Senior Trading Manager (dry commodities)

SUMMARY OF THE JOB

The Senior Trading Manager is responsible for:
 

1. Lead the development and management of a strategic network of internal stakeholders and external business partners. 
2. Build and maintain relationships with key suppliers, customers, and industry influencers to enhance market intelligence and drive business growth. 
3. Take charge of negotiating and executing high-value sales contracts across all product lines, including cement, clinker, and other dry bulk commodities, ensuring terms that optimize profitability while minimizing risks. 
4. Identify and secure sourcing opportunities that align with market demands and negotiate favorable terms to maintain a competitive edge in the region. 
5. Serve as a liaison between the trading team and critical support functions such as Operations, Chartering, Legal, Finance, and Strategy & Development. 
6. Actively manage trading risks within the scope of their delegated authority. This includes monitoring market trends, assessing geopolitical factors, and implementing strategies to mitigate potential exposures.
7. Drive the achievement of volume targets through strategic engagement with third-party customers.
    

MAIN ACTIVITIES / RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy

• Develop a strategic plan and value proposition for approaching new prospects, conducting visits to potential partners, and gathering information to assess counterparty risks. 
• Generate market intelligence, support business planning efforts providing the Business IntelligenceTeam with up-to-date information on supply and demand trends, as well as detailed price and cost analysis. 
• Fulfillment of import/export Group companies in executing their strategies and optimizing their market presence, particularly concerning international seaborne trade. 
• In regions where the Group does not have a direct presence, develop and sustain relationships with key decision-makers and industry influencers, ensuring Holcim remains well-informed and strategically positioned. 
• Generate essential volume and price data for financial planning and will actively respond to ad-hoc requirements and projects assigned by the Head of Region, contributing to the preparation and implementation of the budget.

Business Objectives

• Drive value creation through solid business cases for existing and potential customers and suppliers across all products, services, and freight operations to establish short and long-term relationships.
• Handling key account management activities, from contract preparation and signing to resolving issues and managing outstanding accounts receivables, and other counterparty risks is also a key responsibility.
• Deep understanding of the evolving risk profiles of customers and suppliers is essential, as is the ability to articulate how Holcim's products and services add value. 
• Collaborate with customers and suppliers to anticipate needs and deliver solutions to enhance their import/export operations and optimize their product portfolios
   

Trade Execution

• Ensure the seamless execution/coordination of trade transactions by providing to Trading Managers, Chartering and Operations with timely and accurate information and respond to their requests to be properly documented and executed according to standards. 
• Supervise and support Operations teams as needed in their interactions with customers and suppliers, ensuring smooth and efficient execution of all trade activities.
   

People Development

• Coach, mentor and develop traders and junior colleagues, including newcomers and those from other functions, serving as a mentor and reference for business practices, market approach, customer management, product knowledge, and strategy development.
• Support team members by reviewing and approving work, assisting with performance reviews, helping set objectives, managing tasks like holiday approvals, sharing important updates, mediating team interactions, and coordinating workload and travel priorities.
   

Risk Management

• Ensure strict adherence to the Holcim Code of Business Conduct, Trading Policy, Shipping Directive, and all other relevant Holcim policies. 
• Safeguard the reputation and brand value of Holcim Group in all seaborne trading activities such as: Managing open trading positions, approving trades, executing contracts, managing trading problems and challenges, conducting thorough technical assessments of suppliers and products, and ensuring the whole process is in accordance with the established delegation of authority model.

PROFILE REQUIRED

Education/ Qualification:

• University technical/commercial/management education

Experience:

• Min. 5-7 years of experience in trading, building materials / cement businesses and, exposure to maritime logistics and/or seaborne supply chain. Sales, Marketing and Strategy experience is a must

Knowledge and skills:

• Technical competencies / job knowledge: in depth understanding of cement values, properties and usages for various types of customers (IP, GS, distributors, construction sites…). Expertise in international seaborne trading and maritime regulations and logistics.
• Managerial and Interpersonal competencies: Communication, negotiation, strategic thinking, agility to adjust management style and interpersonal skills to a broad variety of country and company cultures, team player, respect for diversity and politically savvy and diplomacy in particular to manage intra-Group tensions.
   

Languages: 

• Proficient working fluency in English and Spanish. Any local language would be an asset

US work permits: 

• Active working permit in the US

Position is based in Miami