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Agriculture Operations Trainee

CGB Enterprises · Hennepin, IL · $65,000 a year · Full time

Posted Aug 26, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

This trainee program can run up to 36 months across several parts of the business. What makes you want to commit to that?

What they are checking: Whether they are serious about a long development path toward management in the Grain division.

Tell me about hands-on agricultural or operations work you've done.

What they are checking: Whether they have practical experience that will help them earn respect on the floor.

Tell me about a time you were given feedback that was hard to hear.

What they are checking: Whether they accept coaching well, which matters in a program built on development.

Why is it important for a future leader to understand operations before managing them?

What they are checking: Whether they value learning the work firsthand, which builds better decisions as a manager.

Where do you see yourself in five years with CGB?

What they are checking: Whether their goals line up with the program's purpose of building operations leaders.

What would you do

How would you approach learning safety rules at a grain facility as a new trainee?

What they are checking: Whether they take safety seriously from day one, since grain handling has serious hazards.

You're given a self-study project on top of your daily work. How do you make time for it?

What they are checking: Whether they can manage their time and keep up with training while doing real work.

How would you handle being moved to a different location partway through the program?

What they are checking: Whether they are adaptable and can settle in quickly in a new market.

What would you do if you saw a process at the facility that seemed inefficient?

What they are checking: Whether they would ask questions and suggest improvements respectfully as a trainee.

About the work

What do you know about the daily operations of a grain facility, like receiving, drying and loading out?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the basic flow of grain through a facility before they start.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at CGB Enterprises from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

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The full job description

As published by CGB Enterprises.

