SENIOR METHANOL TRADER
Location: Geneva, Switzerland - full-time on-site
Start date: 1 October 2026
Contract: Permanent, 100%
ABOUT US
We are a full-cycle biodiesel producer and one of the largest biofuels players in South-East Europe. Our Geneva office serves as the trading arm of a broader industrial and financial group with over 1,300 employees and more than fifteen years of operational experience in the sector.
Our ambition is to evolve from a regional leader to a pan-European champion in biofuels, building a profitable business that is at the forefront of the energy transition. The methanol desk plays a crucial role in this mission, securing the most critical input for our production chain while managing its own trading book.
THE ROLE
We are seeking a Senior Methanol Trader to establish and lead our methanol desk, managing our methanol trading and sourcing strategies across the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp hub and Eastern Europe. You will be responsible for developing and managing a trading portfolio within approved risk limits, sourcing third-party methanol on a spot and term basis, training the supporting operations function, and collaborating with our Origination, Shipping, Operations, Risk, Finance, Legal, and Compliance teams, along with counterparts across the group.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Execute methanol trading and sourcing strategies within the ARA hub and Eastern Europe, including sourcing of third-party methanol on term contracts and spot basis.
- Build, develop, and manage a methanol trading book from the ground up, increasing third-party traded volumes while adhering to approved risk limits.
- Analyse global methanol fundamentals: supply and demand balances, storage, shipping, weather, geopolitical developments, and pricing dynamics.
- Identify arbitrage opportunities across the ARA hub and Eastern Europe.
- Optimize physical cargo movements, including storage tank planning, vessel planning, and freight optimization, in collaboration with Shipping and Operations teams.
- Build and maintain strong commercial relationships with producers, suppliers, utilities, traders, and other market participants.
- Negotiate spot and term methanol purchase and sales agreements, as well as storage contracts in the ARA hub and agreements with surveying companies.
- Work closely with Origination, Shipping, Operations, Risk, Finance, Legal, and Compliance to ensure efficient trade execution.
- Train, mentor, and develop operations and trading support personnel in methanol operations.
- Prepare regular market and performance reviews and present them periodically to senior management and the Board of Directors.
- Monitor market developments and identify new trading and origination opportunities.
- Ensure compliance with internal policies, regulatory requirements, and risk management frameworks.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
Required:
- Demonstrable experience trading physical commodities, primarily methanol, with at least 10 years in a senior trading, PnL, or business development role, including direct PnL responsibility for a methanol book.
- In-depth knowledge of the ARA hub, including its storage tank operators, storage contracts, and logistics, with additional knowledge of Eastern European and Black Sea markets being an asset.
- Solid understanding of physical contract structures (Incoterms, specifications, pricing mechanisms, laytime, and demurrage) and shipping documentation (bills of lading, letters of credit, certificates of origin).
- Ability to operate a trading book within defined risk limits and make decisions under time pressure with incomplete information.
- Strong negotiation skills with a credible network of producers, suppliers, and counterparties in Europe and the Middle East.
- Proven track record of building a methanol trading business for a new market participant and scaling it significantly.
- Fluent in English, both written and spoken.
- Right to work in Switzerland, or eligibility to obtain the necessary permit. The employment is conditional on the grant of any required work permit.
Advantageous:
- Familiarity with the biodiesel value chain, renewable fuels, green methanol, and green/blue ammonia markets, as well as European renewable fuels and net-zero regulations.
- Proficiency in additional languages, particularly French, German, Bulgarian, Russian, or Farsi/Persian.
- University degree in law, economics, finance, engineering, chemistry, or a related field.
- Proficiency with SAP or a comparable ERP and deal-capture system.
- Prior professional experience in Switzerland or with Swiss-based trading companies.
- Experience in consulting, market analysis, or industry training within the oil, gas, and petrochemicals sectors.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Working hours are determined by the desk's needs and average at least 40 hours per week. Due to the nature of the position, overtime is encompassed by the salary and is not compensated separately in cash or time off.
Full-time presence at our Geneva office is required. Working from home may be permitted only with prior management approval, which can be granted or revoked at their discretion.
This role involves significant business travel, both within Switzerland and internationally.
The position also includes standard obligations for a trading role: maintaining strict confidentiality, assigning work results and intellectual property to the Company, obtaining prior written approval for any outside activities or participation in non-listed companies, and immediate disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on any actual or perceived characteristics, including race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, marital status, military status, sexual orientation, or any characteristic protected by applicable law. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment.
HOW TO APPLY
Apply online using the form below. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.