Founding Senior Trader, Critical Minerals & Metals

Job Summary

Front End is establishing a new minerals and metals trading venture with a focus on critical minerals and rare earth elements. We are seeking a Senior Trader with 8‑15 years of physical trading experience to serve in a founding commercial role. The successful candidate will run an active trading book from day one while simultaneously helping establish the venture's infrastructure, counter party network, banking relationships, logistics framework, and trading team.

This is a dual‑mandate role for a commercially proven trader who is equally comfortable executing deals and building the platform around them.

• Originate, structure, and execute physical trades (spot and term) across base metals, minor metals, critical minerals, and rare earth elements
• Develop and manage counter party relationships with miners, processors, refiners, smelters, and end‑users across GCC, Africa, Central Asia, and Asia‑Pacific
• Negotiate and close off‑take, pre‑pay, tolling, and supply agreements
• Own desk P&L, position management, and market risk within agreed mandates
• Monitor global supply/demand fundamentals, pricing, and geopolitical developments affecting critical materials

• Define the venture's trading strategy, product focus, and go‑to‑market approach
• Establish the trade lifecycle, risk framework, and operating model in coordination with finance, legal, compliance, and operations
• Build banking relationships and secure structured trade finance facilities (LCs, borrowing base, receivables finance, inventory finance, pre‑pay)
• Set up logistics, warehousing, inspection, assay, and insurance partnerships
• Recruit, mentor, and structure the trading team as the venture scales

• Develop relationships with Saudi government bodies, regulators, and sovereign / quasi‑sovereign entities aligned with Vision 2030 mining objectives
• Represent the venture with industry associations, mining companies, and ecosystem partners regionally and globally

• 8‑15 years of physical trading experience in metals, minerals, or concentrates at a major trading house, mining company, producer trading arm, or merchant
• Demonstrable P&L track record with direct deal origination — not solely execution
• Proven experience setting up new desks, geographies, or product lines from inception
• Strong working knowledge of structured trade finance instruments and banking processes
• Deep network across the minerals and metals value chain
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Metallurgy, Mining, Economics, Finance, or related discipline;
  Master's preferred

• Direct experience trading critical minerals, rare earth elements, or battery materials
• Track record working in or with the GCC region
• Cultural fluency to operate effectively with Saudi institutions and counter parties
• Arabic language skills (advantageous, not required)

Candidates should hold, or have working familiarity with, certifications and standards relevant to physical commodities trading. The following are valued:

• LME (London Metal Exchange) Category membership exposure or LME‑registered trader experience
• CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) — desirable
• FRM (Financial Risk Manager, GARP) — desirable
• ICC (International Chamber of Commerce) certifications in trade finance: CDCS (Certified Documentary Credit Specialist) or CSDG (Certified Specialist in Demand Guarantees)
• ACI Dealing Certificate or ACI Diploma — desirable

• Familiarity with LBMA (London Bullion Market Association) Responsible Sourcing Guidance
• Working knowledge of OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict‑Affected and High‑Risk Areas
• Familiarity with the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) and RMAP (Responsible Minerals Assurance Process)
• Knowledge of ISO 20400 (Sustainable Procurement) and ISO 14001 standards as they apply to minerals supply chains
• Understanding of Dodd‑Frank Section 1502, EU Conflict Minerals Regulation, and equivalent regimes

• Member of…