Marketing Apprentice - Christensen Farms

Christensen Farms is one of the largest, family-owned pork producers in the United States, marketing approximately 3 million hogs per year. Headquartered in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, the company operates throughout the Midwest with facilities in Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois and South Dakota. Christensen Farms owns four feed mills, manages 145,000 sows on 44 farms, and oversees more than 350 nurseries and grow-finish sites. The company employees nearly 1,000 people and maintains 1,500 contract partnerships.

 The company is vertically integrated with a strong presence across the pork value chain from farm to fork. Christensen Farms is the largest shareholder of Triumph Foods LLC, a producer-owned primary pork processing plant in St. Joseph, Missouri. In turn, Triumph Food members own 50 percent of Daily's Premium Meats, a specialty pork processor of bacon and other premium pork products. Triumph Foods also holds a 50 percent partnership in Seaboard Triumph Foods, LLC of Sioux City, Iowa, a primary pork processing plant.

Position Overview & Responsibilities:

This position will be responsible for maintaining a disciplined approach to meet Christensen Farms' standards at all site locations, ensuring that no standard is compromised. The individual in this role will exhibit an enthusiasm to learn and an interest in the marketing of animals. The Marketing Apprentice will display an eagerness to build knowledge and be willing to put in the effort to develop the needed skills. The individual in this role will effectively communicate concerns, problems and instructions to those directly impacted by any actions or observations. The Marketing Apprentice plays a significant role in the representation of Christensen Farms. This position will play a role as an advocate for the organization, representing not only the Marketing Department, but representing Christensen Farms as an organization. The Marketing Apprentice must work in a manner that demonstrates integrity and shows respect and courtesy to our producers, employees and customers.

Major Areas of Accountability:

• On the job training for the Marketing Manager Role.
• Complete the Christensen Farms Marketing Training Checklist by engaging with all areas of the company.
• Market animals to the standards established by the Margin Manager.
• Responsible for marketing results in your assigned geography.
• Provide input and complete 007 & 749 forms by deadlines set by marketing team.
• Inspect load out facilities and supplies needed for successful load out, intervene if necessary.
• Effectively communicate pertinent information to producers and Independent Contractors.
• Fulfill and enforce all aspects of the Animal Welfare Policy.
• Ensure biosecurity policies are followed.
• Utilize resources available to improve results; those resources include but are not limited to: Training Manager, Regional Marketing Manager, Margin Manager, and the Director of Marketing.
• Possess the knowledge to communicate when things are not within compliance
• Support the Marketing department by communicating accurate information within deadlines to respective departments and teammates.
• Uphold the company image and promote it inside and outside the organization.
• Participate in the execution of key strategies in the Business Plan.

 Education, Training and Experience Requirements:

• Minimum formal education required: Post-secondary education within an agriculture-based major preferred.
• Minimum number of years of prior job experience required: None
• Other Technical Skills required:
  • Must have a result-oriented work ethic, be dependable and have a drive for continuous process improvement.
  • Possess the ability to effectively communicate with a wide variety of individuals, both verbally and in writing.
  • Effectively manage time and priorities in a fast-paced, changing environment.
  • Must have the ability to work within a team-oriented atmosphere.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively build strong working relationships with a variety of people, both internal and external of the organization.

Specialized or Motorized Equipment and/or Tools:

This position will require operating a company vehicle or mileage reimbursement. Any employment offer extended for this position will be contingent upon the review of the candidate's motor vehicle record (MVR). The MVR will be reviewed to determine insurability based on CFF's insurance carrier and company policy.

Vehicle Licensing Requirement: Class D

Christensen Farms is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy to select the most qualified person for each position in the organization. No employee of CF will discriminate against any applicant for employment or a fellow employee because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, citizenship status, genetic information, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, veteran status or any other prohibited basis under applicable local, state, or federal law.