optimize wheat allocation across the flour mill network by evaluating origin, protein, quality, freight, inventory, and mix or blend alternatives to maximize overall company profitability while meeting customer flour specifications.
- Monitor grain raw material inventory quantity and quality needs in partnership with mill operations and quality teams. Maintain effective working relationships with mill management, elevators, suppliers, and quality teams to capture mix and blend opportunities.
- Monitor relevant grain freight spreads, transportation modes, market developments, cost structures, and trade rules to ensure competitive pricing, trade compliance, and continuous identification of lowest-cost supply alternatives.
- Maintain and develop relationships with grain suppliers, elevators, cooperatives, brokers, and commercial merchandising organizations to secure reliable, competitively priced wheat supply and strengthen market access.
- Monitor and approve incoming wheat grades; verify shipment quality and protein against contract requirements; and provide direction to the appropriate location when issues arise.
- Resolve supplier claims and contract overfills or underfills, ensure adherence to contract terms, and coordinate accurate internal accounting and position reconciliation.
- Manage inbound wheat pipelines to assure adequate supply while minimizing railroad demurrage and avoidable logistics costs.
Risk Management & Merchandising Performance
- Manage HRS wheat basis positions, futures exposure, and sourcing risk to achieve merchandising P&L objectives while operating within established risk limits. Develop and execute position strategies utilizing market analysis, effective trading, supply chain optimization, and disciplined risk management.
- Generate merchandising value by identifying and executing opportunities in basis markets, intermarket spreads, freight spreads, quality premiums and discounts, inventory positioning, supply chain optimization, and byproduct marketing.
- Maintain accurate commodity positions and establish position sizes that reflect market outlook, opportunity, risk, liquidity, and Miller Milling's established position limits.
- Lead the internal hedge desk to provide flour hedging services to internal and external stakeholders, contribute to team hedging strategies, and provide backup coverage for other team members as needed.
- Serve as the company's subject matter expert on HRS wheat and byproduct markets, providing forward-looking market intelligence, supply forecasts, crop quality assessments, basis outlooks, and risk recommendations that support commercial and operating decisions.
- Lead company initiatives and supplier negotiation and management activities associated with regenerative agriculture programs.
Byproduct Merchandising
- Own byproduct marketing and merchandising results, including position management, pricing strategy, customer and offtake partner relationships, logistics coordination, and P&L performance across byproduct streams.
- Identify and execute opportunities to improve byproduct realization through market analysis, customer development, contract strategy, freight optimization, and disciplined position management.
Commercial Partnership & Analytics
- Partner with sales, operations, logistics, and quality teams to evaluate customer opportunities, pricing strategies, flour formulations, and supply alternatives that improve margin realization and service performance.
- Maintain and enhance commodity cost models, competitive costing tools, cost cards, and pricing analytics to support customer pricing and commercial decision-making.
- Provide clear, timely market, quality, supply, and risk updates to management, mills, sales teams, and customers, as appropriate.
- Conduct or participate in weekly meetings with Miller Milling flour mills and communicate emerging issues, trends, opportunities, and recommended actions.
- Perform other responsibilities as requested.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Economics, Economics, Business, Supply Chain, or a related field preferred.
- Seven or more years of experience in grain merchandising, grain trading, or ingredient procurement.
- Demonstrated knowledge of HRS wheat markets, wheat quality specifications, cash merchandising, basis trading, futures hedging, and wheat supply chain economics.
- Demonstrated ability to manage commodity positions, evaluate risk, exercise sound judgment, and operate within established risk limits.
- Strong analytical and financial skills, including the ability to identify and quantify merchandising opportunities and explain P&L drivers.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate market information into clear commercial and operating recommendations.
- Demonstrated negotiation, supplier relationship management, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Highly proficient in Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications; proficiency with grain accounting and commodity risk systems preferred.
- Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a cross-functional team, organize multiple priorities, and execute in a changing, fast-paced environment.
- Willingness and ability to travel up to 25%.
Salary & Benefits:The expected compensation range for this position is $103,000-$150,000, which includes annual base pay. This range represents a good faith estimate for this position. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, the candidate's relevant knowledge, training, skills, work location, and/or experience. Position is eligible for variable incentive pay in accordance with performance in accordance with an annual bonus plan. In addition, this position may be eligible for a range of benefits (e.g., Medical, Dental & Vision, Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Disability Benefits, Life Insurance, Voluntary Benefits, Paid Absences and Retirement Benefits, etc.).
Work location:Hybrid Eligible in office Tuesday-Thursday (Job Duties allow for some remote work but requires travel to Eden Prairie, MN office)
Travel: May include up to 25% domestic/international
Relocation Assistance: May be authorized
