We are on a journey to transform the cocoa value chain from farm to fork. We’re leveraging data science and artificial intelligence to improve productivity, sustainability, and profitability for smallholder farmers.
Our actions truly shape the future of our industry. We are a company with a purpose, we believe in doing well by doing good and reinvesting in the communities we operate. We have a long-standing commitment to sustainability and our goal is to shape sustainable value chains across communities, people, and the planet.

Reporting
Reports to the Head Commercial and Regional Sustainability lead

Work Status
Full time

Location
Bamikemo, Ile Oluji LGA, Ondo State

About the role:
To ensure the cocoa sourcing in the dedicated region and create value for our stakeholders.
Cocoa Trader creates profit contributions mainly via trading physical cocoa.

Working with farmers, local market agents, cooperatives, and merchants to establish, maintain and develop relationships with customers and suppliers. The focus will be on procurement and shipment. Identifies business opportunities, and negotiates and closes business deals. Builds and maintains extensive knowledge of current market conditions in the cocoa market. Making prices and executing trades, seeking to maximize assets and minimize financial and market risk. Supporting management in establishing and accomplishing business objectives.

Responsibilities
Manage suppliers' daily concerns
Create and maintain an information network (competition, production, prices on the ground)
Ensure regular bush tours (prospecting, debt collection, information….) and plan cocoa beans buyers' bush tours on a weekly basis
Responsible for maintaining a close relationship with suppliers and finding new ones ( from the competition ) - management portfolio
Prepare and communicate weekly activity reports as regards to his supplier's portfolio
Buying, marketing, and selling
Relationship management
Contract execution
Risk Management
Market research
Sustainability
Management support
Key tasks

1. Buying, marketing, and selling
   · Buying and selling physical commodities and farm inputs to maximize company revenue.
   · Daily contact with regional and/or local representatives in origin about market developments.
   · Communication with regional and/or local representatives about the execution of sourcing strategy.
   · Daily contact with clients and suppliers.
   · Using and performing market analysis to implement appropriate buying and selling strategies.

2. Relationship management
   a. Maintaining and developing commercial relationships with suppliers and buyers.

3. Contract execution
   a. Responsible for sound execution of sale and purchase contracts related to the assigned origins.
   b. Solid communication with and provide support for the back-office and logistics team.
   c. Close liaison with origin teams.

4. Futures & FX trading for hedging and proprietary book
   a. Assist Head Trader and/or Trader responsible for hedging and proprietary book in developing and maximizing the company’s trading strategy within the guidelines of the risk management policy.
   b. Being able to replace in absence of the Head Trader and/or Trader responsible for hedging and proprietary book in trading futures, options, and foreign exchanges for hedging purposes and proprietary trading.

5. Risk management
   a. Ensure full insight and take full ownership in the portfolio of a physical book in terms of positions allocation, value at risk, and risk controls with a full understanding of all related risks, such as counterparty, origin, and market risks.
   b. Develop and advise (potential) customers and suppliers on risk management policies and tools.

6. Market research
   a. Conduct research and analyze data on supply and demand factors of cocoa, related markets, and of macro-economic fundamentals.
   b. Prepare analytical commodity market reviews for the rest of the trading team and clients.

7. Sustainability
   a. Work jointly with the team in the implementation of sustainability projects/strategies in the assigned origins and with clients.

8. Management and team support
   a. Supporting the management in the implementation of the business strategies via daily execution of sales and account management as well as sourcing strategies and risk management.
   b. Work closely with origin reps and teams to ensure market share growth in the cocoa market.

Education, knowledge, and experience
Level of skill commensurate with a bachelor's degree or higher qualification (Mathematics, Econometrics). At least 3 years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualification.
·3+ years of experience in preferable procurement of cocoa or other soft/agricultural commodities trading.
Proven sourcing experience.
Sound knowledge of cocoa or other soft/agricultural markets.
Good understanding of risk management in physical soft/agricultural commodities trading.

Skills
Fluent in French and English, both verbal and written.
Team player with strong commercial acumen.
Good analytical and numerical skills with attention to detail.
Keen sense of priority to meet short deadlines.
Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel.
Entrepreneurial, dynamic, and looking for trading opportunities.
A continuous drive to understand and beat the market.
Well organized, and accurate.
Effective and convincing communicator and negotiator.
Committed and determined. Proactive, focused, and decisive, a winner!

What can you expect from Zowasel?
Work with like-minded individuals and talented Associates,
Join a purpose-driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house and outsides training
An industry-competitive salary and benefits package.
Healthcare insurance for you and your family
Parental leave
A hybrid-first organization with flexible work hours

Are you interested in becoming a Cocoa Trader in Nigeria Apply now