Specialist - Trading and Risk

McKinsey; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

McKinsey is seeking a Specialist - Trading and Risk in Amsterdam to join the Global Energy & Materials practice. You’ll work at the intersection of commodity trading and risk management, acting as the go-to expert on engagements and coaching consultants on trading operations.

You will help design and implement modern trading functions, influence senior executives, and collaborate across desks from strategy to execution, including new trading ventures.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree required; quantitative field preferred (finance, economics, engineering, CS).
• 3+ years in commodity trading, risk analytics, or consulting in this area.
• Deep expertise in energy, metals, agriculture, or related sectors.
• Strong knowledge of price discovery, hedging, and VaR/stress testing.
• Experience with front/middle/back-office trading processes.
• Proficiency in quantitative analysis and data science; programming skills are a plus.
• Excellent communication to explain complex concepts; willingness to travel.
• Fluent English and local office language(s).

Responsibilities

• Shape strategic design for trading organizations and operating models.
• Help optimize returns from physical assets and hedging strategies.
• Define risk appetite, limits, and capital allocation for clients.
• Guide ETRM/CTRM system selections and implementations.
• Apply analytics and AI to trading challenges and due diligence on trading businesses.

Skills

Commodity trading

Risk management

Data analysis

Python/SQL/R

Communication

Travel willingness

Education

Undergraduate degree

MBA/PhD preferred

Tools

Python

SQL

R

Job description

Do you want to do work that matters, alongside supportive leaders who will help you grow faster than you ever thought possible? Are you a creative problem-solver who is energized by challenges? You’ve come to the right place.

Specialist - Trading and Risk

• Amsterdam
• London

YOUR IMPACT

You will work at the intersection of commodity trading and advanced risk management, helping global clients in the energy sector navigate an increasingly dynamic and uncertain world.

You will be a core member of our Global Energy & Materials (GEM) practice. Your work will span a highly diverse set of sectors, offering you the opportunity to work across Metals, Oil & Gas, Chemicals & Agriculture, Paper & Packaging, or Electric Power & Natural Gas (EPNG). You will bring immediate practitioner credibility to our client teams, acting as the go-to trading and risk expert on engagements and actively coaching our consultants on the nuances of how trading businesses really operate.

You will have the unique opportunity to see and influence a wide array of trading organizations across the entire industry rather than being limited to just one. You will directly shape how the industry builds and runs modern trading functions, working hand-in-hand with senior executives—including Heads of Trading, Chief Risk Officers (CROs), and Chief Financial Officers (CFOs)—while occasionally helping clients build entirely new, innovative trading businesses from the ground up.

Your responsibilities will span strategic design and setting up advanced trading organizations ranging from single desks to full operating models and optimize commercial returns from physical assets and hedging strategies. You will transform enterprise-wide risk frameworks, defining risk appetite, limits, and capital allocation. Additionally, you will guide clients through the selection and implementation of ETRM/CTRM systems, apply analytics and AI to solve complex trading challenges, and conduct rigorous commercial and operational due diligence on trading businesses.

YOUR GROWTH

Driving lasting impact and building long-term capabilities with our clients is not easy work. You are the kind of person who thrives in a high performance/high reward culture - doing hard things, picking yourself up when you stumble, and having the resilience to try another way forward.

In return for your drive, determination, and curiosity, we'll provide the resources, mentorship, and opportunities you need to become a stronger leader faster than you ever thought possible. Your colleagues—at all levels—will invest deeply in your development, just as much as they invest in delivering exceptional results for clients. Every day, you'll receive apprenticeship, coaching, and exposure that will accelerate your growth in ways you won’t find anywhere else.

When you join us, you will have:

• Continuous learning: Our learning and apprenticeship culture, backed by structured programs, is all about helping you grow while creating an environment where feedback is clear, actionable, and focused on your development. The real magic happens when you take the input from others to heart and embrace the fast-paced learning experience, owning your journey.
• A voice that matters: From day one, we value your ideas and contributions. You’ll make a tangible impact by offering innovative ideas and practical solutions, all while upholding our unwavering commitment to ethics and integrity. We not only encourage diverse perspectives, but they are critical in driving us toward the best possible outcomes.
• Global community: With colleagues across 65+ countries and over 100 different nationalities, our firm’s diversity fuels creativity and helps us come up with the best solutions for our clients. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from exceptional colleagues with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• World-class benefits: On top of a competitive salary (based on your location, experience, and skills), we provide a comprehensive benefits package to enable holistic well-being for you and your family.

YOUR QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• An undergraduate degree is required; an advanced graduate degree (e.g., MBA, PhD) in a quantitative field such as finance, economics, engineering, or computer science is preferred.
• 3+ years of relevant experience working in a commodity trading environment, either directly within a trading firm (e.g., in a risk management, analytics, or trading function) or at a consulting firm serving clients in this area.
• Deep expertise in commodity markets, including energy, metals, agriculture, or other relevant sectors.
• Strong understanding of price discovery, physical and financial trading, hedging strategies, and common risk metrics (e.g., VaR, stress testing).
• Experience with trading and risk management processes, including front, middle, and back-office functions.
• Exceptional problem-solving skills, with the ability to disaggregate issues, form hypotheses, and develop actionable recommendations from complex data.
• Proficiency in quantitative analysis and data science; experience with programming languages such as Python, R, or SQL is a strong advantage.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex trading and risk concepts to various audiences.
• Willingness to travel.
• Fluent level language skills in English and the local office language(s), both verbal and written.