The business is an agricultural co-operative, constituted under the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts, and operates under Rules approved by the Registrar of Friendly Societies (now the Financial Services Authority).  Highland Grain is also affiliated to SAOS Ltd  (Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society Ltd), the co-operative umbrella organisation for Scotland.

The members of Highland Grain elect a Board of Directors from within its membership to formulate policy and to run the organisation.  The Board must be a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 10 and the current number of Directors is 8.  Each director must stand down after 3 consecutive years as a director but can make him/herself available for re-election.  A Director can only serve for 3 consecutive terms of three years, after which he/she must stand down for at least one year.

The Board delegates day-to-day running of the business to a Chief Executive Officer, who reports directly to the Chairman or Vice-Chairman.

Chairmen of the organisations have been as follows:-