Head of Operations – Commodity Trading

KeyPartners; Genf; On-site; CHF 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

KeyPartners is seeking a Head of Operations to lead a hands-on team responsible for the end-to-end execution of physical commodity trades across multiple markets. You will coordinate traders, counterparties, shipping partners, inspectors, and internal support to ensure smooth delivery and settlement.

The role requires extensive experience in physical commodity trading operations, proven leadership of an operations function, and deep knowledge of logistics, Incoterms, and documentary payment

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of experience in physical commodity trading operations.
• Experience managing an Operations team or coordinating a complex international operations function.
• Strong knowledge of bulk logistics, shipping documentation, Incoterms and commodity trade contracts.
• Good understanding of documentary payment processes and their operational implications.
• Ability to manage competing deadlines, operational risks, claims and discrepancies.
• A practical, organized and collaborative leadership style, with strong attention to detail and sound judgement.

Responsibilities

• Guide the Operations team, balancing workloads and ensuring trades progress from booking through delivery and settlement.
• Coordinate parties involved in each transaction, including traders, counterparties, shipping partners, inspectors and internal support teams.
• Ensure trade terms are translated into execution plans, systems and shipment/payment documents.
• Anticipate and resolve delivery issues, documentation discrepancies, claims and unexpected costs.
• Improve workflows and controls as the company expands into new products and markets.

Skills

Leadership

Trade execution

Logistics coordination

Risk management

Documentation control

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

KeyPartners is supporting a growing commodity trading company with a close-knit team in its search for a Head of Operations.

This is an opportunity for an experienced, hands-on professional to lead a team and oversee the execution of physical commodity trades across multiple markets.

The role

• Guiding the Operations team, balancing workloads and ensuring trades progress smoothly from booking through delivery and settlement.
• Coordinating the parties involved in each transaction, including traders, counterparties, shipping partners, inspectors and internal support teams.
• Checking that trade terms are translated accurately into execution plans, systems and the documents needed for shipment and payment.
• Anticipating and resolving delivery issues, documentation discrepancies, claims and unexpected costs before they affect the wider business.
• Improving workflows and controls as the company develops its activities across new products and markets.

Your profile

• At least 10 years of experience in physical commodity trading operations, with substantial hands-on responsibility for trade execution.
• Proven experience managing an Operations team or coordinating a complex international operations function.
• Strong knowledge of bulk logistics, shipping documentation, Incoterms and commodity trade contracts.
• Good understanding of documentary payment processes and their operational implications.
• Ability to manage competing deadlines, operational risks, claims and discrepancies.
• A practical, organized and collaborative leadership style, with strong attention to detail and sound judgement.
• Fluent English. French and other languages are an advantage.