Senior Base Metals Trader

RWE; Essen; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus scheme

Global exposure

Diversity & inclusion

Career development

Job summary

RWE Supply & Trading GmbH is seeking a senior commercial leader to grow its physical base metals business from the UK. The role offers meaningful ownership of performance, relationships across miners and users, and a broad opportunity to drive strategy.

You will operate with autonomy within a global trading platform and have scope to expand leadership responsibility as the business scales. The role requires deep experience in copper and related base metals markets, strong origination skills, and

Qualifications

• Strong track record in physical base metals trading with ownership of P&L.
• Experience building or growing profitable physical trading books or businesses.
• Deep copper expertise with broader knowledge of aluminium, zinc, lead or nickel.
• Strong origination and execution across international physical metals markets.
• Sophisticated understanding of physical trading economics: premiums, freight, financing, hedging and working capital.

Responsibilities

• Take a senior commercial role in growing the physical base metals business with ownership of performance and future direction.
• Originate, structure and execute profitable opportunities across the base metals value chain.
• Build and deepen strategic relationships with miners, smelters, producers, consumers, traders and logistics providers.
• Lead opportunities across the full trade lifecycle, optimizing returns through premiums, freight, financing and hedging.
• Shape the desk's strategy and identify new flows, markets and differentiated positions.
• Contribute to longer-term platform development with broader commercial and leadership scope as the business grows.

Skills

Base metals trading track record

P&L ownership

Commercial performance

Network in metals supply chain

Origination and execution

Job description

RWE Supply & Trading GmbH

To start as soon as possible, full time, permanent

This is an opportunity to take a leading role in the next phase of RWE Supply & Trading's physical metals business.You’ll bring deep market expertise, a strong industry network and the commercial ambition to help build and scale our presence across physical base metals. You’ll operate with a high degree of autonomy while benefiting from the infrastructure, balance sheet and expertise of a global energy and commodities trading organisation. As the business grows, there is also the opportunity to broaden your impact beyond individual trading performance and take on increasing strategic and leadership responsibility.

About the role

• Take a senior commercial role in growing RWE Supply & Trading's physical base metals business, with meaningful ownership of performance and future direction.
• Originate, structure and execute profitable opportunities across the base metals value chain.
• Build and deepen strategic relationships with miners, smelters, producers, consumers, traders and logistics providers.
• Lead opportunities across the full trade lifecycle, using your understanding of premiums, freight, financing, hedging and logistics to optimise returns.
• Help shape the desk's strategy, identifying new flows, markets and areas where RWE can build differentiated positions.
• Contribute to the longer-term development of the platform, with scope to take on broader commercial and leadership responsibility as the business grows.

Job requirements and experience

• A strong track record in physical base metals trading, including ownership of commercial performance and P&L.
• Demonstrable experience building, growing or materially developing a profitable physical trading book or business.
• Deep expertise in copper, alongside broader knowledge of aluminium, zinc, lead or nickel.
• Strong origination and execution experience across international physical metals markets.
• A sophisticated understanding of physical trading economics, including premiums, freight, financing, hedging and working capital.
• An established network across producers, mining companies, smelters, consumers, traders and logistics providers, combined with the autonomy and judgement to turn opportunities into profitable business.

RWE is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment – we value your passion, your willingness to learn and your desire to thrive. Even if you don't have all the above skills, need flexible working arrangements or other adjustments not yet listed here, we'd love to hear from you.

Your benefits

We want to ensure your time with us is fulfilling and rewarding. We offer a comprehensive package designed to support your well-being as well as your personal and professional growth. Here's what you can look forward to:

• Shape the future of energy by contributing to RWE's climate-neutral mission through global commodities trading.
• Build a high-impact career in a growing business where your expertise and commercial judgement can make a visible difference.
• Work with experienced colleagues across a diverse, international trading organisation.
• Enjoy a collaborative and empowering environment where new ideas, trusted relationships and decisive action are valued.
• Access opportunities to expand your influence, develop your skills and help shape the future direction of the business.

We look forward to meeting you. Of course, you can find us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Xing, too.
We value diversity and therefore welcome all applications - regardless of gender, disability, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion/belief, age, sexual orientation, and identity. #inclusionmatters
RWE Supply & Trading is our connection to the world's energy markets. Headquartered in Essen, Germany, the company operates one of Europe’s largest and most advanced energy trading floors. A diverse team of over 2,300 professionals from around 90 countries trades electricity, gas, commodities, and CO2 emission allowances. With precise market analysis and a strong customer focus, we create innovative energy supply solutions and tailored risk management concepts for industrial clients.
We also ensure the commercial optimisation of RWE's power plant portfolio and market the electricity generated by RWE. In addition, legally independent RWE gas storage companies operate in Germany, contributing to a secure energy supply.