Senior Cocoa Derivatives Trader

About the Role

The Cocoa Derivatives Trader serves as a trusted advisor to physical sourcing teams, supporting operations across terminal markets for African, European, and global cocoa flows managed from Zurich. This role is responsible for ensuring that daily risk positions are accurately monitored and remain within established trading limits.

As a co-manager of a proprietary trading book, the trader executes strategies in line with the approved trading mandate and GCRC guidelines. Positioned at the center of all terminal market transactions, the Cocoa Derivatives Trader plays a critical role in building and maintaining strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.

The role involves close collaboration with colleagues across Sales, Product Trading, Cocoa Trading, and Chocolate businesses. As a market expert and thought leader, the trader contributes valuable market insights, partners with the Cocoa Research team to develop analyses, and leverages relationships with brokers, banks, Treasury, and Risk teams to support informed trading decisions and strategic planning.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Execute market trades to hedge price risk accurately and in a timely manner.
• Implement trading strategies in accordance with the approved trading mandate.
• Own and deliver the Trading P&L KPI.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Monitor and control daily positions, including the management of any resulting foreign exchange exposure.
• Develop and execute strategies involving futures, options, and OTC instruments.
• Manage expiring positions, coordinate roll activities with brokers and physical counterparties, and optimize transaction costs.
• Proactively cultivate broker relationships and communicate relevant market intelligence to sourcing teams.
• Identify and escalate regulatory, compliance, and control-related issues as appropriate.
• Monitor and support the technology landscape related to market information, market access, position management, and trading activities.

About You

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Mathematics, or a related field.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in commodities trading, terminal markets, and related market practices.
• Strong mathematical, quantitative, and analytical skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken.
• Strong interest in technology and digital trading environments.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Effective communicator with strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Proactive, detail-oriented, and results-driven mindset.