Business Development & Economic Analysis Manager

Key Accountabilities

• Increase shareholder value with new value-added product innovations as well as key processing inputs and other innovative methods of expanding profit margins of our existing products, including cost savings and revenue enhancement opportunities.
• Idea Generation, Screening and Evaluation – Ideas are generated from a thorough understanding of the sugarbeet industry and the production of sugar, as well as networking ideas from within American Crystal, industry competitors, related industries, business contacts, university and the scientific communities.
• Proposal Generation – Ideas meeting internal rate of return and profit opportunity thresholds during the evaluation phase, move forward as business proposals requiring approval of the Operating Committee.
• Execution – The incumbent manages the implementation process and brings the idea to commercial status, concluding with the hand-off to the process owner.
• Provide business development status reports and recommendations to the Vice President - Finance and Operating Committee.

Economic and Financial Analysis

• Conduct analysis on and generate alternative approaches to Farm Bill, Trade Agreements and other legislative provisions and recommend options to maximize the company’s profitability.
• Completes economic impact assessments of company and industry trends, developments and options and advises management on the implications.
• Manage various cost management initiatives to drive efficiency throughout the Company.
• Benchmark and analyze costs inside and outside of the Company.
• Manage Company decisions and information regarding the USDA hundredweight sales allocation system to maximize growers’ on-farm profits.
• Track industry developments and develops cost curve models to maintain accurate portrayal of the Company’s competitive position and environment.
• Conduct financial analysis of potential business acquisitions which may range to $100 million.

Qualifications

• A high degree of latitude to direct projects, recommend company strategy and develop diversification opportunities with frequent project requests directly for the CEO.
• Seasoned business and operations knowledge normally gained through the completion of an engineering, accounting, finance, or a business degree, with a preference for completion of an MBA program, as well as 10 or more years of experience in a related field.
• In depth knowledge of the sugarbeet industry and the processing of sugar or similar process manufacturing is also required.
• An entrepreneurial and creative individual with well-developed managerial, financial and communication skills as well as the business savvy required to lead such a function.
• Ability to interact well with people in a business and social setting, as close contact with top management of diverse companies and groups is routine.