President & CEO - Legacy Farmers Cooperative - Findlay, OH

Legacy Farmers Cooperative FS is a locally owned farmers’ cooperative serving agricultural producers and communities throughout northwest Ohio. Headquartered in Findlay, Ohio, Legacy serves Allen, Defiance, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca, Wood, and Wyandot counties. Our team of more than 140 employees brings commitment, service, and expertise to meeting the needs of our members and customers.

Legacy operates four divisions consisting of Grain, Agronomy, Petroleum, and Legacy Country Corner.

Grain : (Grain Handling and Grain Marketing) Storage capacity of over 20 million bushels with 4 train loading grain terminals and 4 harvest operated facilities

Agronomy: (Seed, Crop Protection Products, Fertilizer, Precision Ag, Dry Fertilizer Custom Application, Liquid Custom Application, Custom Seed Treatment, Crop Scouting, Nutrient Management Plans) 5 Full-Service Agronomy locations, 1 fertilizer distribution facility, and 1 seed distribution facility.

Petroleum: (Liquid Fuel, Oil, and DEF delivery, fuel stations, Fuel Equipment) 2 fuel stations, bulk tanker and tank wagon truck delivery routes.

Country Corner Retail Store: (Feed, Lawn, Pet, and Farm/Home products & supplies)

Legacy Farmers Cooperative FS serves over 2000 members and generates over $300 million in sales annually.

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY STATEMENT

Under the direction of the Board of Directors, the President & CEO is responsible for providing strategic leadership, overall vision, and oversight of the cooperative's business operations, employees, equipment, and facilities. Has overall responsibility for the financial health, well-being, image, and profitable growth of the organization’s grain operations, agronomy operations, energy operations, feed business, and other products and services offered by the cooperative, consistent with policies and practices adopted by the Board.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Leads the management team in developing, formulating, and administering the cooperative's strategic plans, including strategies, policies, and tactics required to achieve short- and long-term objectives. 

Annually works with the Board of Directors to establish fiscal year goals aligned with the overall strategic plan.

Creates an overall strategic plan for the FS member division’s business operations to ensure overall alignment with organization-wide strategies and business objectives. Makes recommendations to the board of directors to ensure support and operational needs are met, and resources are allocated as efficiently as possible . 

Provides strategic direction and oversight of management team for grain merchandising, retail agronomy, energy, feed, and retail store operations.

Makes recommendations to the Board to ensure operational needs are met, and resources are allocated efficiently. Provides timely reporting on financial, operational, personnel, grain risk, marketing, and strategic matters.

Builds organizational talent through effective recruitment, training, performance management, retention, leadership development, and succession planning. Leads employees through accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Manages operations with an emphasis on safety, customer service, profitability, productivity, and continuous improvement. Uses reporting and metrics to measure performance and drive corrective action.

Develops annual operating and capital budgets, communicates results, and secures Board approval for transactions requiring its authority.

Assesses financial needs and maintains appropriate financial reporting, internal controls, working capital, inventory accountability, and asset stewardship.

Ensures compliance with governing documents, company policies, contractual requirements, and applicable regulatory agencies. Promotes a strong culture of safety, ethics, environmental stewardship, and regulatory compliance throughout all business operations.

Strengthens relationships with customers, producers, employees, industry partners, lenders, and community leaders. Represents the organization professionally and advances the cooperative way of doing business.

OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS

Maintains awareness of agricultural, commodity, regulatory, economic, and competitive trends affecting grain and the broader business portfolio.

Responsible for achieving a professional image and the cooperative way of doing business among patrons, stockholders, and the general public.

Oversees the implementation of training and education programs for all employees.

Performs other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS

Education and Experience

Normally requires a college degree, advanced degree, and/or equivalent experience in agricultural business, grain, cooperative management, finance, or a related field, with significant progressive leadership and management experience.

Demonstrated knowledge of cooperative marketing, operations, and finance, with substantial leadership experience in grain merchandising, origination, operations, accounting, risk management, and capital planning. Experience with agronomy, energy, feed, or diversified agricultural retail operations is preferred.

Functional Competencies

Understanding and experience in management-related areas, including strategic thinking, leadership and decision-making; financial performance; organizational analysis and structure; managing change; motivation; policies and procedures; compliance; strategic planning; budgeting; and communications. 

Demonstrated ability to develop and strengthen partnerships, assess business opportunities, and negotiate appropriate agreements with others inside and outside of the organization. Proven management and leadership skills including staffing, orientation, coaching, performance evaluations, training, and development, etc., and the ability to achieve results through others.

Proven professional management communication, interpersonal, persuasion, and presentation skills.

Proven organization and planning skills, including imparting vision, strategic thinking and planning, and being results-oriented. 

Demonstrated problem-solving skills including problem analysis, evaluation, and implementation of solutions.

Proven computer skills and the ability to use the computer to enhance business processes.

Other Requirements

Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license and be able to travel independently and overnight when necessary.

We are an equal opportunity/Disabled/Protected Veteran Employer. All individuals, regardless of demographic or other background, are encouraged to apply. Further, as a federal, state, and local contractor, we comply with government regulations and executive orders as applicable, including affirmative action responsibilities for qualified individuals with disability and protected veterans.

Employment is contingent on, among other things, receipt of an acceptable and job-related background check, drug test, motor vehicle report, and/or reference check, as applicable and permissible by law.