Role Overview
We have a unique and exciting opportunity for an experienced Senior Coffee Trader to join our trading team, ideally in Santos, to work in a truly global environment to manage and actively develop one of our key trading books.
Suitable candidates will need a thorough understanding of running a physical trading book by developing and executing sophisticated and strategic trading positions. The role requires a minimum of 5 years of work experience in a senior trading role, the ability to communicate well, and the enthusiasm to work within a dynamic trading environment is essential.
Business Overview
Volcafe Ltd is one of the world’s leading international green coffee trading companies, operating in over 20 countries globally. Our expertise spans green coffee procurement and preparation, sustainability, blending, quality control, risk management, and export as well as importing and distribution. We supply the world’s major coffee roasters and retail distributors with their green coffee requirements, with significant strategic growth ambitions for the future.
Volcafe works across the whole green coffee supply chain, to make coffee business better, together with our partners and employees. We have built and operate sustainable coffee supply chains across all our origins, addressing key economic, social, and environmental issues in coffee farming communities. Our program engages with thousands of coffee farmers and provides a holistic response to the challenges they face.
Key Accountabilities
You will focus on managing our Brazilian physical trading and be responsible for developing and rolling out physical trading strategies. You will need to maintain strong relationships throughout the industry, to manage our trading book exposure on a daily and monthly basis. Close collaboration with internal stakeholders is a must, as well as the eagerness to constantly seek trading opportunities.
- Manage and grow our Brazilian Arabica trading book, as well as our market and forex hedges and market structure positions for spot and forward business.
- Roll out a physical coffee basis trading strategy based on global supply and demand balance sheet developments, working closely with the General Manager and our Trade Director in the development and execution of the trading strategy including sales and business development with prospective clients.
- Maintain close contacts with assigned key roasters developing strong working relationships through high-quality engagement and regular visits.
- Develop strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to collaboratively design and execute groupwide strategies that contribute to the overall group return.
- Contract negotiations with both suppliers and customers; agreeing quality, volumes, delivery terms, prices and other specification and ensuring adequate execution of the overall cash cycle.
- Competently manage any challenges or issues within the supply, working proactively with partners to identify and execute the best solutions.
- Proactively manage any quality issues through close working relationships with suppliers and customers.
- Travel to roaster clients when and if required and handle customers’ visits at origin.
- Develop good external networks, to ensure the team is aware of industry developments and news as well as participation in key industry events.
- Manage and report counterparty risk associated with contracts including in-depth understanding of suppliers and customer market risk.
- Work closely with quality to ensure the R&D of new products and blends for both internal and export market.
- Contribute to the running of and development of the strategy for our proprietary book.
- Actively contribute to the design of our trading systems, processes and technology.
- Complement and add to the skill set of the existing team in VOLCAFE Brazil
Skills and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in international trade, economics, or related field.
- A minimum of 5 years’ experience within the commodity industry.
- Strong track record of running profitable trading books.
- Entrepreneurial mindset with a strong eagerness to take on trading positions.
- Good relationship builder with both customers as well as suppliers.
- Must have the ability to adapt to the dynamic trading environment and take a proactive approach to managing tasks and completing priorities.
- Must be diligent and have a strong attention to detail.
- Must have good numeracy and communication skills.
- Desire and ability to build relationships, manage conflict and a good track record in managing interactions well with a team.
- Fully proficient in English and Portuguese is essential; other languages that enhance the ability to trade coffee are very desirable.
- Committed team player who is willing to be flexible and assist with a whole range of tasks to support colleagues and the delivery of a common strategic goal.
As an ever-friendly reminder: Researchers have found that men apply to roles when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Women and other underrepresented groups tend to apply only when they check every box. If you are interested, but don’t feel like you meet every single point on the job description, please still apply!
Our Offer
We provide a fast-paced, stimulating and truly global environment, which will stretch your abilities and channel your talents. We also offer competitive salary and benefits combined with outstanding career development opportunities in one of the global leaders in soft commodity trading.
Our Values
Respect, Integrity, Meritocracy, Client Focus, Entrepreneurship
Our values define who we are. They are the fundamental beliefs that determine our actions and guide our behaviour. They influence the way we communicate and collaborate, and define the way we engage with our clients, partners, and communities. Our values are underpinned by a set of essential behaviours, which form part of our performance management approach. Delivering on our objectives is very much about ‘what’ we do, but these essential behaviours also provide a guide and measure for ‘how’ we do things. Our performance essentials are Take Initiative, Self‐Management, Deliver Results and Collaboration.
Our Commitment
We are committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive and diverse work environment where all employees are treated with dignity and respect. We are committed to promoting equal opportunities in employment and are focussed on actively building and developing diverse teams. All qualified applicants will receive equal treatment without regard to race, colour, sex, gender, age, religion or belief, ethnic or national origin, marital or civil partner status, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender reassignment (identity, gender expression), genetic information or any characteristic protected by local law.
