Dispatch Specialist - GROWMARK, Inc- Bloomington, IL

GROWMARK is an agricultural cooperative serving almost 400,000 customers across North America, providing agronomy, energy, facility engineering and construction, and logistics products and services, as well as grain marketing and risk management services. Headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois, GROWMARK owns the FS trademark, which is used by its member cooperatives. GROWMARK also owns and operates SEEDWAY, the largest full-line seed company in the United States. More information is available at growmark.com.

See what it's like to work at GROWMARK: https://youtu.be/CSVMnKCySsY

Hours: 11:00 AM - 7:15 PM, Monday - Friday

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY STATEMENT

Maintains information on customer orders, product prices, product cost, and selects the best-priced product/freight combination for member cooperatives and tenders to carriers and/or schedules deliveries in a manner that meets customer requirements while minimizing overall GROWMARK costs.

Provides service solutions to all customers both internal and external. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Serves as GROWMARK's primary dispatch customer service representative for assigned member cooperatives including responsibility for liquid fuel/propane order entry. 

Tenders orders to carriers in accordance with procedures to maximize recovery. Responsible for communicating to the member cooperative when a specific “Time or Terminal” option is the only option available to meet their needs. 

Monitors Energy product prices, costs, and availability. Identifies orders affected, re-prices, and re-sources them to reduce overall member cooperative / GROWMARK cost.

Assumes an inventory manager’s role for specifically assigned member cooperative sites that are enrolled in consignment or auto-replenishment programs.  

Responsibilities for NH3 / UAN/ DRY products:

• order entry and communication to member cooperatives when delivery requests can not be met from sources selected and provide them with all possible delivery options, 
• contacting loading terminals, working with the terminal operators regarding hours of operation, and communicating loading hours to customers and carriers in an effort to maintain member cooperative service levels, and 
• utilizing carriers to maximize the number of night fill and early morning deliveries.

Responsible for freight brokerage as assigned.

Monitors carrier progress at fulfilling customer requirements via monthly quality calls and daily contact with customers and carriers. 

Audits carrier bills by comparing carrier miles and rates to GROWMARK miles and the carriers’ freight rate tables and/or contracts. Monitors demurrage costs to ensure customers are invoiced for the proper amounts.

Supports sales by working with product divisions, Fleet Operation Managers, and Manager, Brokerage Sales and Marketing.

ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS FOR THOSE WITH BROKERAGE OPERATIONS RESPONSIBILITIES

Finds qualified carriers to handle brokered freight and negotiate freight rates that allow GROWMARK to generate an acceptable profit margin.

Receives and maintains data for member cooperatives and non-member brokerage customer orders.

Ensures that a signed carrier contract and insurance certificate showing adequate coverage are on file before the carrier is used to haul a load of freight.

OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS

Maintains terminal vendor loading instructions and other pertinent terminal loading information.

Responsible for working with the Fleet Operations Managers and Manager, Brokerage Sales & Marketing to approve or disapprove reconciled freight charges.

Follows GROWMARK’s Code of Conduct and Corporate Compliance Program, Environmental Health and Safety, OSHA and DOT policies and procedures, as they apply.

Performs all other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS

Normally requires a college degree in transportation or equivalent thereof and at least 2 years related experience to demonstrate transportation and dispatching knowledge.

Demonstrates essential abilities including business knowledge, collaboration, communication, customer focus, decision making, and skill development.

Proven professional communication, persuasion, and customer service skills.

Demonstrated planning, organization, problem-solving skills, and the ability to coordinate extreme peak demands and time pressures.

Proven ability to work independently and in a team-oriented environment. 

Ability to work extended hours and weekends, as demand requires.

Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license and satisfactory driving record.

Ability and willingness to participate in required training that may include education on GROWMARK’s policies and procedures and additional training as it relates to the requirements of the position.

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We are an equal opportunity employer, including protected veterans and qualified individuals with disabilities. Employment may be contingent upon receipt of an acceptable and job-related background check, drug test, motor vehicle report, and/or reference check, as applicable and permissible by law.