Thank you for your interest in joining our team! At CGB, you can contribute to meaningful work, grow professionally and personally, and belong in a place where everyone has a voice. Founded in 1969, CGB Enterprises, Inc. is known as an innovative and progressive leader in the grain and transportation industries. Today, CGB operates an enterprise with over 100 locations and nearly 2,000 U.S. employees overseeing a diverse family of businesses that provide an array of services for producers and logistics services for an international base of customers. The combination of our assets provides a growing organization that is celebrating over 50 years of strength and stability! CGB believes strongly in developing well rounded leaders in order to drive successful business results. The central responsibility of this role is to gain the business knowledge necessary that will enable timely and capable decision making in order to assume a management/leadership role within the Grain division. Developmental opportunities in this role will allow the incumbent to gain broad-based knowledge of our industry and organization and may last up to 36 months. Training will involve classroom sessions, on-the-job training, computer-based training and self-study projects. Training may occur in one or more market locations with the candidate accepting responsibilities across the business’ functional groups. This role will learn and practice leadership skills and assume responsibilities during training to ensure their department operates in an efficient and profitable manner while facing different and new challenges every day. Upon completion of the trainee program, candidates will have demonstrated proficiency in commercial decision making across a broad range of business functions. The job has direct input on personnel issues, financial decisions, construction projects and proposals, as well as the daily operations of the department. In this job, you will: • Regularly review and analyze income statements in order to understand business achievement and monitor the downstream effects of commercial decisions. • Leverage facility capabilities while maximizing efficiency and profitability; this will include directing daily work to include staffing, loading, receiving, and storage plans. • Provide recommendations and strategies for business improvement to best utilize hard and soft assets. • Issue and execute cash contracts and grower agreements with a strong understanding of risks associated. • Originate grain to drive profitability and increase sales, establish rapport with existing customers while increasing customer base. • Develop and implement a strong knowledge of risk positions and available hedging mechanisms in order to maximize profit. • Perform market research and establish opinions based upon available information that become the basis for local strategies in origination, operations, and trading. • Leverage available resources to create revenue through grain and transportation positions. • Independently negotiate price, quality specifications, and delivery details associated with cash grain and transportation contracts • Communicate market trends and information to regional staff; ensuring timely and quality market information. • Assist in preparing regular forecasts and budgets. • Adopt the company's safety culture: work with management and assumes authority to lead, direct, communicate, and enforce the company's safety program at assigned facility/facilities. • Other job duties as assigned. Here’s what you’ll need to be considered: Education Required - Bachelor's degree in related field or equivalent training and work experience. Preferred - Bachelor's degree in Agriculture or Technical Systems Management. Experience Required – None. Preferred - Experience leading a group of people. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities • Knowledge of grain or bulk materials handling. • Effective interpersonal, oral and written communication skills with the ability to interact with all levels of people within and outside the organization. • Intermediate computer skills, including working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite. • Leadership and managerial skills. • Conflict management skills. • Ability to relocate once training is finalized and ready to promote into new role. Here’s additional information you need to know: Physical Demands & Requirements The physical demands and requirements frequencies of this job may vary depending on the specific location and operational needs as well as other factors. The physical environment is dependent on the activities of the workday; can be inside where there are limited extremes to heat and/or cold and/or outside in heat/cold, wet/humid, and dry/arid conditions. • Ability to balance constantly/continuously. • Ability to bend, stoop, twist, crouch, crawl, kneel and squat (constantly/continuously) frequently. • Ability to (frequently) climb stairs and climb ladders (and work at) to significant heights. • Ability to concentrate on task without becoming distracted, constantly/continuously. • Ability to distinguish grade, color, odor and various damage characteristics in grain samples. (at some facilities) • Ability to distinguish, with a degree of accuracy, differences or similarities in intensity or quality odors, or recognizing • particular odors, using nose. • Ability to enter information into a computer (observations, other computers). • Ability to grasp and reach frequently. • Ability to lift/push/pull 50 lbs. occasionally to continuously depending on daily needs of location. • Ability to meet requirement of and utilize all applicable PPE, when applicable. • Ability to meet requirements of PFT and fit testing, when applicable. • Ability to pass all required testing under FRA and DOT for this position (where applicable). • Ability to perform work in confined spaces. • Ability to safely walk on barge surface(s) with the ability to work around (deep/swift) water. • Ability to stand and walk constantly/continuously. • Ability to understand and communicate verbally, in person and over two-way radio (and recognize emergency alarms). • Ability to understand and communicate written instructions. • Ability to walk safely on top of railcars, open gates, operate vibrators etc., where applicable. • Ability to work extended hours, weekend, holidays and/or alternate shifts as needed. • Ability to work in an environment with high dust levels around grain and other bulk products (where applicable). • Ability to work outside in extreme weather conditions. • Acutely aware of surroundings with ability to quickly adjust to a signal or change in environment. Uses near, far and peripheral vision and depth perception for task(s) being performed; may need to be able to identify problems with grain. Environmental Conditions The work environment described here are meant to be representative of those an employee would normally encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. The physical environment requires the employee to work both inside and outside in heat/cold, wet/humid, and dry/arid conditions. Frequently required to use personal protective equipment. Exposure to such conditions such as fumes, noxious odors, dusts, mists, gases, and/or poor ventilation that affect the respiratory system, eyes, or skin. Travel, approximately 25%. The expected base pay range for this role is: $65,000.00 - $65,000.00 Actual pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including work location, job-related knowledge, skills and relevant experience for the job. Pay amount does not guarantee employment for any particular period of time. Are you ready to make a meaningful career move & an impact at CGB? Apply today! Known in our industry for stability and high ethics, CGB Enterprises, Inc. offers a stellar benefits package including: an outstanding 401(k) retirement plan with company contributions, medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life, & disability benefits, flexible spending accounts, paid leave (holidays, vacation, sick), wellness programs, recognition programs, community involvement opportunities, and much more! CGB Enterprises, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal links in English or Spanish are listed here. Also, we are unable to legally hire anyone who is not eligible to work in the United States nor are we able to sponsor visas. The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this position. It should not be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be performed in the job. All Third Party Agencies, Headhunters, and Recruiters CGB Enterprises, Inc. and its Subsidiaries only forms contracts with recruiters with whom we have an established relationship and with whom we have in place a signed contract. All contact from third parties must go through our Human Resources Department. Any contact made outside of our Human Resources Department by a third party will cancel any future business relationships between the third party and CGB Enterprises, Inc. and its Subsidiaries. This posting may use automated systems to help distribute listings to job seekers based on relevance (e.g., search terms, location, engagement). Hiring decisions are made by CGB personnel. Questions? Contact Recruiting@cgb.com

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