Agriculture Career of the Month:
IT Business Analyst

For more than a century, the people of Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) have transformed crops into products that serve vital needs. Today, 30,000 ADM employees around the globe convert oilseeds, corn, wheat and cocoa into products for food, animal feed, industrial and energy uses. With more than 265 processing plants, 400 crop procurement facilities, and the world’s premier crop transportation network, ADM helps connect the harvest to the home in more than 160 countries. For more information about ADM and its products, visit www.adm.com.

This month, we take a look at the work and career path of a Business Analyst in the Information Technology (IT) department.

What's the Job Description?
As an entry-level position in the IT department, a business analyst works on a wide array of technology projects. You'll be conducting system analysis and looking for ways to improve performance.

Business analysts will write detailed specifications and test plans for system enhancements, test those enhancements and document the results, and work on implementing new functionality and training support staff.

How Much Can I Make?
ADM pays competitively based upon industry standards, the responsibilities of the job, as well as the candidates’ experience.

What's the Career Path Like?
We spoke with a current IT Manager about his career path who let us know how he got to where he is: "Upon being hired with ADM I first worked as an installer -- setting up computers, printers [and] network equipment and running cables. I then worked in the help desk area for a few years before moving to software support.

"Eventually, that [became] a supervisor position and then a manager position. I used each position as an opportunity to expand my knowledge and learn more about the business. Along the way I had great mentors that helped me move to the next level, and it is my hope that I can return the favor to my team employees."

What Are the Job Requirements?
To get started in the ADM IT department as a Business Analyst, you'll need a bachelor's degree in a related field, or six years of relevant work experience.

Find out more about working at ADM.

Previous Agriculture Careers of the Month:
September 2011: Commodity Merchandiser
October 2011: Chemical Engineer
November 2011: Research and Development Scientist
December 2011: Human Resources Management
January 2012: Electrical Engineer
February 2012: Grain Terminal Operations Manager
March 2012: Structural Engineer
April 2012: Accountant