Farm Marketing Group Leader/Consultant

About the role

The Group Leader provides leadership, mentorship, and strategic direction to Farm Marketing Consultants and office staff while promoting Hurley & Associates’ farm marketing services. This role drives office growth, strengthens client relationships, expands market presence, and ensures disciplined risk management services for agricultural producers.

Responsibilities

• Leadership and Networking:
  • Uphold and exemplify Hurley & Associates’ mission statement to clients, industry advocates, and consultants.
  • Collaborate to develop greater market share as risk management consultants.
  • Develop and maintain an Advocate network in your office’s geographic area.
  • Communicate with industry, business, and community executives in covered geographic areas.
  • Network in agricultural community public relations activities.
  • Maintain current knowledge of grain and livestock market trading and its impact on client operations.
  • Set direction for cash grain marketing decisions with office consultants.
  • Assist consultants in developing marketing plans.
  • Be available to discuss client positions at any time.
  • Maintain strong ability to review and analyze farm financials: accounting, cash flow, breakeven reports, and spreadsheets.
  • Build and maintain strong rapport with office employees to maximize potential and develop a team.
  • Be available to make prospect and client visits.
  • Mentor, supervise, train, and coach employees on risk management services and position-related tasks.
  • Ensure employee Goals Update Meetings occur at minimum once per year.
• Management and Local Compliance:
  • Protect and perform within Hurley’s policies and guidelines.
  • Understand futures market operations, controls, policies, and procedures.
  • Ensure all office consultants comply with Hurley’s Marketing Plan.
  • Review trades made by all brokers to ensure proper positions.
  • Inform the Hedge Desk Group Leader of any compliance concerns.
  • Monitor quality control indicators for clients via cash flows, marketing plans, budgets, and overall performance.
  • Ensure Hurley associates conduct business professionally with all clients.
  • Ensure excellent communication with clients.
  • Coordinate overall office activities to ensure clients are well cared for.
  • Provide support for consultants and/or Branch Manager in resolving client or consultant issues.
  • Deal with customer complaints efficiently and professionally.
  • Hold office planning/update meetings at minimum two times per year.
  • Establish office routines, ground rules, and expectations for all employees.
  • Ensure regular communication with employees on office-related items.
  • Ensure the office is well organized and efficient.
  • Assign and oversee mentor relationships.
• Education:
  • Assist in identifying and providing for the educational needs of office employees.
  • Provide client education and/or client appreciation opportunities on a regular basis.
• Scope of Responsibility and Decision Making:
  • Research, recruit, interview, and collaborate on hiring new employees and interns in accordance with established assessment processes.
  • Discuss staff performance issues with corporate to determine appropriate course of action.
  • Select mentors to work with interns and new consultants.
  • Collaborate on compensation adjustments, when needed.
  • Provide input to annual office budget development and review monthly profit & loss statements.
  • Negotiate and maintain contracts with various landlords with corporate oversight.
  • Assume responsibility and accountability for decisions, consequences, and results impacting people, costs, and/or quality of service within corporate and branch offices.

Required Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Management and Local Compliance:
  • Futures market operations and rationale.
  • Local cash grain market trading, specifics, and impact on client operations.
  • Farmer’s environment, operations, and financial risk tolerance.
  • Farm finances, accounting, cash flow, and breakeven analysis.
  • Marketing knowledge of tools to assist in managing producer risk.
  • Customer service, satisfaction, and retention skills.
  • Excellent salesmanship, communication, and time management skills.
  • Managing, supervising, mentoring, coaching, and delegating skills.
• Sales and Marketing:
  • Networking within the grain industry to develop industry Advocates.
  • Presentation skills for public speaking and training programs.
  • Ability to inspire people to take action.
• People Skills:
  • Psychology in working with people and establishing relationships.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and relationship building.
• Technical Skill Requirements:
  • Futures market.
  • Proprietary Hurley & Associates software.
  • Microsoft Office Suite.
• Confidentiality Requirement:
  • Has access to confidential information and is required to sign a confidentiality agreement.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Associate degree with 5 years of experience in direct farmer marketing, or
• Bachelor’s degree with 3–5 years of experience in grain marketing, cash, or futures, or
• 4 years of equivalent experience in agri-business with a successful track record in sales and management.

Licensing or Certification Requirements

• Series 3 license for grain brokers required after hire.
• Series 30 license for Branch Managers required after hire.