Responsibilities

• Provide advice and counsel to the board and is directly accountable for executing the board’s policy direction.
• With the board, collaboratively establish business direction that supports cooperative strategy, operating and budget plans, growth strategies and action plans to lead Wilco Cooperative into the future.
• Provide overall leadership and direction to the cooperative’s marketing and business development, customer service, finance and accounting and internal control operations.
• Determine the overall organizational and delivery system structure and staffing, ensuring the cooperative hires, develops and motivates a highly competent and professional staff.
• Facilitate management development and succession, proactively making necessary adjustments to maintain effective and efficient operation.
• Direct the development and implementation of necessary local operating policies, procedures and programs and management systems, controls and standards to effectively carry out the cooperative’s objectives.
• Ensure the adequacy and soundness of the cooperative’s financial structure, including risk management, competitiveness of its products and services and responsiveness to all customers’ needs.
• Serve as the principal spokesperson for the cooperative to ensure that its corporate values and objectives are effectively communicated to all stakeholders.
• Collaboratively facilitate regular (annual) strategic and long-term planning session with the board.
• Protect cooperative Information Systems and the Information Assets contained in those systems including customer information and cooperative financial information from unauthorized access.
• Protect the cooperative’s physical assets including buildings, documents, and equipment from unauthorized access or harm.
• Regular financial reporting to the board.
• Serve as an ambassador for the agriculture community.
• Other duties as required.

Special Skills & Training

• Strong commitment and adherence to personal values that align with Wilco’s Core Values.
• 10+ years of successful experience in senior leadership, preferably in a cooperative organization of similar size and complexity, preferably with leadership in one or all of Wilco’s key business units: Agronomy, Bulk Petroleum, Food Processing and Farm Stores.
• Superior team building and talent development skills.
• Exceptional communication skills and leadership skills.
• Strong analysis, judgment and strategic thinking.
• Effective business planning, project management, problem solving, negotiation skills, and financial analysis.
• Excellent communication and strong collaboration skills.
• Proven leader who can influence and inspire team members
• Advanced knowledge and demonstrated experience in the agriculture sector with experience in strategy development and execution.
• Experience with hazelnut processing and marketing a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Agronomy, Agricultural Economics or related field. Advanced education preferred or certificate from a business or graduate school.
• Ability to frame and implement change.
• Superior intellect; analytical and detail-oriented; deals with concepts and complexity comfortably; described as intellectually sharp, capable and agile.
• Self-confident and emotionally intelligent.
• High energy, hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves attitude.
• Strong sense of accountability and work ethic.
• Well-developed written and verbal communications skills.
• Impeccable personal and professional integrity
• Effective negotiation and conflict management skills with ability to interact both internally and externally.

Physical Requirements

• Most of the time is spent sitting in a comfortable position and there is frequent opportunity to move about. On rare occasions there may be a need to move or lift light articles.
• Located in a comfortable indoor area. Any unpleasant conditions would be infrequent and not objectionable.
• Typically requires overnight travel 20% of the time.

Remote Eligible

Last updated: May 14, 2025 @ 16:07:58