Role Overview

We have an exciting opportunity for someone to join our trading team in Winterthur, Switzerland as a Senior Arabica Trader  to work in a truly global environment to manage one of our key trading books and profit centres.

Suitable candidates will need a thorough understanding of running a physical trading book by developing and executing strategic trading positions. The role requires a minimum of 5 years’ work experience in a senior trading role, the ability to communicate well and the enthusiasm to work within a dynamic trading environment is essential.

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. We are part of ED&F Man Commodities, a world leading trader of agricultural products including coffee, sugar, molasses and animal feed.

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 Volcafe Way farmer support programme engages with thousands of coffee farmers and provides a holistic response to the challenges they face.

Key Accountabilities

You will focus on managing one for our American Arabicas trading books 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, and to report PNL on both a daily and monthly basis. Close collaboration with internal stakeholders is a must, as well as eagerness to constantly seek trading opportunities. The role requires a strong ability to adapt as regulatory development (EUDR) will create trading opportunities for the most proactive players in the industry.

• Manage and grow the trading book and profit centre on behalf of the Swiss office, becoming a market maker for both our key customers as well as our sales offices around the globe.
• Roll out a physical coffee trading strategy based on global supply and demand balance sheet developments.
• 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 in origin in support of a competitive sourcing strategy and to take on additional sourcing origin destinations where opportunities arise.
• Contract negotiations with both suppliers and customers; agreeing quality, volumes, delivery terms, prices and other specifications.
• Competently manage any challenges or issues within the supply, working proactively with partners to identify and execution the best solutions.
• Proactively manage any quality issues through close working relationship with suppliers and customers.
• Travel to origin countries and/or roaster clients when and if required.
• Develop good external networks, to ensure the team are 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 customer and market risk.
• Prepare monthly performance reports (BE) for the predefined region.
• Complement and add to the skill set of the existing team in VOLCAFE Switzerland.

Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in international trade, economics, or related field.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in a Senior trading role 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 sourcing origins.
• Must have the ability to adapt to the dynamic trading environment and takes 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.
• Fully proficient in English essential; Spanish and/or Portuguese speaking is desirable.
• Committed team player who is willing to be flexible and assist with a whole range of tasks to support colleagues.

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

Volcafe shares the values of our parent company, ED&F Man Commodities. 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 Commitment

Volcafe shares the commitment of our parent company, ED&F Man Commodities. 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.

We are willing to make any reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process.