Futures Coordinator

Lumbermens Merchandising Corporation; Wayne (PA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Lumbermens Merchandising Corporation in Wayne, PA seeks a Futures Coordinator to design and deliver hedging strategies for lumber futures. You will organize trades, negotiate with approved brokers, and coordinate activities with purchasing and finance teams to support the organization’s objectives.

You will provide market insights, maintain broker relationships, secure best prices, and lead training on futures markets and hedging tools, while coordinating with vendors and stockholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related field or equivalent work experience required.
• Series 30 brokerage license or equivalent certification is preferred.
• 5+ years related experience, preferably in the lumber industry.
• 2+ years of purchasing, or sales experience, preferably in the LBM industry.
• Comprehensive knowledge of lumber markets; lumber futures and other related futures/derivatives markets.
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate with internal and external contacts.
• Comprehensive knowledge of computer programs including Excel, Word and general processing systems used by LMC and Stockholders.
• Ability to develop, prepare and present seminars and training programs.
• Excellent customer service focus and skill set.

Responsibilities

• Provides current and complete information regarding prevailing market conditions and prices to designated personnel.
• Interacts and maintains relationships with futures brokers.
• Provides quotation and purchases product at best prices, balancing stockholders’ interests.
• Acts as central contact with vendors for quotation, purchase, and delivery.
• Resolves product claims in a timely and equitable fashion.
• Coordinates claim resolution with purchasing and accounting staff.
• Prepares and delivers training seminars and webinars on lumber futures and hedging.
• Plans and implements regular vendor and Stockholder contact.
• Participates in development, execution, and administration of futures contracts, speculative buying, and hedging programs.
• Maintains records of inquiries, orders, brokerage reports, and related information.

Skills

Market analysis

Negotiation

Trading

Communication

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related field

Series 30 brokerage license or equivalent certification

Tools

Excel

Word

Job description

The Futures Coordinator develops and delivers comprehensive forest product hedging strategies that support the organization's objectives. This role is responsible for organizing and executing trades, negotiating with approved brokerage firms, and coordinating futures-related activities with purchasing and finance staff.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides current and complete information regarding prevailing market conditions, trend prices, and all other product related information to designated dealer’s personnel and LMC staff.
• Interacts and maintains relationships with current and potential futures brokers.
• Provides quotation and purchases product at the best available prices in the marketplace, balancing the Stockholder’s best interest in both transactional and strategic time frames.
• Acts as the central point of contact with vendors relative to the quotation, purchase, and delivery of products to the Stockholders.
• Resolves product claims to an equitable conclusion for all parties concerned in a timely and effective fashion.
• Coordinates claim resolution with appropriate purchasing and accounting staff members.
• Communicates updates on the lumber futures market to staff and designated Stockholders on a regular and ongoing basis.
• Prepares and delivers training seminars and webinars to employees and Stockholders to educate them on the lumber futures market and hedging strategies.
• Plans and implements regular programs of telephone contact and personal visits with the LMC Stockholder.
• Plans and implements regularly scheduled telephone contact and personal visits with vendors.
• Participates actively in development, execution, and administration of futures contracts, speculative buying and other programs as assigned.
• Assists with providing services to dealers, marketing, purchases of non-assigned products and other functions during peak business periods and during department manpower shortages.
• Prepares market analysis and/or other reports, containing timely, pertinent and meaningful information, including, but not limited to bulletins, market offerings and lumber futures market reports.
• Supports Futures Programs, which include: Forward Pricing, Lumber Basis Trading, Options Contracts, Swaps and other hedging tools approved for use by the organization.
• Maintains accurate and complete records and files of all inquiries, requests, orders, brokerage reports, and other associated information pertaining to lumber futures hedging.
• Applies sound and effective negotiating and purchasing techniques.
• Identifies new vendor sources, improve existing relationships with vendors, and eliminate those sources not meeting standards of quality, service, dependability, reliability, integrity, and performance.
• Performs the role of a trader, occasionally, actively purchasing and selling products and materials.
• Performs other duties as required and/or assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related field or equivalent work experience required.
• Series 30 brokerage license or equivalent certification is preferred.
• 5+ years related experience, preferably in the lumber industry.
• 2+ years of purchasing, or sales experience, preferably in the LBM industry.
• Comprehensive knowledge of lumber markets; lumber futures and other related futures/derivatives markets.
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate with internal and external contacts, both in writing and verbally.
• Comprehensive knowledge of computer programs including Excel, Word and general processing systems used by LMC and Stockholders.
• Ability to develop, prepare and present seminars and training programs.
• Excellent customer service focus and skill set.
• Excellent leadership capabilities embodying mentoring, role modeling, coaching, and skill development
• Comprehensive knowledge of the co-op business and lumber/lumber yard industries is preferred.