Senior Freight Trader, Handysize

Louis Dreyfus Company is a leading merchant and processor of agricultural goods. Our activities span the entire value chain from farm to fork, across a broad range of business lines, we leverage our global reach and extensive asset network to serve our customers and consumers around the world. Structured as a matrix organization of six geographical regions and ten platforms, Louis Dreyfus Company is active in over 100 countries and employs approximately 15,000 people globally.

Overall Purpose and Objectives

The purpose of the role is to be a part of the Singapore Handysize Freight team, either as commercial lead (subject to experience) or as a Freight trader for the geographical region, with responsibilities across pricing, positioning and business development. The role involves interaction with both internal and external cargo customers, whilst also commercially managing the period fleet, optimizing the regional program. With a focus on expanding our reach and access with industrial cargo clients.

• Accurately price, sell and manage freight risk for internal clients
• Develop 3rd party relationships on cargo and owning side, to complement and expand base internal cargo flow
• Optimize regional position through arbitrage of derivative hedges and physical positions; cargoes (internal/external), contracts and period vessels.

Primary Responsibilities/Essential Functions

Pricing:

• Participation in external markets, spot and forward, to identify ‘replacement’ market prices.  Utilize in-house research and data analytics to identify market ‘mispricing’ and relative value trading opportunities.
• Using this price forecast as the basis for generating firm freight rates to provide to internal commodity traders for completion of CNF sales and market research. Also for the basis of external trading on cargoes, contracts and period vessels. 

Position Management:

• Orchestrate and execute the optimization and profitable arbitrage of the regional book, interacting with other regional traders to find net best employment for period vessels. 
• Actively participate in strategic discussions relating regional opinions into a global perspective and overall position.

Business Development:

• Expand third party network with a particular focus on accessing industrial cargo clients and bypassing operator/trader intermediaries.  Seeking both spot, medium and long-term opportunities, including COAs and joint ventures.

Freight Contract Execution:

• Works closely with Freight Operations to stay on top of the itineraries, stowplans, and voyage execution PnLs. Ensuring all documentary and administrative requirements are completely in timely manner.
• Evaluates and monitors contract performance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and/or to determine the need for changes; if necessary/applicable consults with the Senior Trader on unusual price strategy, policy and operational issues.
• Adheres to the Corporate and/or Platform Risk, Credit, Compliance, and Ethics guidelines

Additional Responsibilities:

• Research and evaluate trading partners based on price, quality, selection, service, support, availability, reliability, production, distribution capabilities, reputation and history.
• Undertake and completes training on: Time charter and Voyage charter parties, FFA contract negotiation and execution; Vessel bunkering hedging and execution; Internal freight accounting practices; Internal freight IT systems.

Internal Client Management:

• Organize and attend regular meetings with internal commodity traders to discuss market outlook, upcoming programs, target business and any execution/trading problems that require attention. Ensuring relevant commodity market themes and perspectives are effectively communicated for a broader Freight awareness

• Bachelor or Master’s degree in Engineer, Mathematics, Finance, Economics, Maritime
• 3+ years of relevant experience within Drybulk shipping preferably Handysize (but can consider Supramax experience also)
• Excellent oral and written English communication skills
• Strong MS Excel Skills. Data science and Statistics skills represent a plus
• Strong analytical and interpersonal skills
• Self-motivation, assertiveness, and emotional intelligence
• Extensive experience performing advanced freight calculations.
• Extensive experience/familiarity negotiating timecharter and voyage charterparty terms
• Extensive experience arbitraging freight positions on spot and forward markets.
• Experience and/or interest in analyzing balance sheets and working with researchers/data analysts.

Working Conditions

Fast-paced trading-floor environment.  This position is considered to be “on call” 24/7 in order to complete time-sensitive projects, attend training or to respond to emergencies.  Occasional domestic and/or international travel to meet clients and attend conventions

What We Offer

We provide a dynamic and stimulating international environment, which will stretch and develop your abilities and channel your skills and expertise with outstanding career development opportunities in one of the largest and most solid private companies in the world.

We offer

• Competitive salary and benefits​​​​​​
• Hybrid work available (not applicable to all roles)
• Pension contributions
• Access to Training and Development 
• Access to Concierge Partnerships

Diversity & Inclusion

LDC is driven by a set of shared values and high ethical standards, with diversity and inclusion being part of our DNA. LDC is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity, equity and inclusion.

LDC encourages diversity, supports local communities and environmental initiatives. We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

Sustainability

Sustainable value is at the heart of our purpose as a company.

We are passionate about creating fair and sustainable value, both for our business and for other value chain stakeholders: our people, our business partners, the communities we touch and the environment around us