Senior Fuel Oil Trader (Cargo Trading - Physical & Spec)
We are currently partnering with a fast-growing, asset-backed commodities trading platform on a confidential mandate, seeking an experienced Fuel Oil Trader to expand its oil products franchise.
The firm operates a lean, entrepreneurial model, combining physical market expertise with flexible capital deployment and selective proprietary trading. This is a front-to-back cargo trading role with a strong emphasis on physical third-party fuel oil trading, complemented by a disciplined speculative overlay.
The successful candidate will have full end-to-end ownership of trades, from origination through execution, logistics, financial management, and final P&L realization.
Physical Cargo Trading, Origination & Spec Trading
- Build and manage a third-party physical fuel oil trading book, focused on cargo trading across Asia and global markets
- Originate and execute spot and term cargo transactions (HSFO, VLSFO, blending components)
- Identify and capture arbitrage opportunities across regions, specifications, and market dislocations
- Structure and negotiate FOB, CFR, DES cargo deals with refiners, traders, and end-users
- Run a proprietary trading overlay through fuel oil cracks, spreads, and related derivatives
- Align paper positioning with physical exposures to enhance returns and manage downside risk
- Actively manage market risk, structure, and forward positioning
- Take full responsibility for trades across the entire lifecycle, including Contract structuring and negotiation, Chartering interface and cargo movement, Blending, quality, and delivery considerations
- Work closely with internal and external stakeholders to oversee Operational execution and scheduling, Documentation, invoicing, and settlements and Trade financing and cost optimization
- Proactively manage and resolve operational issues to protect commercial value
Strategic Flexibility & Asset-Linked Opportunities
- Contribute to value creation beyond cargo flows, including:
- Evaluating storage plays, blending optionality, and logistics enhancements
- Participating in selective structured transactions or partnerships
- Supporting case-by-case capital deployment (e.g. storage access, strategic JVs, optionality capture)
- Operate within a flexible mandate, leveraging the platform's ability to act opportunistically
Market Intelligence & Relationships
- Build a differentiated view of fuel oil fundamentals (refining systems, IMO dynamics, regional flows)
- Maintain and expand relationships across refiners, traders, shipowners, and brokers
- Develop a strong market presence and flow access
Experience
- 8-15+ years of experience in fuel oil cargo trading, with a strong physical trading track record
- Entrepreneurial, with the ability to identify and execute opportunities independently
- Strong commercial judgement with disciplined risk-taking
- Proven ability in third-party cargo origination and arbitrage execution
- Experience combining physical flows with proprietary/speculative trading
- Demonstrated ownership of end-to-end trades, not purely execution or paper roles
- Strong understanding of Fuel oil specifications and blending economics (HSFO, VLSFO, cutter stocks, Freight markets, cargo logistics, and arbitrage economics and Pricing benchmarks, cracks, and derivatives
- Clear track record of P&L generation and risk management
Why This Opportunity
- Ability to build and own a fuel oil cargo trading franchise
- Full visibility and control over trades - from idea to cash
- Flexible platform with willingness to deploy capital into non-linear opportunities
- Entrepreneurial culture without large-house bureaucracy
- Direct alignment between performance and reward
Kindly drop us a copy of your CV (word format) and through this application to register your interest.
All our conversations will be kept strictly confidential.
We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Thank you.
Selby Jennings is a Trading Style of Phaidon International (License number R16S8194)
