Head of China Trading

Torq Commodities; London; On-site; NOK 3,154,000 - 6,056,000; Full time

Job summary

Torq Commodities is seeking an entrepreneurial and highly commercial trading professional to establish, lead, and grow its China trading platform. This is a front-office trading role focused on building a profitable trading book and sourcing strategic counterparties in China.

The candidate should be a native Mandarin speaker with fluent English, capable of originating and executing profitable physical transactions and leading a China-focused trading team.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of commodity trading experience with significant exposure to the Chinese market.
• Proven track record of managing a profitable trading book and direct responsibility for P&L.
• Strong commercial negotiation skills and stakeholder management.
• Native Mandarin speaker or equivalent fluency and fluent English.
• Strong network of customers and suppliers within China.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage a profitable physical commodity trading book focused on China.
• Originate, negotiate, and execute physical commodity transactions.
• Own and manage trading profitability, margins, and risk exposure.
• Develop and maintain a portfolio of customers, suppliers, processors, importers, exporters, and strategic counterparties.
• Identify and execute new trading opportunities across China and international markets.
• Deliver measurable revenue and gross profit growth.
• Build and establish Torq's China trading platform and market presence.
• Develop and execute the company's China trading strategy.
• Recruit, develop, and lead a China-focused trading team.
• Build capabilities across trading, execution, logistics, and market intelligence.
• Establish clear performance targets linked to profitability and growth.
• Monitor market developments, trade flows, pricing dynamics, freight markets, and regulatory developments.
• Provide trading recommendations and market intelligence to senior management.
• Identify commercial opportunities and trading risks.
• Build and maintain senior-level relationships with key market participants.

Skills

Commodity trading

P&L management

Negotiation

Mandarin fluency

English fluency

Leadership

Relationship building

Job description

Torq Commodities is seeking an entrepreneurial and highly commercial trading professional to establish, lead, and grow its China trading platform.This is a front-office trading role. The successful candidate will be responsible for building and managing a profitable trading book, developing strategic customer and supplier relationships, and creating a sustainable profit centre for the business in China.

We are specifically seeking a hands‐on trader with a proven track record of originating, negotiating, and executing profitable physical commodity transactions and managing a significant P&L.

The successful candidate must be a native Mandarin speaker or possess native‑level Mandarin proficiency, combined with fluent English, enabling them to operate effectively with Chinese counterparties while integrating with the company's international leadership team.

Key Responsibilities

Trading & P&L Ownership

• Develop and manage a profitable physical commodity trading book focused on China.
• Originate, negotiate, and execute physical commodity transactions.
• Own and manage trading profitability, margins, and risk exposure.
• Develop and maintain a portfolio of customers, suppliers, processors, importers, exporters, and strategic counterparties.
• Identify and execute new trading opportunities across China and international markets.
• Deliver measurable revenue and gross profit growth.

China Platform Development

• Build and establish Torq's China trading platform and market presence.
• Develop and execute the company's China trading strategy.
• Identify new markets, customers, suppliers, and product opportunities.
• Represent the company as the commercial lead for China-related activities.

Team Leadership

• Recruit, develop, and lead a China-focused trading team.
• Build capabilities across trading, execution, logistics, and market intelligence.
• Establish clear performance targets linked to profitability and growth.

Market Intelligence & Risk Management

• Monitor market developments, trade flows, pricing dynamics, freight markets, and regulatory developments.
• Provide trading recommendations and market intelligence to senior management.
• Identify commercial opportunities and trading risks.

Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain senior-level relationships with key market participants.
• Represent the company at industry events, conferences, and customer meetings.

The primary measure of success in this role will be the ability to build a profitable China trading business through active trading, customer origination, supplier development, and sustained P&L generation.

Essential Requirements

• 10+ years of commodity trading experience with significant exposure to the Chinese market.
• Demonstrated track record of managing a profitable trading book.
• Direct responsibility for trading P&L and profitability.
• Strong existing network of customers and suppliers within China.
• Experience originating and executing physical commodity transactions.
• Proven ability to build and grow trading businesses.
• Strong commercial negotiation skills.
• Native Mandarin speaker or equivalent fluency.

Preferred Experience

• Experience within agricultural commodities, coffee, edible nuts, grains, soft commodities, energy products, or related sectors.
• Previous experience establishing a new trading desk, business unit, or regional operation.
• Experience working within an international trading house.