Merchandiser Intern - Midwest (IA/MN/SD) - Summer 2025 - POET

ABOUT POET

At POET, it is our mission to be good stewards of the Earth by converting renewable resources to energy and other valuable goods as effectively as humanly possible. For over thirty years our drive and passion to change the world has enabled us to become the largest producer and marketer of bioethanol and leader in biobased products in the world. Beyond our world-class culture, POET team members enjoy competitive pay and perks including;

• A multifaceted wellness program encompassing the whole person – mentally, physically, and spiritually
• Onsite fitness centers or fitness reimbursements 
• Safety and cold weather gear, and more!

The POET Never Satisfied Internship openings are for Summer 2025. We post Internships in September with the intent to have interns selected by January 1st each year.

The location for our Midwest Merchandiser Internship is TBD and could be located in IA, MN, or SD

JOB SUMMARY

POET Grain is a leader in the grain markets, buying nearly a billion bushels of grain annually from over 40,000 local farmers. When we show up to work at POET Grain, it’s our job to meet our customer’s needs as efficiently as possible while buying grain at the best possible value for POET.

As a Grain Merchandiser Intern, you will have the chance to work directly with some of America’s best farmers and commercial grain companies and look for other grain merchandising opportunities in our draw areas.

A Grain Merchandiser Intern assists in developing and retaining customer relationships and formulating solutions to meet our customers’ needs, which may involve customized marketing plans and on-farm visits. Team members in this position will understand CBOT futures markets, fundamental and technical market factors, basis levels, market structure, carrying costs, and freight spreads and monitor the competitiveness of cash grain bids and related factors that affect the net selling price for the customer. Explaining, educating, and intelligently communicating this information to the customer is essential to this position. Grain Merchandiser Interns are accountable for informing management of grain movements and other local news that may impact local buying efforts. Grain Merchandiser Interns must also understand grain weighing and grading procedures and policies.

The Grain Merchandiser Interns may also assist in clerical duties related to the grain origination/merchandising operations within the local grain team. Core duties include contract administration, ticket application, and grain settlement processing. He/she also provides backup for the Grain Buyers at the location. The successful candidate will have excellent organizational, multi-tasking, and interpersonal skills; the ability to communicate effectively; the ability to enter data accurately; provide customer service in a confidential manner; and possess good analytical skills.

DURING A TYPICAL DAY

• Procure grain supplies through the purchase of grain from producers and commercial accounts.
• Have thorough knowledge of grain contracts and marketing alternatives and be able to explain these to customers.
• Use the phone, travel to farms, and hold various types of meetings in various venues to seek out new potential customers for POET.
• Manage and keep current customer database.
• Analyze local supply/demand, competition, crop and market conditions (including carry/inverted markets) to buy grain at optimum price levels.
• Monitor the competitiveness of cash bids within the local trade area.
• Daily use of the POET Grain tools to buy grain efficiently.
• Gather market intelligence on competitor activities and share it with the grain team.
• Initiate contractual agreements for grain and ensure the accuracy of contracts.
• Hedge all grain purchases in coordination with POET Grain policies.
• Update grain bids on web pages, apps, and after-hours phone lines daily.
• Work in an honest and ethical manner; maintain confidentiality on all business-related matters.
• Maintain a very high level of customer service and a positive, friendly attitude.
• Foster a culture of safe behavior and environmental compliance at all times.

REQUIREMENTS (WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING)

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• You are currently working toward a bachelor’s degree in an agriculture or a business-related field.

STRENGTHS OF A SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE

• You enjoy working with people and finding solutions to their needs.
• You have a background in sales and or customer relations. Ability to seek out and build strong customer relationships and the proven ability to grow and manage a sales territory.
• You consider yourself a “People Person”.
• You have a background in grain marketing and/or production agriculture
• You can prioritize in a fast-paced environment.
• You can work independently and exercise sound business judgment and discretion.
• You are proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and OneNote and have the ability and willingness to learn new software applications.
• You have excellent organizational skills, communication skills (written & verbal), the ability to multi-task, and most importantly, the ability to work well within a team.
• You have knowledge of or the ability to learn and follow grain contract policies and regulations.
• You have knowledge of or the ability to learn receiving/grading policies and procedures.
• You have knowledge of or the ability to learn various features of specialty grain contracts for entry, pricing, auditing, and settlement activities

GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN POET

At POET we believe in developing our team members to their highest potential and recognizing contributions that add value to the organization. Each new team member’s position and compensation are carefully determined by considering their unique qualifications and skillset.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Culture is king at POET. We are all on the same team. We always communicate. We park our egos at the door. These aren’t just slogans on our walls. It’s part of who we are.
• Some travel to customer and client sites as well as other POET locations.
• We also expect that everyone will maintain a healthy work-life balance. It’s the way to optimize health, happiness, and productivity over the long term.

POET is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). POET complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws regarding hiring and employment. Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or veteran status.