Torq Commodities is an international commodity trading group with operations across Europe, Asia, and Africa. The Group focuses on developing sustainable trading businesses through strong origination capabilities, market expertise, disciplined risk management, and long-term commercial partnerships.
As part of our strategic expansion in Asia, we are seeking an entrepreneurial and highly commercial Head of Trading – China to establish, lead, and grow our China trading platform.
Position Overview
This is a front-office, revenue-generating trading leadership role, not a purely managerial or operational position.
The successful candidate will be responsible for establishing and managing a profitable physical commodity trading book, developing strategic customer and supplier relationships, identifying market opportunities, and building a sustainable profit centre for Torq Commodities in China.
We are looking for a commercially driven trading professional with an established industry network, strong deal-making capabilities, and a proven track record of generating trading profits.
The role requires a hands-on trader who can independently originate, negotiate, structure, and execute profitable transactions while progressively building the Group's presence in the Chinese market.
Key Responsibilities
1. Trading & P&L Ownership
- Establish, develop, and manage a profitable physical commodity trading book in China.
- Take direct responsibility for trading performance, gross margins, and P&L delivery.
- Identify and execute profitable trading opportunities across domestic and international markets.
- Originate, negotiate, structure, and close physical commodity transactions.
- Develop trading strategies based on market fundamentals, supply-demand dynamics, pricing, and commercial opportunities.
- Manage trading positions and commercial exposures within the Group's approved risk framework.
2. Business Development & Market Expansion
- Establish and expand Torq Commodities' commercial presence in China.
- Develop a strong network of customers, suppliers, producers, processors, and trading counterparties.
- Identify new commodity flows, sourcing opportunities, and distribution channels.
- Build long-term relationships with strategic counterparties.
- Develop import, export, and domestic trading opportunities aligned with the Group's international trading activities.
- Leverage Torq's global network to create cross-border trading opportunities.
3. Commercial Strategy & Profit Centre Development
- Build the China trading business into a commercially independent and sustainable profit centre.
- Develop and execute a business plan with clearly defined trading volumes, margins, profitability targets, and growth objectives.
- Identify commercially attractive commodity segments and opportunities for diversification.
- Establish scalable trading processes and commercial partnerships.
- Provide market intelligence and strategic recommendations to Group leadership.
4. Risk Management & Trade Execution
- Ensure trading activities comply with approved credit, market, counterparty, and operational risk limits.
- Work closely with trade finance, logistics, operations, and risk management teams to ensure successful transaction execution.
- Monitor market volatility, price movements, and geopolitical developments affecting commodity flows.
- Maintain disciplined trading practices with a strong focus on profitability, liquidity, and risk-adjusted returns.
5. Leadership & Platform Development
- Initially operate as a hands-on senior trader with direct responsibility for business generation.
- Recruit, develop, and lead a trading team as commercial activity and profitability justify expansion.
- Establish a performance-driven and entrepreneurial trading culture.
- Collaborate with Torq's international trading teams to maximize commercial synergies.
Requirements
- At least 5 years of experience owning a physical commodities trading book with direct P&L responsibility.
- Senior, hands-on leadership experience in physical commodities trading, including operational involvement in logistics and hands-on hedging experience.
- Experience trading agri commodities, including grains, nuts, and oilseeds.
- Experience managing commercial relationships across the trading ecosystem, including growers, processors, importers, exporters, and large buying customers.
- Native or native-level proficiency in Mandarin, with fluent English.
- Eligibility to work in the UK or Switzerland.
Skills Required
- Native Mandarin Chinese speaker or native-level Mandarin proficiency
- Fluent English (written and spoken)
- Significant experience in international commodity trading
- Proven track record of developing and managing commercial relationships within China
- Demonstrated experience building and leading trading teams
- Strong understanding of international trade, logistics, supply chains, and risk management
- Existing network within the Chinese commodity trading sector
- Ability to travel regularly to China and other international markets
What We Do
Torq Commodities is a global trading group specializing in the supply chain management and ethical sourcing of agricultural products, natural resources, and hard commodities.
