Summary

The Senior Commodity Trader is responsible for profitably managing a portfolio of feed ingredients and executing physical trades with high autonomy. The role requires strong commercial acumen, ownership, and execution focus. The Senior Trader will also play a key role in relieving operational pressure from leadership by independently handling customer/supplier relationships and taking ownership of key trading books. Collaboration with the Director on high-value portfolios or broader strategic opportunities is expected. This role includes business travel to maintain and grow commercial relationships and to represent the company at industry forums. The trader is expected to contribute to the company’s growth strategy by defining and executing a multi-year commercial plan.

The salary range for this position is $111,000 - $167,000 per year, based on experience and qualifications with annual bonus available (variable depending on performance).  

In addition to the base salary, Perdue offers a competitive benefits package, including medical/Rx, 401(k) with employer match after 1 year, critical illness, accident insurance, dental, vison, life insurance, optional group life insurance, short-term and long-term disability protection, flexible spending accounts and paid time off.  

Principal and Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Manage the buying and selling of assigned commodities with a focus on profitability, market timing, and risk balance
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the DDGs market and incorporate relevant insights into trading strategy and customer discussions
• Serve as the commercial point of contact for a defined book of business, with full ownership of P&L outcomes
• Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with suppliers and customers through regular communication and travel
• Support high-priority product lines and commercial initiatives led by the Director, including shared margin goals
• Identify and capture new business opportunities across products and geographies
• Execute trades within internal risk and credit guidelines, ensuring compliance with all company policies
• Coordinate with logistics, customer service, and finance to ensure smooth execution from contract to delivery
• Represent Perdue Agribusiness at conferences, industry meetings, and customer/supplier visits
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to a performance-driven culture
• Perform additional responsibilities and strategic assignments as needed

Minimum Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, Business, Finance, Accounting, Economics, Engineering, Supply Chain, or a related field and 8-10 years of physical commodity trading, preferably in agricultural feed ingredients or related sectors.

The ideal candidate will also have:

• Strong understanding of cash/physical commodity markets
• Strong understanding of the Distillers Dried Grains (DDGs) market, including supply dynamics, pricing trends, and customer usage
• Proven experience in the full trade lifecycle: purchasing, selling, transportation, logistics (truck, rail, container, vessel), risk management, and collections
• Demonstrated ownership of margin performance and position risk
• Financial literacy including P&L accountability and exposure tracking
• Strong interpersonal, negotiation, and communication skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, ERP systems, and market monitoring tools
• Prior experience representing a company in industry events or trade shows
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time

Environmental Factors and Physical Requirements

Office and field-based role requiring domestic business travel. Ability to use standard office equipment and digital communication tools. Frequent interaction with internal and external stakeholders. Travel required to customer/supplier sites and industry events.