Project Lead - Physical Metals Settlement

G MASS; City Of London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global investment bank is seeking an operations professional to support the build-out of its physical metals trading business. The role requires experience in commodities and involves designing operational processes, defining governance frameworks, and collaborating with various teams to ensure operational readiness. Ideal candidates have a strong understanding of operational risk and regulatory requirements. This position is for an initial 6-month contract.

Qualifications

• Experience in physical commodities trading, precious metals, or commodities operations.
• Demonstrated success in building new processes and controls from scratch in a financial institution.
• Strong understanding of operational risk, regulatory requirements, and settlement processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of end-to-end operational processes for physical metals trading and settlement.
• Define and establish governance, control, and settlement frameworks aligned with internal and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate closely with front office, risk, legal, compliance, and technology teams to ensure operational readiness.
• Oversee onboarding of key infrastructure, systems, and third-party providers.
• Identify and resolve operational gaps and risks, proposing practical solutions and scalable improvements.
• Contribute to defining the future-state operating model and support the transition from build phase to steady-state operations.

Job description

We’re working with a leading global investment bank that is beginning the build-out of a physical metals trading business, with the capability to physically settle gold and other metals.

To support this initiative, we’re looking for a hands‑on operations professional, ideally with experience in commodities, physical trading, or post‑trade operations, to help design and implement the initial processes, controls, and infrastructure needed to get the business up and running.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of end‑to‑end operational processes for physical metals trading and settlement
• Define and establish governance, control, and settlement frameworks aligned with internal and regulatory requirements
• Collaborate closely with front office, risk, legal, compliance, and technology teams to ensure operational readiness
• Oversee onboarding of key infrastructure, systems, and third‑party providers (e.g. vaulting, logistics, clearing)
• Identify and resolve operational gaps and risks, proposing practical solutions and scalable improvements
• Contribute to defining the future‑state operating model and support the transition from build phase to steady‑state operations

Qualifications

• Experience in physical commodities trading, precious metals, or commodities operations
• Demonstrated success in building new processes and controls from scratch in a financial institution
• Strong understanding of operational risk, regulatory requirements, and settlement processes

Rate: to be discussed

Length: initial 6‑month contract