Steel Trader

Cititec; Zürich; On-site; CHF 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Cititec in Zurich is seeking an experienced Steel Trader to develop and grow physical steel trading across European and international markets. The role focuses on physical steel, not paper trading, with ownership of the trading book and end-to-end execution from sourcing to delivery.

You will build an expert understanding of the steel supply chain, identify opportunities, negotiate contracts and structure trades that generate real margins.

Qualifications

• Experience in physical ferrous markets and established networks across mills, stockholders and traders.
• Strong understanding of European steel markets, price formation and commercial margins.
• Ability to develop and close physical trades from idea to delivery.

Responsibilities

• Find supply where others may not be looking.
• Develop new customer and supplier relationships.
• Understand regional price differences and arbitrage opportunities.
• Negotiate purchase and sales contracts.
• Structure spot, term and back‑to‑back trades.
• Assess freight, duties, quality and delivery economics.
• Follow trades from negotiation to delivery and settlement.
• Coordinate with operations and logistics to solve problems.

Skills

Physical steel trading

Negotiation

Entrepreneurial

Market knowledge

Job description

We are looking for an experienced Steel Trader to join our team in Zurich, with responsibility for developing and growing physical steel trading activity across European and international markets.

This is not a paper-trading role dressed up as physical.

We are looking for someone who understands the steel supply chain from the mill or yard through to the end-user — someone who knows where material is available, where it is tight, how pricing is really being formed and, most importantly, where a trade can be made that works commercially.

The opportunity

The focus will be on physical steel, with flexibility across products depending on your existing network and expertise.

This could include:

• Flat steel and coated products
• Long products, including rebar and wire rod
• Billets and semi-finished steel
• Steel sections and structural products
• Steel scrap and secondary raw materials
• Other ferrous products where there is a clear commercial opportunity

You will have the freedom to develop the book around where you see the best opportunities rather than being restricted to a predefined product list.

What you'll be doing

The expectation is simple: find business, structure it well and make it happen.

You will be responsible for developing physical flows between producers, traders, distributors, processors and industrial consumers.

That means:

• Finding supply where others may not be looking
• Developing new customer and supplier relationships
• Understanding regional price differences and physical arbitrage opportunities
• Negotiating purchase and sales contracts
• Structuring spot, term and back-to-back transactions
• Assessing freight, duties, financing and other costs that determine the real margin
• Following trades from negotiation through to delivery and settlement
• Working closely with operations and logistics to solve problems when the physical world doesn't go according to plan
• Monitoring mill availability, production changes, inventories, demand and regional pricing
• Identifying new trade routes, products and counterparties that can add scale to the business

You will have meaningful ownership of your trading activity and be expected to contribute directly to the growth of the steel business.

What we’re looking for

• We are interested in steel traders who have traded physical steel.
• You will ideally have a track record in physical ferrous markets and an established network of mills, stockholders, service centres, processors, distributors, industrial buyers and/or other trading houses.

Your exact product background is less important than your ability to identify and execute good physical business.

Requirements

• Have a strong understanding of European steel markets
• Know how steel is priced beyond simply looking at a benchmark
• Understand freight, Incoterms, duties, quality, specifications and delivery economics
• Have experience taking a trade from initial idea through to physical completion
• Are comfortable negotiating directly with senior commercial counterparties
• Have an entrepreneurial approach to developing new business
• Can operate independently and take responsibility for their own commercial decisions
• Have a demonstrable history of generating margin through physical trading

Languages beyond English would be an advantage, particularly across European markets.