Trading Operations Specialist

As an Engineer in the petrochemical sector, you play a leading role in the design, development and improvement of a plant and you work closely together on the largest projects. Together with a team of experts, you will provide efficient and sustainable solutions that meet the highest standards.

Responsibilities

• For an international energy organisation, we are looking for an Trading Operations Specialist to support physical commodity trading activities.
• This is a hands-on trading operations role, embedded in a trading desk environment, working closely with traders, shipping, finance and credit teams.
• The role requires someone who can operate independently in a fast-paced, commercially driven environment and who has prior experience with physical commodity execution.
• Key Responsibilities: 
• Managing all operational aspects related to the purchase and sale of physical petroleum and energy commodities, in direct support of a trading desk.
• Act as an integral member of the trading desk, supporting traders with operational execution
• Coordinate physical cargo movements and resolve operational issues to minimise demurrage, dead freight and secondary costs
• Work closely with shipping teams on vetting, chartering support, voyage management and demurrage
• Ensure compliance with contractual, documentation and cargo requirements
• Support supply planning, stock progression, forecasting and logistics cost optimisation
• Appoint and coordinate inspectors for quantity and quality assessments
• Interface with loss control, finance and credit teams on operational and commercial matters
• Enter and maintain cargo and trade data in trading systems
• Identify process improvements and operational opportunities that enhance commercial value
• Be available outside standard office hours when operational issues require escalation.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• Proven experience in physical commodity trading operations in Energy environment (Oil, Gas, Petroleum and/or Chemicals)
• Experience working directly with trading desks
• Strong understanding of shipping, demurrage and operational risk
• Experience with scheduling and execution of physical energy commodities
• Strong Excel skills
• Excellent communication skills and numerical literacy
• Ability to work independently in a time-critical, high-pressure environment
• Fluency in English (Dutch is a preference due to the local working environment)
• Location: Amsterdam (office-based)
• Work pattern: 4 days per week on-site in Amsterdam, 1 day remote
• Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week)
• Contract: Temporary assignment until 31 December 2026 (extension possible)

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