Position: Trader Manager, Base Oil (Sign the 3rd party contract)
Direct report to: Manager, Base Oil Commercial Asia Pasific and China
Key Accountabilities:
1. Trading and Deal Executions
? Buy and sell base oils in spot and term markets.
? Identify arbitrage opportunities across regions (e.g., Asia, Middle East, Africa, Europe, Americas).
? Structure and negotiate contracts (CFR, FOB, CIF, EXW) including Incoterms, credit terms, and quality specs.
? Evaluate and forecast price trends, crack spreads, and margin opportunities using trading models and market data.
2. Market Intelligence and Research
? Build and maintain a proprietary market outlook on base oil supply/demand fundamentals.
? Track refinery turnarounds, base oil production capacities, and emerging regulations (e.g., IMO, REACH).
? Analyze data from agencies (Argus, ICIS, Platts) and benchmark against internal analytics.
? Conduct market research and facilitate market information profiling i.e base oil prices , competitor activities , customer preference etc .
? Develop, execute and deploy marketing and trading plan i.e trading alliances with customers, suppliers and producers to ensure growth and profitability of company.
3. Supply Chain and Logistics Co-ordination
? Liaise with operations, chartering, blending, and logistics teams to ensure smooth delivery of cargoes.
? Monitor shipping movements, vessel chartering, and demurrage claims.
? Ensure proper handling of documents (BLs, invoices, COAs, LC terms) and compliance with export/import regulations.
? Executing base oil sourcing activities at optimal cost i.e identifying alternative supply source and lead effective negotiations for timely and cost-efficient delivery.
? Develop and execute blending strategies by identifying and sourcing i.e optimal blending components, managing blending facility performance and ensuring compliance with quality, cost, safety and delivery.
? Monitor operation execution and proactively resolving disputes or contractual breaches to protect commercial interests i.e. continuous and cost-effective supply.
4. Client & Supplier Relationship Management
? Develop and maintain strategic relationships with refineries, blenders, lubricant manufacturers, and major distributors.
? Identify and onboard new suppliers/customers in high-growth regions or niche markets (e.g., re-refined base oils, specialty grades).
? Support commercial negotiations and manage client onboarding in coordination with legal and compliance.
? Execute and manage the implementation of term and spot sales end to end activities i.e. developing supply and demand plans, negotiating sales term, initiating sales of order, managing customer and relevant authority expectations, timely collection of payment and ensuring all terms and conditions are fully met.
5. Risk Management and Compliance
? Work closely with risk and credit teams to manage exposures (price, counterparty, FX, freight).
? Ensure compliance with company policy, trade sanctions (OFAC, EU, etc.), anti-bribery, and KYC/AML regulations.
? Maintain accurate deal entry and reporting in trading systems (e.g., CTRM, SAP, Allegro, or Endur).
? Implement effective management of risk by developing monthly or quarterly reporting and analysis of performance.
? Conduct proper and effective communication between traders and operation i.e. aligning the execution of marketing and trading transactions, recommend process improvements, monitor risk tolerance limits, mitigate exposures and expedite management decision making on trading strategies and protect company interest at all times.
6. Stakeholders Management
? Coordinate and ensure effective management to promote and foster relationships with customers and the international business community
? Gather market intelligence for better and effective business decisions.
? Develop business through professional business conduct for purpose of acquiring expertise and transfer of knowledge and technology.
7. Budget Management
? Prepare , implement and monitor Base Oil Budget i.e training, G&A and required documentation for deals eg marketing & trading transactions
? Effective control and record system to ensure effective utilization of budget and ensure business transactions and activities are properly executed and in compliance to established PLI code of ethics , policies and governance.
Qualification:
? Bachelor’s or master’s degree in business, Finance, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
? Minimum 3–10 years of experience in base oil, petrochemical, or refined product trading.
? Proven track record of profitable trading and deal origination.
? Deep technical knowledge of base oil specifications, applications (automotive, industrial lubes), and quality parameters.
Work Experience:
? Ideally minimum 7 years diversified experience in Marketing & Trading/ Operations functions, preferably in Oil & Gas industries with knowledge of Base Oils.
? Understanding of freight markets, storage economics, and blending economics.
? Sufficient exposure to industry-standard analytical and trading/ operational tools and systems.
? Ability to interpret complex data and use market tools (e.g.,Excel, Python, Power BI) for trade decisions.
? Familiarity with trading systems (e.g., Aspect, Allegro, or other CTRMs).
? Experience in negotiating terms and conditions in standard contracts.
? Experience in executing deals with guidance and the limits given.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
? Gross and Net Trading Margin
? Volume Traded (by product and region)
? Deal Accuracy and Execution Time
? Customer Retention and New Account Development
? Risk-adjusted Return on Capital