Trading Operator

Country Switzerland City GENEVE

Area
Switzerland

Workplace location GENEVE-WTC1(CHE) Employer company TOTSA TotalEnergies Trading SA Domain Operations Type of contract Regular position Experience Less than 3 years

Context & Environment

The Trading Operations team of Trading & Shipping (T&S) is essential to the trading organisation and operates in a fast-paced, real-time environment requiring reliable and committed profiles with a strong cooperative mindset.

The Job Holder is part of the Trading Operations team and works closely with traders and counterparties to coordinate all aspects of post-deal trading activities, from trade inception to completion, ensuring safe, compliant and cost-efficient execution of physical flows (petroleum products, crude and/or operational activities).

In parallel with the traditional Trading Operator responsibilities, the position carries a strong Digital, Data & Automation dimension. The Job Holder actively contributes to the digital transformation of Trading Operations by identifying inefficiencies, designing and implementing automation and data-analytics solutions, challenging the status quo, and supporting the team in scaling operations sustainably (handling greater volumes and complexity with the same or fewer resources).

This dual profile – operational execution + digital / analytics capabilities – is a specific requirement of the position and reflects the increasing complexity of physical trading flows, the volume of data generated per transaction, and the strategic priority given by T&S to data-driven decision-making and process automation.

Activities

A. Trading Operator Responsibilities

As a Trading Operator, the Job Holder will:

• Coordinate logistics for all loading/discharging operations by sea and/or overland, anticipating, avoiding and mitigating any potentially hazardous or costly situation.
• Follow up on vessels chartered by the company (spot, COA or T/C) and optimise rotations and loading plans.
• Nominate essential service providers (independent inspectors, loss controllers, additive suppliers, etc.) and ensure the accuracy and consistency of the results obtained.
• Diligently manage storage and process contracts (quantities, qualities, financial exposure, customs, etc.).
• Identify the cause of any operational problems encountered and ensure resolution through coordination with all affected stakeholders, mitigating costs and consequences for the company.
• Obtain financial guarantees from counterparties, control and/or amend them before cargo loading/unloading, in conjunction with the Credit department.
• Evaluate all costs derived from transactions and communicate all operational data having a financial impact on trading results (prices, hedges, freight, currency, etc.).
• Verify the coherence and feasibility of trading negotiations and formalise commercial contracts.
• Submit damage reports to insurers, compile and follow claim files.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory aspects (REACH, Customs, VAT, sanctions, etc.) in collaboration with respective support departments.
• Ensure compliance with vetting procedures for seagoing vessels and barges.
• Manage the invoicing and payment process and recovery of funds when applicable.
• Where applicable, manage and optimise equity lifting through an in-depth understanding of Lifting Agreements and Terminal Procedures (Availabilities, Payment Quantities, etc.).
• Adhere to HSE, Code of Conduct, Business Integrity and all other applicable company policies and procedures at all times.

B. Digital, Data Analytics & Automation Responsibilities

In addition to the operational scope above, the Job Holder acts as a digital referent within the Trading Operations team and contributes actively to the following areas:

1. Automation & Digitalisation

• Design, develop and maintain automation scripts, workflows and internal tools supporting post-deal activities (Python, SQL, VBA, Power Automate, APIs, OCR / RPA-type solutions).
• Build dashboards, monitoring tools and data pipelines enabling faster, more accurate and more transparent operational follow-up (cargoes, freight, demurrage, costs, exposures).
• Introduce digital solutions to reduce manual and repetitive workload (auto-checking of contractual data, reconciliation of quantities and pricing, email parsing, AI-assisted anomaly detection, etc.).

2. Data Analytics & Decision Support

• Structure, clean and analyse large operational and commercial datasets to support trading and operational decisions (freight optimisation, rotation planning, cost analysis, supplier / counterparty performance, etc.).
• Design and maintain data-visualisation tools (Power BI, Tableau, Looker) providing management and traders with real-time operational KPIs.
• Leverage statistical and machine-learning techniques where relevant to improve forecasting, exposure monitoring and operational risk detection.

3. Process Optimisation & Continuous Improvement

• Analyse Trading Operations processes end-to-end to identify bottlenecks, redundancies and error-prone steps.
• Propose and implement process re-engineering initiatives aligned with the OTS objective of handling greater complexity with the same or fewer resources.
• Establish KPIs and performance metrics to track process improvements and automation benefits.

4. Operational Support & Change Management

• Train the Trading Operations team on newly deployed tools, automation solutions and digital workflows.
• Act as a referent for technological topics, supporting colleagues in tool adoption and digital upskilling.
• Document new processes, maintain procedures and ensure proper governance for automated tasks.

5. Innovation & Cross-functional Projects

• Benchmark new technologies (AI, RPA, data analytics, workflow automation) to continuously challenge the status quo.
• Collaborate with IT, Digital Factory, Data teams and other OTS departments on transversal digital projects.
• Drive a culture of operational excellence, data-driven decision-making and agility within the team.

Objectives

Trading Operator Objectives

• Coordinate the operational and financial aspects of post-deal trading activity and ensure all execution steps run smoothly.
• Contribute to accurate income collection and payment execution within contractual timelines.
• Mitigate operational, financial and compliance risks associated with physical flows.

