Founded in 1969, CGB Enterprises, Inc. is an innovative and progressive leader in the grain and transportation industries, operating over 100 locations and nearly 2,000 U.S. employees. CGB is hiring an Agriculture Operations Trainee in Hennepin, Illinois to gain the business knowledge needed for a management or leadership role within the Grain division, through up to 36 months of classroom, on-the-job, and computer-based training.
About the Company — CGB Enterprises, Inc.
Founded: 1969 — over 55 years of stability and growth
Scale: 100+ locations and nearly 2,000 U.S. employees
Industries: Grain and transportation, serving producers and an international customer base
Reputation: Known for stability, high ethics, and developing well-rounded leaders
Why This Role Matters
Leadership Pipeline: Structured up-to-36-month program building toward a management role in the Grain division
Broad Exposure: Learn origination, operations, trading, hedging, and financial decision-making
Real Responsibility: Direct input on personnel, financial decisions, and daily department operations
Career Stability: Join a growing organization celebrating over 50 years of strength
Position Overview
The central responsibility of the Agriculture Operations Trainee role is to gain the business knowledge necessary for timely and capable decision-making in order to assume a management or leadership role within the Grain division. Training may occur across one or more market locations, with the trainee accepting responsibilities across the business’s functional groups, ultimately demonstrating proficiency in commercial decision-making across a broad range of business functions.
Why This Role Matters: As an Agriculture Operations Trainee at CGB, you build broad-based knowledge of the grain industry through classroom, on-the-job, and self-study training, gain hands-on exposure to origination, risk management, and hedging strategies, and follow a structured path toward a management or leadership role within a 55+ year industry leader.
Key Responsibilities
Business Analysis & Facility Operations
- Regularly review and analyze income statements to understand business achievement
- Leverage facility capabilities while maximizing efficiency and profitability, including staffing, loading, receiving, and storage plans
- Provide recommendations and strategies for business improvement to best utilize hard and soft assets
Grain Origination & Contracts
- Issue and execute cash contracts and grower agreements with a strong understanding of associated risks
- Originate grain to drive profitability, increase sales, and build the customer base
- Independently negotiate price, quality specifications, and delivery details for cash grain and transportation contracts
Risk Management & Market Research
- Develop and implement a strong knowledge of risk positions and available hedging mechanisms
- Perform market research and establish local strategies in origination, operations, and trading
- Communicate market trends and information to regional staff
Leadership & Safety
- Assist in preparing regular forecasts and budgets
- Adopt the company’s safety culture, leading and enforcing the safety program at assigned facilities
- Learn and practice leadership skills, assuming responsibilities during training
Qualifications & Requirements
Educational Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field, or equivalent training and work experience (required)
- Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture or Technical Systems Management preferred
Experience Requirements
- No prior experience required
- Experience leading a group of people preferred
Essential Skills
- Knowledge of grain or bulk materials handling
- Effective interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
- Intermediate computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite
- Leadership, managerial, and conflict management skills
- Willingness to relocate once training is finalized and ready to promote into a new role
Compensation: The expected base pay for this role is $65,000 per year. Actual pay may vary depending on work location, job-related knowledge, skills, and relevant experience.
Benefits & Perks: Outstanding 401(k) with company contributions, medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life, and disability benefits, flexible spending accounts, paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave, wellness programs, recognition programs, and community involvement opportunities.
About CGB Enterprises, Inc.
Founded in 1969, CGB Enterprises, Inc. is known as an innovative and progressive leader in the grain and transportation industries. Today, CGB operates an enterprise with over 100 locations and nearly 2,000 U.S. employees, overseeing a diverse family of businesses that provide services for producers and logistics services for an international base of customers — a growing organization celebrating over 50 years of strength and stability.
Career Excellence: Build a leadership career in the grain industry with one of its most established and stable employers.
Who Should Apply?
- Recent Agriculture Graduates: With a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Technical Systems Management, or a related field
- Aspiring Grain Industry Leaders: Interested in origination, trading, and risk management
- Early-Career Professionals: Willing to relocate after training to step into a management role
- Hands-On Learners: Comfortable with classroom training, on-the-job learning, and self-study projects
- Future Business Leaders: Looking for a structured, multi-year path into grain division management
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