Hurley & Associates

Status:  Exempt     Regular Hours:  40+ hours/week 

Reports to:   Chief Operating Officer  

Direct Reports:   Local Field Consultants and Office Support Staff 

General Summary of Position 

The Group Leader provides leadership, mentorship, and strategic direction to Farm Marketing Consultants and office staff while promoting Hurley & Associates’ farm marketing services. This role is responsible for driving office growth, strengthening client relationships, expanding market presence, and ensuring the delivery of disciplined risk management services to agricultural producers.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities 

Leadership and Networking 

• Uphold and exemplify Hurley & Associates mission statement to our clients, industry advocates and consultants. 

• Collaborate in developing greater market share as risk management consultants  
• Develop and maintain Advocate network in your office’s geographic area. 
• Communicate with industry, business, and community executives and leaders in the geographic areas that your office(s) cover. 
• Network in a variety of public relations activities in Agricultural community  

• Maintain current knowledge of grain and livestock market trading and impact on client operations  
• Set direction of cash grain marketing decisions with office consultants. 
• Assist consultants in development of marketing plans.   
• Be available to discuss client positions at any time. 

• Maintain strong ability to review and analyze farm financials:  accounting, cash flow, and breakeven reports and/or spreadsheets  
• Build and maintain strong rapport with office employees to maximize potential of all, developing a team in the process. 
• Be available to make prospect and client visits. 
• Mentor, supervise, train, and coach employees of the office on risk management services and tasks related to their position. 
• See that employee Goals Update Meetings occur at minimum once a year. 

Management and Local Compliance 

• Protect and perform within Hurley’s policies and guildelines. 

• Understand Futures market operations, controls, policies and procedures. 
• Ensure that all consultants of the office are in compliance with Hurley’s Marketing Plan 
• Review trades being made by all brokers to ensure proper positions 
• Inform Hedge Desk Group Leader if any compliance concerns arise 
• Monitor quality control indicators for clients via:  cash flows, marketing plan, budgets, overall performance, etc. 

• Ensure Hurley associates conduct business professionally with all clients. 
• Ensure excellent communication with clients. 
• Coordinate overall office activities to see that clients are well cared for. 
• Provide support for Consultants and/or Branch Manager in resolving any client or consultant issues. 
• Deal with customer complaints efficiently and with poise.   

• Hold office planning/update meetings at minimum two times per year. 
• Establish office routines, ground rules and expectations for all employees 
• Insure adequate, regular communication with employees on items pertaining to the office 
• See that the office is well organized and efficient. 

• Assign and oversee mentor relationships. 

Education

• Assist in identifying and providing for the educational needs of employees of the office. 

• Provide client education and/or client appreciation opportunities on a regular basis. 

Scope of Responsibility and Decision Making 

• Research, recruit, interview, and collaborate the hiring of new employees (and/or replacement positions) and interns in accordance with established assessment processes used by Hurley & Associates.   

• Discuss any staff performance issues with corporate to determine appropriate course of action. 
• Selection of mentors to work with interns and new consultants 
• Collaborate compensation adjustments, when needed. 
• Provide input to annual office budget development and review monthly profit & loss statements. 
• Negotiate and maintain contracts with various landlords with corporate oversight 

• Assume responsibility and accountability for decisions, consequences, and results having an impact on people, costs, and/or quality of service within corporate and branch offices 

Required Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:  Competencies 

Management and Local Compliance 

• Futures market operations and rationale 
• Local cash grain market trading, specifics, and impact on client operations  
• Farmer’s environment, operations, and financial risk tolerance 
• Farm finances, accounting, cash flow and break even analysis 
• Marketing knowledge of tools to assist in managing producer risk 

• Customer service, satisfaction, and retention skills 
• Excellent salesmanship, communication, and time management skills 
• Managing, supervising, mentoring, coaching, delegating skills 

Sales and Marketing  

• Networking within the grain industry to develop industry Advocates 
• Presentation skills for public speaking and training programs 
• Ability to inspire people to take action 

People Skills 

• Psychology in working with people and establishing relationships 
• Excellent interpersonal skills 
• Relationship building 

Technical Skill Requirements 

• Futures market 
• Proprietary Hurley & Associates software 
• Microsoft Office Suite 

Confidentiality Requirement 

• Has access to confidential information and, therefore, required to sign a confidentiality agreement 

Educational and Experience Requirements 

• Associates degree with 5 years experience with direct farmer marketing or . . . 
• Bachelor’s degree with 3-5 years experience in grain marketing, cash, or Futures or . . .  

• 4 years of equivalent experience in agri-business and successful track record in sales and management 

Licensing or Certification Requirements 

• Series 3 license for grain brokers required after hire
• Series 30 license for Branch Managers required after hire

Comments: 

Duties and responsibilities of the position may change according to the needs of the company. 

Hurley & Associates, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.