Head of Grains Desk - Wheat, Maize/Corn and Rice

Robust International; Singapore; On-site; SGD 350,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Robust International is seeking a hands-on Head of Grains Desk to establish and grow its physical trading in wheat, maize/corn and rice. The role requires an proven profitable track record, and the ability to originate, structure, execute and manage trades end-to-end.

The candidate will own P&L for the grains desk, develop a credible transaction pipeline, and coordinate with treasury, logistics and risk teams to ensure disciplined capital use and profitability.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of relevant physical agricultural commodity trading experience.
• Substantial direct experience in wheat, maize/corn and/or rice.
• A demonstrable profitable trading book covering at least two of the three commodities.
• Credible market relationships and a clear route-to-market.

Responsibilities

• Establish and grow Robust's physical trading in wheat, maize/corn and rice.
• Independently originate both purchase and sales opportunities.
• Negotiate and conclude contracts; manage lifecycle from pricing to collection.
• Manage working capital and ensure compliance with risk limits.
• Develop the desk with governance and expand only with approvals.

Skills

Grains trading

Relationship management

Origination & execution

Trade structuring

Job description

Role Purpose

The Head of Grains Desk will establish, manage and profitably grow Robust International's physical trading business in wheat, maize/corn and rice.

Successful candidate must be a hands‑on physical commodity trader with a proven profitable track record, established customer and supplier relationships and the ability to generate executable business within a reasonable period after joining.

Candidate will be expected to bring an established and genuinely portable commercial franchise-not merely general market knowledge-and independently originate, structure, execute and manage trades from inception through final collection.

P&L Ownership

The Grains Desk will operate as an independent profit centre with dedicated cost-centre coding and a standalone P&L.

The Head of Grains Desk will be accountable for:

• The consolidated profitability of the overall grains business;
• Separate product‑level performance for wheat, maize/corn and rice;
• Realised trading margins;
• Financing and working‑capital costs;
• Freight, logistics, insurance and hedging costs;
• Claims, defaults, quality losses and credit losses;
• Direct and allocated operating costs; and
• Overall risk‑adjusted net contribution to the Group.

Profitability must be measurable at both the consolidated desk level and the individual commodity level.

Key Responsibilities

Business Origination and Development

• Establish and grow Robust's physical trading business in wheat, maize/corn and rice.
• Use established and portable customer and supplier relationships to generate near‑term business.
• Independently originate both purchase and sales opportunities.
• Develop sustainable trading flows across approved origin and destination markets.
• Maintain a credible transaction pipeline, including expected volumes, margins, counterparties, working‑capital requirements and execution timelines.
• Develop repeat business with financially sound and commercially reputable counterparties.
• Identify new markets and trading routes that are consistent with Robust's risk appetite and overall strategy.

Trading and Execution

• Personally negotiate and conclude purchase and sales contracts.
• Manage the complete commercial lifecycle of each transaction, including pricing, contracting, financing, shipment, documentation, collection and claims resolution.
• Coordinate closely with Robust's treasury, trade finance, logistics, legal, insurance, quality, accounts and risk‑management functions.
• Ensure that commodity specifications, shipment terms, payment terms and contractual protections are properly aligned.
• Monitor the performance of suppliers, customers, service providers and other counterparties.
• Maintain timely and accurate position, exposure, pipeline and profitability reporting.

Risk and Working‑Capital Management

• Prioritise back‑to‑back, pre‑sold or otherwise appropriately risk‑controlled transactions.
• Operate strictly within approved commodity, country, counterparty, credit, tenor, inventory and open‑position limits.
• Obtain necessary approvals before assuming any material price, inventory, foreign‑exchange or counterparty exposure.
• Ensure that no unauthorised speculative positions are taken.
• Manage working capital efficiently and maintain clear visibility over the complete cash‑conversion cycle.
• Actively manage receivables, collections, inventory exposure, contractual claims and potential losses.
• Ensure full compliance with Robust's KYC, sanctions, credit, legal and risk‑management requirements.

Desk Development

• Initially operate as a hands‑on producer and profit owner, using Robust's existing central support functions.
• Recommend additional trading or execution resources only where justified by established business volumes and profitability.
• Recruit or expand the team only after receiving management approval.
• Remain personally responsible for originating and managing business even after the desk expands.

Strict Trading‑Only Mandate

• Establish or develop factories or processing facilities;
• Propose or lead value‑addition or manufacturing projects;
• Initiate milling, storage or other infrastructure investments;
• Develop CAPEX‑led business plans; or
• Treat potential capital projects as a substitute for generating profitable trading business.

Candidate Profile

• Preferably at least 10 years of relevant physical agricultural commodity trading experience.
• Substantial direct experience in wheat, maize/corn and/or rice.
• A demonstrable profitable trading book covering at least two of the three designated commodities.
• Credible market relationships and a clear route‑to‑market