Commercial Development Associate – Energy & Commodities

Location: Cairo, Egypt – primarily office-based, with domestic and occasional international travel
Reports to: Managing Director
Experience: 2–4 years
Employment: Full-time
Start date: As soon as possible

About the company

We are an established Egyptian company active in energy, commodities and international commercial projects. Our work involves local and international suppliers, buyers and strategic partners.

We are building a small, high-quality team capable of combining rigorous analysis with practical commercial execution.

About the role

We are seeking a commercially minded and highly capable associate to work directly with the Managing Director on selected business-development initiatives.

This is not a conventional sales position and is not initially a trading position. The successful candidate will research markets, evaluate opportunities, prepare management for important discussions and ensure that commercial initiatives progress systematically.

The position is designed for someone who wants meaningful exposure to physical commodities and international business while earning progressively greater responsibility through strong performance and sound judgment.

Because some company activities are confidential, access will be provided according to business need and demonstrated trust.

Key responsibilities

• Research selected commodity markets, including suppliers, buyers, production capacity, specifications, trade flows, pricing indications and relevant regulations.
• Identify and qualify potential commercial opportunities across approved products and markets.
• Maintain an accurate pipeline of opportunities, tenders, counterparties, deadlines and required actions.
• Monitor relevant tenders and prepare concise summaries of commercial requirements and deadlines.
• Prepare one-page briefing notes before important calls and meetings.
• Convert management discussions into structured action plans, responsibilities and deadlines.
• Draft professional emails, letters, presentations, proposals and commercial summaries for management approval.
• Compare supplier and buyer proposals and identify missing information, commercial risks and necessary follow-up.
• Produce a concise weekly commercial-development report.
• Coordinate routine follow-ups with approved counterparties and service providers.
• Assist with preparing management visits, commercial meetings and business travel.
• Travel to factories, sites, conferences and meetings when required.
• Take increasing ownership of selected non-sensitive products, markets or commercial initiatives.
• Handle all information with a high degree of discretion and professional judgment.

What success looks like

Within the first 90 days, the successful candidate should be able to:

• Establish a reliable commercial opportunity and tender tracker.
• Produce clear weekly market and opportunity briefs.
• Prepare useful meeting packs requiring minimal correction.
• Demonstrate consistent, timely follow-through.
• Complete at least one substantial market-mapping or opportunity-development project.
• Distinguish facts, assumptions, risks and unanswered questions.
• Earn the confidence to communicate with selected external parties.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, economics, finance, engineering, supply chain or another relevant discipline.
• 2–4 years of relevant professional experience.
• Experience in at least one of the following areas:
• B2B business development
• Management consulting or advisory
• Banking or trade finance
• Industrial sales or procurement
• Shipping, logistics or inspection
• Market intelligence or commercial analysis
• Commodities, energy or international trade
• Excellent written and spoken English and Arabic.
• Strong Excel and PowerPoint capabilities.
• Ability to research unfamiliar subjects and produce concise, decision-ready conclusions.
• Strong business writing and presentation skills.
• Excellent organization and follow-through.
• Professional presence and confidence interacting with senior stakeholders.
• High integrity and discretion with confidential information.
• Willingness to travel and work around important commercial deadlines.

Preferred qualifications

• Exposure to energy, fertilizers, coal, sulfur, petroleum products, shipping or physical commodity markets.
• Experience preparing commercial models, cost comparisons or market assessments.
• Familiarity with Incoterms, tenders, procurement or international contracts.
• Additional language capability, particularly French or Italian.

Personal characteristics

We are looking for someone who is:

• Intellectually curious and commercially aware.
• Ambitious without being entitled.
• Comfortable operating with incomplete information.
• Persistent and dependable.
• Able to work independently after receiving clear direction.
• Willing to perform both analytical and routine coordination work.
• Confident enough to offer a considered opinion and disciplined enough to protect confidential information.

What we offer

• Direct exposure to senior management and real commercial decisions.
• A structured path toward greater responsibility for products, markets and counterparties.
• Experience across domestic and international transactions.
• Performance-related compensation.
• Funded professional-development opportunities.
• A serious working environment where strong performance is recognized.

Application requirements

Please submit:

• Your CV in English.
• A short response of no more than 200 words describing a commercial or analytical assignment where you started with incomplete information, how you approached it and what resulted.

Shortlisted candidates will complete a time-limited commercial case exercise.

Pay: E£1.00 - E£11.00 per month

Work Location: In person