Wean-to-Finish Marketing Specialist

This posting describes a Wean-to-Finish Marketing Specialist role onsite in Rockwell City, IA, focused on site-level hog marketing, identifying ideal market weights and routes, and coordinating loads to maximize pig value and meet system targets.

Responsibilities

• Conduct routine site visits to verify marketing previews, plans, top-weight hog identification, and loading accuracy per ISF protocols.
• Develop and execute strategies to hit marketing and economic goals for the company and geographic area, including production performance, revenue, marketing, and cost-management KPIs.
• Communicate cross functionally to address issues or concerns with other areas of the business.
• Forecast, select, and mark hogs for market.
• Ensure site managers and load crews have the supplies, tools, and facilities needed to load market hogs on schedule.
• Coordinate with the transportation department on load rescheduling to maximize overall average weights and meet targets for standard deviation and coefficient of variation on non-closeout loads.
• Understand ideal market weights and adjust marketing dates through site visits and weighing when necessary.
• Reduce sort loss premiums for individual pigs and loads while maintaining a high share of full-value market hogs to packing plants.
• Develop and implement marketing plans by site, including training in technical production skills, site maintenance, and development of finish supervisors, independent contractors, and ISF direct employees.
• Monitor pig health and coordinate with the Staff Veterinarian and Senior Finishing Supervisor as field conditions evolve.
• Promote and model safe animal handling practices.
• Follow company guidelines for vehicle usage and timely pickup/delivery of supplies.
• Collaborate with supervisors to identify animals requiring timely euthanasia and carry out the euthanasia process per ISF protocols.
• Support strategy development and ongoing process improvement.
• Maintain reliable attendance and readiness to commence work at scheduled start times.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Requirements

• Previous experience in swine production operations is preferred.
• Computer proficiency to run reports, perform data entry, use email, and manage Word and Excel documents; ability to navigate ISF tools site to locate key company documents.

Technologies

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Email

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Purpose of Position

Own the identification of ideal market hogs by site and route in alignment with system weight targets, while reducing weight variation and sort losses and maximizing the percentage of pigs delivered to the primary packer. Propose and implement marketing strategy adjustments at the barn level to meet targets.

Company Values

• Commitment to doing the right thing with character and integrity, and stewardship of animals, people, environment, and community.
• Respect for all individuals, regardless of background, with no one considered more or less important.
• Accountability for responsibilities and commitments, owning performance and outcomes without blaming others.
• Continuous improvement and problem solving through a balance of factual information, analysis, wisdom, and experience.
• Ability to adapt to changing circumstances with confidence, openness, energy, and optimism.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Indirectly supervise employees and contractors, following organizational policies and applicable laws.
• Plan, assign, and direct work for others; coordinate with HR on employee concerns or complaints.
• Administer discipline and termination as needed and in accordance with policy.
• Recognize performance with positive feedback and utilization of company programs.

Work Environment

• Some tasks may occur outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Work areas can be loud with elevated noise levels.
• Exposure to fumes or airborne particles, moving machinery, and vibrations is possible.
• Winter months may bring nuisance levels of gases and dust.

Physicality Requirements

• Regularly stand, walk, sit, and use hands to handle objects; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear.
• Repeat movements such as bending or lifting as part of daily tasks.
• Lift up to 75 pounds; climb ladders and negotiate gates.
• Ability to climb in and out of livestock trailers as short as 48 inches in height.

Position Type / Hours

• Full-time role with a minimum of 40 hours per week.
• Day shift, Monday through Friday; occasional evenings and weekends may be required as duties demand.
• Additional availability may be needed during staffing challenges.

Travel

• Regular travel is required, with reliance on a company vehicle.

Education, Experience and Other Qualifications

• Previous experience in swine production operations is preferred.
• Computer literacy: at least 2 years of experience with reports, data entry, email, Word, and Excel.
• Ability to navigate the company’s documents and resources through designated tools and sites.