Head of Operations

Location: Singapore

Sector: Agricultural Commodities

Employment: Permanent

An international agricultural trading house is seeking a Head of Operations to lead its Singapore operations function and oversee the execution of physical commodity trades across global markets.

The successful candidate will manage the operations team, strengthen execution processes and work closely with trading, finance and risk to ensure the efficient movement of agricultural commodities from origin to destination. This role combines team leadership with direct involvement in complex shipments and commercial problem solving.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and develop the operations team, setting clear responsibilities and maintaining high standards of trade execution.
Oversee the full physical trade lifecycle, from contract review and shipment planning through to delivery, settlement and claims resolution.
Manage bulk and containerised shipments, coordinating with suppliers, customers, shipowners, brokers, freight forwarders, surveyors and warehouse providers.
Partner with traders on contractual terms, logistical feasibility, freight requirements and execution costs.
Oversee shipping documentation, letters of credit and documentary collections in coordination with finance and banking partners.
Manage inventory, storage and cargo movements, ensuring accurate reporting and reconciliation.
Monitor shipment schedules, contractual obligations and quality requirements, resolving operational issues promptly.
Oversee laytime calculations, demurrage, despatch and cargo claims, protecting the commercial interests of the business.
Strengthen operational controls, procedures and systems to support business growth.
Establish and monitor performance measures covering execution costs, shipment reliability, documentation accuracy and claims.
Ensure operations comply with contractual requirements, applicable trade regulations and internal policies.

Experience and Requirements

Significant experience in physical agricultural commodity operations, including responsibility for managing teams.
Strong understanding of international trade execution across products such as grains, oilseeds, vegetable oils, pulses or soft commodities.
Experience overseeing bulk and containerised shipments, with a sound understanding of shipping documentation and Incoterms.
Familiarity with relevant GAFTA or FOSFA contracts and their practical application.
Working knowledge of trade finance instruments, particularly letters of credit and documentary collections.
Experience managing demurrage, quality disputes, shipment discrepancies and other operational claims.
Strong commercial judgement and the ability to balance execution efficiency with risk management.
A track record of improving processes, developing people and strengthening operational controls.
Confident working with trading, finance, risk and external counterparties across multiple locations.
Experience using commodity trading and risk management systems, with strong attention to data accuracy.

The Opportunity

An opportunity to take ownership of a key operations function within an international agricultural trading business, shape the team's development and contribute directly to the performance and growth of its physical trading activities.