Trader

Job Title: Refined Fuel Trader / Trade Platform Designer → Operations & Trading Management LeadLocation: New York / New Jersey Metro Area (Required)Type: Contract to Hire. This role is based in the NY/NJ region. We will consider candidates who live outside the area if they can travel to New Jersey during the work week on a consistent basis. This role reports to the Head of Trading / Commercial Director / Platform Program LeadRole Summary (Two-Phase Role)This position is intentionally structured in two stages:Phase 1: Platform Design & Build (Initial Focus) For the first portion of the role, the successful candidate will act as a front-office refined products trading SME and workflow owner, helping design, validate, and launch a new refined fuels trade platform. The candidate will translate real trading-desk needs into system requirements across the full lifecycle: origination → pricing → execution → logistics → due diligence/KYC → settlement.Phase 2: Operations / Management Transition (Post-Launch Focus) After the platform is live and stable, the role will transition into a leadership seat overseeing trade operations, execution integrity, platform adoption, and ongoing optimization, with continued commercial/trading contribution as appropriate. This is a rare opportunity to design the system first, then run the business on it.Key ResponsibilitiesPhase 1 – Platform Design & Launch OwnershipServe as trader-in-the-loop product owner for the design of a refined fuels trading platform.Define platform requirements and user stories based on real desk workflows:deal capture & pricing (Platts/Argus benchmarks, diffs, EFPs)hedging and paper links to physical tradesshipping & scheduling (laycans, nominations, re-routes)terminal/storage integrationcredit checks & limitsdocumentation, confirmations, invoicing, settlementMap and build in real-world exceptions: quality disputes, partial lifts, demurrage, claim handling, washouts, swaps/rolls.Lead UAT, go-live validation, and trader/ops acceptance testing.Partner with engineering/UX to ensure adoption-ready workflows.Phase 1 – Trading & Market Expertise InputProvide refined products trading expertise to ensure platform matches market and execution reality.Help shape product scope including:EN590 / ULSD / GasoilJet A1 / Av-keroseneGasoline (multi-grade)Fuel Oil (HSFO/VLSFO/MGO blends)Naphtha + blending componentsValidate arb, freight, storage, and blending economics logic in platform tools.Phase 2 – Operations & Management Lead (Post-Launch)Lead trade operations and execution quality once the platform is live.Run the refined fuels trade lifecycle on the platform: execution governance, logistics coordination, due diligence/KYC/credit integrity, and settlement reconciliation.Own platform adoption, training, and operational KPIs.Drive a continuous improvement roadmap based on live desk feedback.Manage or help build the operations/trading support team as volume scales.Continue commercial/trading contribution as appropriate.Required Experience & Qualifications7–15+ years refined products trading at a major trading desk (Mercuria / Trafigura / Vitol / Glencore / BP / Shell / TotalEnergies / Gunvor).Demonstrated refined fuels P&L capability and deep physical execution knowledge.Hands-on experience with front-to-back trading platforms, such as:Endur/Openlink, Allegro, RightAngle, SAP CTRM, AspectCTRM, Brady/Eka, MurexExecution/market access: ICE, CME/NYMEX, Trading Technologies, TrayportPost-trade digitization a plus: VAKT, KomgoStrong logistics fluency: shipping, storage, blending, inspections, claims.Ability to convert desk workflows into platform requirements for technical teams.Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Engineering, or similar.Preferred / “Edge” CapabilitiesPrior involvement in CTRM migrations, UAT, platform upgrades, or desk buildouts.Existing counterparty network with refiners, NOCs, wholesalers, and end users.Comfortable bridging front office, ops, credit, compliance, and engineering.Builder mindset with high standards for usability and controls.