Senior Trade Operations Executive (1 year contract)

The company is a fast-growing, boutique international trading company looking for an agile, experienced, and hands-on Senior Trade Operations Executive. This role is critical to building and running our day-to-day trade execution workflow. You will handle the end-to-end execution of physical commodity trades and structured trade finance transactions.

As an early key operational hire, you will bridge the gap between commercial deal execution, logistics, banking partners, and finance.

Key Responsibilities:

1.       Physical Trade & Cargo Logistics:

·       Manage the full post-deal execution lifecycle for physical trades (import/export), ensuring compliance with contract terms, Incoterms, and laytime specifications.

·        Coordinate directly with shipbrokers, chartering desks, freight forwarders, surveyors, and warehouse operators for vessel scheduling, loading/discharging, and storage.

·        Prepare, review, and handle all critical shipping documents, including Bills of Lading (B/L), Certificates of Origin, Quality/Quantity Certificates, and Customs paperwork.

·        Monitor shipment status, track cargo movements, and resolve operational bottlenecks or transit delays proactively.

2.       Structured Trade & Trade Finance

·       Review and negotiate structured trade finance facilities, Letters of Credit (L/C issued/received, back-to-back L/Cs, standby L/Cs), and bank guarantees with financial institutions.

·        Perform strict documentary checking against UCP600 / ISBP standards to eliminate discrepancy risks.

·        Coordinate with issuing/advising banks to ensure timely issuance, amendments, and settlements of trade credit lines.

·        Monitor deal margin calls, collateral management, and credit terms aligned with structured trade agreements.

3.       Settlement, Invoicing & Laytime

·       Issue provisional and final commercial invoices to counterparties.

·       Calculate demurrage, despatch, and laytime claims; negotiate settlements with owners and counterparties.

·       Reconcile trade P&L per deal, tracking execution costs (freight, inspection, storage, financing charges) against budget.

4.       Process Improvement & Startup Support

·       Assist management in establishing operational Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and trade documentation checklists for scalable growth.

·        Maintain complete compliance with Singapore trade regulations, customs controls, and international sanction frameworks.

Requirements:

·       Education: Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Maritime Studies, Business, Finance, or related disciplines.

·       Experience: hands-on trade operations / trade support experience in physical trading firms or commodity trade finance banks in Singapore.

·       Technical Knowledge: Deep working knowledge of Incoterms 2020, shipping documentation, UCP600/ISBP for Letters of Credit, and laytime/demurrage calculations.

·       Structured Trade Exposure: Familiarity with bank trade credit facilities, structured trade finance mechanisms, and credit risk control.

·       Mindset: Startup agility, comfortable wearing multiple hats, working independently without heavy corporate back-office support, and taking full ownership of operational issues.