FERTILISER TRADER

Position: Fertilizer Trader - USA Status: Start-Up position within a well-established international company Location: USA (Remote / New Orleans/ California/ New York) About the Role: Our client is not a traditional multinational distribution desk. They are a high-velocity agri-commodities distributor & trader building a transparent, efficient, and scalable fertilizer supply chain for American farmers, cooperatives, and export markets. We are looking for a hungry, hands-on Fertilizer Trader to own the entire P&L for physical and derivative trades. This is not a 9-to-5 desk job. You will negotiate with international producers in the morning, monitor barge or rail unloading at noon, and hedge CBOT or ICE futures by evening. If you need a large support team to operate, this is not for you. If you want to build a desk from scratch and reap the upside, let’s talk. Core Responsibilities:

• End-to-End Trade Execution: Execute bulk physical purchases (Urea, DAP, MOP, NPK, UAN) from global suppliers (Canada, Russia, Morocco, Trinidad, Saudi Arabia) and sell to American agricultural cooperatives (e.g., CHS, Land O’Lakes, Growmark), independent wholesalers, and large farm aggregators across the Corn Belt, Delta, and High Plains.
• Market Intelligence & Hedging: Track global benchmarks (Profercy, CRU, Green Markets), domestic planting seasons, USDA reports, and inland freight differentials (FOB NOLA vs. CFR Midwest). Execute derivative hedges (ICE Futures, CBOT options) to lock in margins against natural gas price volatility and freight fluctuations.
• Supply Chain Ownership: Manage river terminal clearances (NOLA – New Orleans), warehousing, railcar scheduling (BNSF, UP, NS), and last-mile truck dispatch. In a start-up, you will speak directly with barge brokers, warehouse managers, and Class I railroad dispatchers.
• Risk & Compliance: Monitor counterparty credit risk, ensure strict adherence to CFTC regulations on position limits and reporting, manage Letters of Credit (LCs) for imports, and comply with state-level fertilizer registration laws (e.g., AAPFCO standards).
• Relationship Building: Leverage your existing network of international suppliers (Nutrien, Mosaic, CF Industries, OCP) and domestic buyers immediately. We cannot wait 6 months for you to “build” relationships—they must exist.
• Export & Re-export: Manage export of products from US Gulf ports to Central/South America, Europe, or Asia. Must have knowledge of US Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and phytosanitary or customs documentation for re-export.

What You’ll Need (Non-Negotiables)

• Experience: 4–10 years in physical commodity trading (fertilizers) in the US market.
• Start-up or entrepreneurial trading experience is a strong plus.
• Existing Network: Proven, verifiable relationships with at least 2–3 international producers OR large-scale American buyers/cooperatives (e.g., regional grain elevators, cooperatives, or wholesalers).
• Regulatory & Operational Mastery: Deep working knowledge of:
• US fertilizer import & licensing (EPA, TSCA, and state-level AAPFCO rules)
• LC documentation & trade finance (UCP 600)
• US inland logistics: NOLA terminals, river barges (Mississippi/Ohio/Illinois River systems), rail, and truck to farm storage.
• Quantitative Grit: Ability to model freight vs. landed cost vs. domestic realization in real time. Comfort with derivatives (futures/options) on ICE Futures US or CBOT.
• 0–1 Mindset: Willingness to build processes, work with lean teams, and be accountable for the entire trade lifecycle—from contract to collection.
• Language: English is mandatory. Proficiency in Spanish is a strong plus (for supply chain conversations with Latin American buyers or Gulf Coast logistics crews).

Compensation

Philosophy

• Fixed Base: Competitive (commensurate with experience) USD 100 to 120k per annum
• Performance Bonus: Significant upside based on P&L ownership

Why Join Us?

• Legacy corporates give you a desk and a ceiling. We give you ownership and uncapped upside.
• Work directly with the founding team – no bureaucratic layers.
• Build America’s next-gen agri-input supply chain from the ground up, with global reach.

To Apply: Send your resume and a 1-paragraph summary of your largest physical fertilizer trade closed in the last 12 months (volume, product, route, and margin).