Jobs › CGB Enterprises

Grain Merchant

CGB Enterprises · Hennepin, IL · $64,172–$77,328 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 22, 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

Tell me about a time you resolved a customer issue that could have cost you the relationship.

What they are checking: Whether they handle complaints honestly and keep accounts, since resolving customer issues is a listed duty.

Tell me about a time you added a new customer through your own effort.

What they are checking: Whether they can prospect and grow business, which the posting expects.

What would make a farmer trust you with their grain marketing?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that honesty and follow-through matter more than a single good price.

What would you do

How would you build relationships with growers around Hennepin who already sell to a competitor?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that trust and service win farmers over, not just a better bid.

How do you prepare for an annual farm visit with a major account?

What they are checking: Whether they come in knowing the customer's operation and goals, not just selling.

A grower wants to cancel a contract because prices went up. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they can explain contract obligations firmly while keeping the long-term relationship.

How would you work with the origination team so the facility gets the grain it needs?

What they are checking: Whether they coordinate across the team to fill commitments rather than chasing only their own numbers.

How would you explain to a grower why your bid is lower than the elevator down the road?

What they are checking: Whether they can talk about freight, service and value without bad-mouthing a competitor.

About the work

Explain basis to me as if I were a new grower.

What they are checking: Whether they understand basis well enough to explain it simply, which is central to grain merchandising.

What contract types would you offer a farmer who's worried about prices falling before harvest?

What they are checking: Their knowledge of forward contracts, hedge-to-arrive and other tools to manage price risk.

How do you follow the markets day to day, and what do you watch?

What they are checking: Whether they track futures, spreads, weather and freight in a way that helps them advise growers.

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.

Practice this out loud

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! Develop expertise in grain merchandising, market analysis, and customer relationship management while contributing to a leading agricultural organization. This job is primarily responsible for originating grain purchases from growers while promoting company products and services. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, determining customer requirements, executing contracts and agreements, and resolving customer related issues. In this job, you will: • Originate grain purchases from growers; work with origination staff to maximize commercial and producer origination thru team communication and execution. • Conduct annual farm/business visits for all major accounts. • Add new business accounts to manage/service. • Document new accounts and track success. • Work with manager and others to analyze three year handle information on all producer/commercial accounts assigned to evaluate customer market share and growth/retention. • Identify accounts that are underperforming and develop a marketing strategy to correct. • Execute and manage contract including signing and execution of terms, conditions and delivery. • Review facility and region profit and loss statements; discuss findings and ideas/issues with Facility Manager and Commercial Manager. • Receive in-bound calls and assist the other buying groups in servicing the facility’s customer base. • Gather, review, and contribute commodity market analysis and information in support of location/ regional position. • Input customer information into the CRM product. • Other duties as assigned. Here’s what you’ll need to be considered: Education Required - Bachelor's degree or equivalent education and experience. Preferred - Master's degree in Agricultural business. Experience Required - 3 years' experience in trading, logistics, or related field. Preferred - Prior contract negotiation and grain industry experience. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities • Diverse knowledge of how the company generates revenue and creates profitability and an advanced understanding of the intricacies of our customers’ businesses and functionality of their operations. • Knowledge of grain merchandising, facility cost structures, mix and blend analysis, carry, interest, freight, FOB and CIF marketing/sales, as well as a basic knowledge of facility operations. • Working knowledge or ability to learn contract negotiations and grain industry. • Basic computer skills, including working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite. • Effective interpersonal, oral and written communication skills with the ability to interact with all levels of people within and outside the organization. • Strong decision making, negotiation, and conflict management skills. • Contract and customer management skills; including ability to relay accurate information concerning contract balances and settlements. • Strong time management and prioritization skills, with ability to remain flexible to changing priorities. • Ability to take direction and willingness to assist where needed and take on new tasks. • Ability to read/analyze domestic and global industry information. • Ability to work effectively both autonomously and in a team environment. Here’s additional information you need to know: Physical Demands & Requirements Light work. Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work. Hearing. Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discriminations in sound. The employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, and/or operation of machines (including inspection); using measurement devices; and/or assembly or fabrication parts at distances close to the eyes. 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 inside where there are limited extremes to heat and/or cold; moderate noise; a normal office environment. Travel, up to 10% travel to assigned producers in assigned area(s). The expected base pay range for this role is: $64,172.00 - $77,328.00 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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