Senior Coffee Marketer/Trader

Louis Dreyfus Company is a leading merchant and processor of agricultural goods. Our activities span the entire value chain from farm to fork, across a broad range of business lines, we leverage our global reach and extensive asset network to serve our customers and consumers around the world. Structured as a matrix organization of six geographical regions and ten platforms, Louis Dreyfus Company is active in over 100 countries and employs approximately 18,000 people globally.

Overall Purpose and Objective of Position

• Use specialized knowledge to manage green coffee sales to customer accounts (From Sale to Delivery)
• Strengthen existing relations of the desk and help build new ones, while advertising the wider work that LD does either on Sustainable projects, specialty, supply chain services.
• Work to disseminate relevant information from the roasters / cash market to relevant internal people and ensure detailed reporting of businesses.
• Contribute to quality control / cupping sessions, share knowledge with the wider desk and work in a collaborative manner, remaining open and willing to help in all aspects of the business.
• Help develop junior talent by sharing experiences and including them in your work

Primary Responsibilities/Essential Functions

• Use specialized knowledge to manage select coffee accounts (which may vary over time)
  • Expand coffee roaster relationship value in terms of risk management, supply chain, research collaboration;
  • Develop new customers;
  • Broaden type catalogue;
  • Optimize trade execution;
• Play a key role in the Cash calls as allocated by manager;
  • Use specialized knowledge to aide price discovery and advisory, demand-side data sourcing and analysis, and spots and destination pricing
• Develop customer relations. Understand client needs and answer to these needs in a commercial manner, sustain the relationships with the key customers through commercial actions (provide market advice, visit clients, etc.)
• Deploy agreed positions, negotiate and manage the trades (re-assess and adjust if necessary), close discussions and secure conditions (financing structure) and contracts; identify potential issues early and address them to minimize damage.
• Liaise with smaller trade houses to increase sales volumes, gaining indirect market access to non-target clients
• Oversee and coordinate execution of the transactions until fulfilment. Control of possible demurrage, inventory management, invoice payments, risk exposure, quality control etc.) from origin to final contracted terms.
• Regular communication with support teams across the globe; execution/logistics, sustainability, contracts, futures management teams, etc.
• Market intelligence: gather and feed local market information (supply, demand, prices, competition, trends), Active participation to the debate about market data and balance sheet. Analysis of sales and segment customers.
• Promote LDC’s products and teams to the clients, responsible sourcing, certifications.
• Start to identify potential new trade flows and customers; work on ways to initiate/increase business with customers and suppliers. Particularly in the Sustainable area to grow as the main commercial point of reference in the area.

Additional Responsibilities

• Coordinates client visits and trade shows, NCA, GCA, SCA
• Liaise with Credit Risk about allowing advantageous financing plans for local clients
• Build and maintain customer database compiling data about clients and their businesses
• Start to identify potential new trade flows and customers or ways to initiate/increase business with customers and suppliers.

Education/Professional Certifications/Licenses

The following is the required qualification: 

• Bachelor’s degree with a preference for a BA in Economics, or Business related degree

Experience

The following are the basic qualifications: 

• 5 + years experience in coffee industry including selling green coffee to roasters.
• Experience negotiating purchase and sales contracts under GCA terms and conditions.
• Experience roasting and cupping coffee, overall quality analysis
• Knowledge of coffee production, processing, exportation, and general fundamental analysis
• Good understanding of green coffee import logistics including ocean and rail/truck freight

The following is the preferred qualification: 

• 5-10+ years experience in the coffee industry with a strong preference for green coffee sales.
• Established relationships and good track record of sales to a wide variety of roasters and dealers 
• 5 years Brazil naturals trading and quality experience

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities (including any physical demands)

The following are the required qualifications:

• Futures trading understanding, series 3 equivalency
• Knowledge of and interest in coffee quality characteristics
• Strong negotiation and organizational skills, detail-oriented
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Business development interest and skills
• Ability to operate coffee roasters and grinders, brewers, espresso machine, and moisture meter

This position is hybrid and required to be in the office 4 days a week with 1 remote day.

Equipment Used

Typical office equipment: PC, telephone, excel, CRM, Atlas

Coffee lab equipment: roasters, grinders, brewers, and moisture meter

Working Conditions

Typical climate-controlled office environment.  Extension of regular working hours is occasionally necessary to complete time-sensitive projects (especially during month-end and year-end closes), attend training or to respond to emergencies. 10% domestic travel and/or international travel.

Employee Supervision

No direct supervision, works collaboratively with other marketers as well as regular engagement with operations and logistics.

Decision Making/Accountability

Utilizes knowledge of coffee production, processing, logistics and general futures trading to engage customers. 

Operates as an agent of the company to contract green coffee sales.

Customer account management, credit discussions and futures order execution, resolves quality issues.

What We Offer

We provide a dynamic and stimulating international environment, which will stretch and develop your abilities and channel your skills and expertise with outstanding career development opportunities in one of the largest and most solid private companies in the world.

- Comprehensive benefits program including medical, dental and vision care coverage, flexible spending account plans, employee assistance program, life insurance and disability coverage
- 401k with Company Match
- Family Friendly Benefits including childbirth and parental leave, fertility and family building benefits
- Paid Time Off (PTO) and Paid Holidays
- Flexible work available (not applicable to all roles)

Diversity & Inclusion

LDC is driven by a set of shared values and high ethical standards, with diversity and inclusion being part of our DNA. LDC is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity, equity and inclusion.

LDC encourages diversity, supports local communities and environmental initiatives. We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

Equal employment opportunity (EEO)

Louis Dreyfus Company provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Sustainability

Sustainable value is at the heart of our purpose as a company.

We are passionate about creating fair and sustainable value, both for our business and for other value chain stakeholders: our people, our business partners, the communities we touch and the environment around us