Feed Merchandiser Trainee

Balance4ward; Nodaway (IA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Balance4ward seeks a Feed Merchandiser Trainee to manage the full commercial cycle of feed ingredients—from sourcing to delivery—serving as the main contact between suppliers, direct-to-consumer customers, and carriers.

This developmental role requires negotiating price, coordinating loads, and building long-term supplier and carrier relationships while moving toward independent management of a book of business.

Qualifications

• Negotiation with suppliers, customers, and carriers.
• Clear communication across multiple channels (phone, email, in-person).
• Detail-oriented and organized, able to manage multiple shipments and priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain byproduct feed supplier relationships, sourcing product availability, supporting sales pricing, and negotiating purchase price and terms.
• Make sales calls to existing and prospective customers, building relationships and growing new and repeat business.
• Negotiate price and margin, and manage sales contract obligations.
• Coordinate and dispatch loads between suppliers, carriers, and customers, accurately entering load data and serving as the primary point of contact on logistics questions.
• Build carrier relationships and negotiate freight rates to optimize performance, capacity, and cost.
• Evaluate route profitability and identify opportunities for improvement.

Skills

Negotiation

Communication across channels

Detail-oriented

Logistics experience

Tools

MS Office 365

Job description

The Feed Merchandiser Trainee is a developmental role that manages the full commercial cycle of feed ingredients, from sourcing to delivery, serving as the primary point of contact between suppliers, direct-to-consumer customers, and carriers. Success requires moving fluidly between sales, supplier negotiation, and logistics, with the long-term goal of independently managing a full book of relationships .

The Ideal Candidate

• Understands and appreciates the mid-market segment of the cattle feeding industry, with a genuine passion for helping producers get more out of their business
• Self-motivated, assertive decision-maker who takes ownership and proactively works through challenges
• Communicates clearly and provides detailed information across multiple channels (phone, email, in-person)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Build and maintain byproduct feed supplier relationships, sourcing product availability, supporting sales pricing, and negotiating purchase price and terms
• Make sales calls to existing and prospective customers, building relationships and growing new and repeat business
• Negotiate price and margin, and manage sales contract obligations
• Coordinate and dispatch loads between suppliers, carriers, and customers, accurately entering load data and serving as the primary point of contact on logistics questions
• Build carrier relationships and negotiate freight rates to optimize performance, capacity, and cost
• Evaluate route profitability and identify opportunities for improvement

Qualifications & Skills

• Negotiation skills and confidence working with suppliers, customers, and carriers
• Detail-oriented and organized, able to manage multiple shipments and priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365; transportation or logistics experience a plus (preferred, not required)