Graduate Commercial Traineeship

Location: Amsterdam (rotations in NL and/or UK)

Main Purpose of Job

The role will sit within the trading team and you will be in the midst of exciting commercial activities with the aim to improve Argent’s day-to-day decision making for procuring feedstock globally and selling biodiesel. Your role will be to support trade activities, perform risk analysis, prepare feedstock market analysis & report on global trade flows and lead improvement projects.

To guarantee early career growth & development we ensure that the Graduate will have mixed responsibility of both day-to-day support activities as well as taking on real responsibility for meaningful projects. This will allow a steep learning curve to get a deep understanding of the biofuel industry whilst being accountable for delivering results.  As part of our 2-year Graduate Program you will rotate through various roles and departments over time and new roles and rotations will be assessed pending your development and capabilities.

This is a 2-year Fixed Term Contract.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Support day to day work as well as relevant projects within the Trade team and other departments.
• Undertaking price and market analysis to assist in developing and executing trade strategies (supply and demand, global crack spreads, margins).
• Risk management and market monitoring.
• Adherence to internal company policies and procedures, ensuring that appropriate records are maintained for internal and external compliance inspections, planning analysis and audit processes.
• Performing daily validation activities of relevant price and market information (spot/forward), making sure all relevant.
• Understand and record trades in the ERP system (Oracle).
• Supporting automation efforts by driving greater use of systems within the Trade Control team, eliminating manual spread sheets and fully support the implementation of relevant controls directly into the trade capture systems.
• Maintaining a good understanding of European sustainability requirements and market developments
• Providing insight and support to the development of the long-term biodiesel products trading strategy for Argent.

Argent is a multi-site organisation with various operational locations in the UK and The Netherlands that process a variety of feedstocks.  You’ll be in the middle of the action from day 1, working on important projects for our business. Both your personal and professional development are important to us and will be supported by the team around you.

Key Internal / External relationships

• Dealing with external stakeholders, shipping team and other trading desks as instructed by traders.
• Acting as dedicated trade team interface with confirmation/ contracts/ Operations Department.
• Focal point for operational aspects of the Biodiesel market and provide traders and operators direction on commercial impacts of market developments and hourly balancing system penalties and exposures.
• Work closely with Argent’s other sites to improve processes, share knowledge and provide support where necessary.

About Us

Argent Energy is a waste-based biodiesel producer with a vision to help decarbonise transport worldwide. Argent has 2 operational locations in Europe; Stanlow (England) and Amsterdam (The Netherlands). At Argent we turn waste oils into low carbon fuel which significantly contributes to reducing the CO2 emissions of transport. We believe in using waste materials only and continuously search for new waste to be turned into higher value products. We invest in people and their development as well as R&D to drive innovation in products, technologies and operational excellence. We are highly entrepreneurial and are constantly acting on new opportunities.

Argent Energy is an expanding organisation and a leading waste based biodiesel producer with a vision to decarbonise transport globally. As part of the Swire Group, Argent Energy has the backing and ambitions to strengthen its sustainability performance and be best in class. John Swire & Sons Ltd. stems from a family business founded in 1816, which has grown in 200 years into a global company with various participations in aviation, maritime, food, trading and industry.

Qualifications/ Knowledge, Experience & Skills

• Minimum Degree in relevant discipline
• Understanding of trading concepts (desirable)
• Previous experience working in trading environment (desirable)
• Proficiency in the English and Dutch languages

Technical skills required

• IT literate, including Word, Excel & PowerPoint
• Excellent written and verbal communication at all levels
• Exceptional planning and organisational skills
• Problem solving mindset
• Project management (desirable)

Behavioural skills required

• Innovative and enthusiasm for biofuel/ commodity trading
• Good team work ethic
• Collaborative and builds good working relationship with internal and external stakeholders
• Commercially astute
• Self-motivated and ability to use own initiative
• Great attention to detail and analytical to make good decisions and present clear justifications
• Continuous improvement and solutions driven
• Growth mindset with a drive to learn and develop

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum Degree in relevant discipline
• Understanding of trading concepts (desirable)
• Previous experience working in trading environment (desirable)
• Proficiency in the English and Dutch languages