Why the Hemp Sector May be Your Next Career Step

The industrial hemp market is rapidly transforming into a national commodity.  This progression got a little bit clearer with the recent release of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s  (USDA) draft rules. These not only provided more guidance for farmers, processors and buyers working in this growing industry but may also mean a significant new range of diverse job opportunities for senior executives right through to technologists and laborers.

Almost a year after the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized the cultivation of hemp for sale and distribution and categorized it as an agricultural product, the USDA’s October proposals laid out where and how hemp can be grown as well as the essential THC testing standards for plants. We covered this extensively in PanXchange’s October 2019 Hemp Report.

One by-product of hemp’s legalization and its moves towards commoditization and regulatory certainty is the creation of new jobs across a wide swath of specialties, education levels, and salary ranges.

According to the National Hemp Association, the burgeoning industry will create job opportunities for everyone from highly skilled managers to machinists and laborers. For instance, earlier this year cannabis and hemp recruitment company HempStaff told CNBC that its hemp jobs had doubled over the past year and in May 2019 represented 16% of its recruiting business.

While agricultural, processing and manufacturing roles are an obvious area of growth, the sector will also need lawyers, accountants, researchers, financial experts and technologists. This is something we at PanXchange—an OTC physical commodity exchange and pricing facility for a wide range of products that feeds, fuels and maybe soon even clothe the world—are keenly aware of as we look to further build staffing pipeline for our rapidly growing hemp markets business.

With the tremendous growth we’ve seen following the launch of our hemp price reporting facility in January followed by the launch of the industry’s first institutional-grade industrial hemp exchange in August, PanXchange now has a number of opportunities at various experience levels.

For example, we are looking to hire a Vice President of Operations and Data. This position will work Working closely with the CEO on strategy, special projects and performance management, the VP will assist the business development and tech teams as they lay the foundation for rapid international commercialization.

Also at the senior level is an open position for a Commodity Merchandiser- Regional Manager to work out of our Denver headquarters. The right candidate would ideally have three years’ experience in physical agricultural trading, logistics or software sales, as well as an in-depth understanding of supply and demand fundamentals and their effects on physical commodity flows.

On the technology side, PanXchange would love to hear from junior web developers, and any full-stack engineers wanting the breadth of experience and marketable career path that working in the commodities industry provides. Finally, we are always on the lookout for energetic and bright young folks just starting their careers—currently, we have an opening for an entry-level Business Development Representative and a Commodity Market Research and Data Management Intern.

PanXchange is a fast-growing company with an exciting work environment. We have a team of dynamic, independent thinkers who work hard and play hard. You will not have a micromanager as a boss, so self-starters who take initiative to get things done are the best fit. What’s most exciting for many is the opportunity to drive your career path—managing teams, exploring new markets, geographies, etc.—that a company our size offers.

So join us as we work with producers, processors, trade houses and end-users to further create a transparent and efficient cash market for this exciting new commodity. The possibilities are limitless!