Crude Oil Trader
Job Title: Crude Oil Trader
Overview:
A leading global energy firm is seeking a highly motivated Crude Oil Trader to join its Houston-based trading team. This individual will be responsible for managing and growing a proprietary crude trading portfolio across North American and international markets, leveraging market insights, logistics optimization, and risk management strategies to drive profitability.
Key Responsibilities:
- Execute physical and financial crude oil trades across domestic and global markets, including WTI, Midland, Mars, and international benchmarks
- Develop and manage a proprietary trading book with clear P&L accountability
- Identify arbitrage opportunities across regional, grade, and time spreads, optimizing logistics and blending strategies
- Work closely with scheduling, operations, and midstream teams to ensure seamless execution of physical movements
- Build and maintain relationships with producers, refiners, and counterparties to enhance market intelligence and deal flow
- Collaborate with analytics and research teams to incorporate fundamental and quantitative insights into trading strategies
- Monitor market fundamentals including supply/demand dynamics, refinery outages, pipeline flows, and geopolitical developments
- Ensure compliance with internal risk limits, credit policies, and regulatory requirements
Qualifications:
- 5-12+ years of experience in crude oil trading (physical preferred, financial or blended experience considered)
- Strong understanding of US crude markets (Permian, Gulf Coast, Cushing) and global crude flows
- Proven track record of generating P&L and managing risk independently
- Deep knowledge of crude pricing benchmarks, transportation economics, and storage optimization
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to identify and execute profitable trading strategies
- Excellent communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Engineering, or related field
Preferred Experience:
- Exposure to international crude trading and waterborne logistics
- Experience with blending optimization and refinery economics
- Familiarity with derivatives used for hedging (futures, swaps, options)
Compensation:
Competitive base salary with a performance-driven bonus structure tied directly to individual and team P&L.
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