Description

U.S. Grains Council – South Asia Deputy Director 

International market development organization based in Washington, D.C. is recruiting a regional deputy director for South Asia. The individual in this position will work closely with the South Asia director and other team members to coordinate and execute the Council’s market development programs in the region. This position will be a leader in the planning, execution and evaluation of programs and initiatives in alignment with goals. Successful implementation will promote the export of U.S. corn, barley, sorghum and their co-products in the region. The position is based in New Delhi, India.  

Desired Qualifications

Minimum requirement of a bachelor’s degree with preference for in agricultural economics, economics, management, finance or related field. A minimum of five years’ prior professional experience in international market development, program management is required. Experience required in grain and/or ethanol trade or marketing, international ag trade policy or feed and livestock sector. The ideal candidate will be detail oriented and able to multi-task in a fast-paced environment as well as willing and available to travel.

If you are interested in the position, please submit a letter of interest and a resume by COB on Friday, November 21, 2025 to employment@grains.org. Your letter of interest should reflect your understanding of our regional operations, your vision for the future and how your contributions will drive our success. 

The U.S. Grains Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  It does not discriminate in the terms and conditions of employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other factor prohibited by law.

As a participant in USDA programs, we share the commitment to comply with all federal, state and local civil rights laws and those of the USDA.  More about this commitment is found here, https://www.usda.gov/non-discrimination-statement  

Job Description

Deputy Director – South Asia

Purpose: The U.S. Grains and BioProducts Council Deputy Director in India works closely with the Regional Director to plan, coordinate, and execute the Council’s programs in India and South Asia, including, but not limited to, marketing, trade servicing, and government relations programs. The Deputy Director takes leadership in supervising Council programs in South Asia as outlined in the UES.  In addition, they are responsible for traveling throughout the region to meet with buyers of U.S. feed grains, ethanol, and coproducts.  The Deputy Director takes the lead in programs such as the Council’s ongoing starch, storage, and feed milling programs, as well as developing the regional marketing program.

The Deputy Director supports the Regional Director based on manpower and programmatic needs as determined by the Regional Director.

Responsibilities:

1.     At the direction of the Regional Director formulate a strong strategic plan for increasing sales of corn, barley, sorghum and their co-products in the region.

2.     In collaboration with the Regional Director and headquarters to develop key contacts in the ethanol industry and assess opportunities for U.S. ethanol exports into the region.

3.     Support the Regional Director in developing and implementing a strategy and plan to identify and address all relevant trade, technical and policy-related factors relevant to building and maintaining the market for U.S. feed grains and co-products in the region.  This includes addressing tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade and identifying new opportunities to build market presence.

4.     Assist the Regional Director with maintaining a constructive relationship and useful dialogue with key national-level stakeholders throughout the region, including government agencies and industry associations. Duties will include developing and maintaining relationships with counterparts in these institutions and helping to set up meetings and facilitate communication on joint endeavors.

5.     Work with the Regional Director to develop a comprehensive and regular program of market information reporting for members and stakeholders in the United States. The information will cover production and import updates, as well as demand analysis, including livestock markets and industrial grain demand.

6.     Work with the Regional Director to assess and evaluate the impact of trade servicing and government relations programs in the Region’s importation of U.S. grains, ethanol, and coproducts, and develop a program for improvements.

7.     Meet with delegations of stakeholders traveling to the region and provide briefings related to market, trade and policy developments in the Region.

8.     Assist the Regional Director with capacity building and implementing programs in the region. Specific programming needs include corn starch, grain storage, bulk handling, feed milling, dairy feed and husbandry training center, ethanol marketing, feeding trials and grain marketing programs in the region.

9.     Assist the Regional Director with commercial programming designed to open the Indian market for U.S. corn, sorghum, barley and coproducts.

10.  Assist the Regional Director with market expansion programming in Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

11.  Assist the Regional Director with programs, including strategic analysis; program planning; implementation and evaluation; budget and accounting; personnel; administration and communications.

12.  Assist the Regional Director with assuring compliance of all regional office activities with Council, U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. State Department regulations, policies and procedures.

13.  Ensure effective communication between the India office and headquarters, membership and the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) personnel throughout the region.

14.  Ensure program and policy coordination between USGBC/India and USGBC/Washington.

15.  Other duties may be assigned to meet business needs.

Education/Experience Required:

1.     Bachelor's or equivalent college degree in agricultural economics, economics, management, finance, or related field.

2.     Five years’ minimum professional experience.

3.     Experience required in grain and/or ethanol trade or marketing, international ag trade policy, or feed and livestock sector.

4.     Experience and skill in working with employees of differing cultural backgrounds.

5.     Strong oral and written communication skills.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

1.     Proficiency in MS Office Suite and SharePoint, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Office, is required.

2.     Ability to work independently in an international multi-cultural environment is required.

3.     Ability to always represent the Council in a professional manner.

4.     Ability to build trusting, long-term relationships with key contacts and stakeholders.

5.     Willingness to travel throughout the South Asia Region and the United States extensively, as well as other international locations.

This job description may include most, but not all, duties that fall under the position.  It is not intended to contain all responsibilities, education, or skills.  From time to time, this job description will change, and employees will be asked to perform tasks outside of their area of responsibility.

The U.S. Grains and BioProducts Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  The U.S. Grains and BioProducts Council does not discriminate based on race, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital/family status. 

Updated: November 6, 2025