Commodity Trader

United Oilseeds Marketing Limited; Devizes; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

United Oilseeds Marketing Limited, the UK’s leading break crop expert, seeks an experienced Commodity Trader to own commercial performance and grow the business with 5–10 years in commodity trading. You’ll market and manage large positions, develop relationships with growers and trade partners, and mentor colleagues to shape future direction.

You will trade oilseeds and related commodities, analyze markets, and contribute to pricing, risk management and long-term growth in a farmer-owned company

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of commodity trading experience.
• Proven track record of delivering commercial results in trading.
• Strong understanding of physical commodity markets and supply chains.
• Excellent analytical skills and ability to convert market data into decisions.
• Experience with futures, options, hedging and risk management.
• Strong negotiation and relationship management skills.
• Confident communicator and highly numerate; proficient in Excel.
• Strategic thinker with a commercial mindset.

Responsibilities

• Lead physical trading across oilseeds, pulses & feed ingredients.
• Develop and execute trading strategies delivering profitable margins within risk limits.
• Build and maintain relationships with farmers, merchants, processors and exporters.
• Identify market opportunities from supply, demand, weather and policy factors.
• Negotiate contracts with domestic and international counterparties.
• Manage futures, options and FX exposures alongside physical positions.
• Monitor market trends and competitor activity.
• Mentor junior traders and contribute to team development.
• Represent the business at industry meetings and events.

Skills

Commodity trading

Analytical thinking

Negotiation

Relationship management

Strategic mindset

Education

Degree in Agriculture

Degree in Economics

Degree in Finance

Degree in Business

Tools

Excel

Job description

Founded in 1966 by Hampshire & Wiltshire farmers, United Oilseeds has grown into the UK’s leading break crop expert and one of its foremost agricultural co-operatives, with 4,500 farmer members nationwide.

With an annual turnover of £200 million and a net worth of over £18 million, we manage the largest oilseed rape marketing pools in the country and hold a 30% market share in both UK-certified oilseed rape seed and the broader oilseed rape combinable crop sector. Beyond oilseed rape, United Oilseeds Marketing Limited trades significant volumes of oats, peas, beans, linseed, rye, sunflowers, and rape meal.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced and commercially minded Commodity Trader to join our business at an exciting stage of growth. This position is suited to an ambitious individual with approximately 5-10 years of commodity trading experience who is looking to take greater ownership of commercial performance, customer relationships and business development.

Working on behalf of 4,500 farmer members, you'll help market and manage substantial commodity positions while contributing to the success of one of the UK's largest farmer-owned agricultural businesses.

You will take responsibility for trading a range of agricultural commodities, developing long-term relationships with growers, consumers and trade partners, and delivering profitable commercial outcomes. Alongside your trading responsibilities, you'll support and mentor less experienced colleagues and play an active role in shaping the future direction of the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead physical trading activities across our commodity portfolio, including oilseeds, pulses & feed ingredients.
• Develop and execute trading strategies that deliver profitable margins whilst operating within agreed risk parameters.
• Build and maintain strong commercial relationships with farmers, merchant customers, processors, exporters and industry partners.
• Identify market opportunities through detailed analysis of supply, demand, weather, policy, logistics and macroeconomic factors.
• Negotiate purchase and sales contracts with domestic and international counterparties.
• Manage futures, options and foreign exchange exposures alongside physical commodity positions.
• Monitor and report market trends, competitor activity and emerging commercial opportunities.
• Take ownership of key customer and supplier accounts while driving business development opportunities.
• Contribute to pool marketing, pricing strategy and commercial decision-making.
• Work closely with operations, finance and risk management teams to ensure efficient execution and control.
• Mentor junior traders and assist with the development of the wider commercial team.
• Represent the business at industry meetings, conferences and customer events.

What we're looking for

• A successful commodity trader with 5-10 years' experience in agricultural commodities, grain, oilseeds, feedstuffs or other physical markets, ready to take greater ownership of commercial performance, market strategy and key customer relationships.
• Proven track record of delivering commercial results in a trading environment.
• Strong understanding of physical commodity markets and associated supply chains.
• Excellent analytical skills and the ability to convert market intelligence into commercial decisions.
• Experience with futures, options, hedging and risk management strategies.
• Strong negotiation and relationship management skills.
• Confident communicator with the ability to influence a range of stakeholders.
• Highly numerate with strong Excel and data analysis capabilities.
• Self-motivated, resilient and comfortable operating in a fast-moving market environment.
• Strategic thinker with a naturally commercial mindset.

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree in Agriculture, Economics, Finance, Business, a related discipline or equivalent experience
• Professional experience within agricultural commodity trading.
• Understanding of global oilseed, grain and feed markets.
• Experience of managing trading books, positions and margin performance.
• Familiarity with trading, risk-management and market intelligence systems.

What's On Offer

• Opportunity to take a leading role within one of the UK's most respected agricultural trading businesses.
• Exposure to domestic and international commodity markets.
• Significant commercial responsibility and autonomy.
• A collaborative and entrepreneurial working environment.
• Competitive salary, performance-related bonus and benefits package.
• Clear opportunities for long-term career progression and leadership development.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced trader looking to take the next step in their career within a successful, farmer-owned business operating at the heart of UK Agricultural markets.