Digital & Data Analytics Objectives

• Reduce manual workload by developing robust automation solutions.
• Improve processing capacity and enable scalable growth (more transactions / same or fewer resources).
• Increase data quality, reduce operational errors and enhance transaction tracking and transparency.
• Support the team in adopting a more digital, data-driven operating model.

Candidate Profile

Education

• Master's degree (or equivalent) in Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Business Analytics, Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, or Business/Economics with a strong technical / quantitative background.
• A dual profile combining a technical / engineering background with business or supply-chain exposure is strongly preferred, given the hybrid nature of the position.

Technical & Digital Skills (mandatory)

• A proven track record in process optimisation, automation and programming applied to Trading & Shipping activities – in particular prior exposure to TotalEnergies T&S internal tools, systems and processes – is considered a strong advantage, given the complexity of the operational environment and the reduced ramp-up time it enables in a 24/7 setting
• Solid programming and data-processing skills: Python and SQL mandatory; VBA and R considered a strong asset.
• Hands-on experience with data-visualisation and BI tools: Power BI, Tableau and/or Looker.
• Experience with workflow automation, scripting and process digitalisation (Power Automate, RPA or equivalent).
• Familiarity with data analytics techniques (data cleaning, statistical analysis, ABC / optimisation methods) and exposure to machine-learning concepts.
• Advanced command of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), including advanced Excel modelling.
• Strong general IT literacy and structured curiosity for new technologies (AI, generative AI, automation).

Business / Operational Skills

• Knowledge of, interest in and curiosity for the energy / commodity trading business.
• Understanding of supply-chain, logistics and procurement fundamentals (contract negotiation, supplier evaluation, cost optimisation, inventory / flow management).
• Notions of trading documentation and payment procedures (trading contracts, Letters of Credit, cargo documents, Letters of Indemnity) are a strong plus.
• Strong analytical mindset, attention to detail and numerical rigour.

Behavioural Skills

• Solution-oriented attitude, strong sense of commitment and flexibility.
• Ability to multitask and thrive in a complex, fast-paced environment under time pressure.
• Proactive mindset: ability to challenge the status quo and initiate new ideas or ways of working.
• Strong team spirit and cross-functional communication skills; capacity to train colleagues and support digital adoption.
• Autonomy, rigour and reliability.

Languages

• Fluent in English and French (both mandatory – working and reporting languages of the team).
• Any additional language (Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, etc.) is considered a plus given the international nature of counterparties, terminals and service providers.

The position is embedded in a fast-paced, dynamic trading environment with time-sensitive, business-critical activities requiring 24/7 responsiveness, strong planning and organisational skills, and attention to detail.

The Job Holder acts as a key interface and internal coordinator between all involved internal departments (Trading, Treasury, Credit, Financial Control, Accounting, Shipping, Vetting, Demurrage, AQB, IT / Digital, etc.) and third parties (counterparties, terminals, inspectors, agents, brokers, insurers).

The digital and analytics dimension of the role requires strong analytical capabilities, an appetite for technology, and the ability to translate operational needs into scalable digital and data-driven solutions. It is a structural and increasing requirement of the Trading Operations function, in line with the strategic priorities of the T&S branch.

We are committed to meet the energy needs of a growing population and we are committed to the energy transition. The volatility of the energy trading markets requires excellence in risk management and a culture of innovation. We are fully embracing the digital revolution.
Our people flourish in an environment that promotes expertise, entrepreneurship spirit, agility and a purpose-driven culture, generating boundless opportunities to learn, grow and achieve collaborative success.
Reinforcing the competencies of our people is a key pillar of our culture: we train our people to ensure their development and we pledge to encourage safety in all our actions.
We look for passion, ambition and open-mindedness. While we evolve in a demanding industry that requests to be always on the edge, we cultivate a friendly workplace where our people feel good, where team spirit and respect guide our daily routine, where the diversity of our people and their skills create a nourishing experience for all of us.

Additional Information

TotalEnergies values diversity, promotes individual growth and offers equal opportunity careers.

Become one of the drivers of energy transition with TotalEnergies Trading & Shipping.
TotalEnergies is a broad energy company that produces and markets energies on a global scale: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. Our 105,000 employees are committed to energy that is ever more affordable, clean, reliable and accessible to as many people as possible. Active in more than 130 countries, TotalEnergies puts sustainable development in all its dimensions at the heart of its projects and operations to contribute to the well-being of people
Trading Shipping :
Give your best to better energy and make the commitment with TotalEnergies. We are one of the most active players in the international oil markets, trading with a vast network of customers and suppliers worldwide: national oil companies, producers, other oil majors, refiners, traders, distributors and end-users.
We have developed a set of trading strategies and expertise, which allows us to respond permanently to market changes and opportunities, on all physical and paper oil markets.
Satisfying the energy needs of a growing world population, curbing global warming, and adapting to changing customer behaviors and expectations are the three challenges that TotalEnergies must meet over the next 20 years. With its biomass blending and trading activity, TotalEnergies Trading & Shipping is an active participant in the development of sustainable biofuels. Our maritime transport expertise also helps to reduce the carbon footprint of sea transportation and we recently announced the time chartering of new vessels equipped with LNG propulsion.