Head of Trading - Proteins & Non-Hedgeable Commodities

Location: East Riding of Yorkshire, Yorkshire & the Humber

This is a significant opportunity for an ambitious Head of Trading or senior hands-on trader seeking progression towards board-level responsibility. Reporting to the Board, the successful candidate will play a central role in shaping and delivering global trading strategy, while remaining actively involved in high-value international buying and selling activity across proteins and non-hedgeable commodities.

Our client is a privately owned international trading group with annual turnover exceeding US $1 billion. Operating across fisheries, aquaculture and agriculture, the business specialises in the global trade of frozen proteins, including fish, meat, poultry and pork, alongside a growing dry commodities category including rice and sugar. Headquartered in the North-East of England, with established offices in China and Spain, the group has ambitious plans to expand its international footprint in strategically important markets.

The role requires a proven trading professional with strong market instinct, commercial judgement and relationship-led negotiation skills. Experience in proteins, frozen food, seafood, meat, poultry, pork, agriculture or comparable non-hedgeable commodity markets is essential, as is the ability to make sound trading decisions in markets where margin protection depends on judgement, timing, intelligence and execution.

This will suit a current Head of Trading, Senior Trader, Commercial Trading Lead or trading-led commercial leader who wants to broaden their global influence, lead an experienced team, and progress into a more strategic role with clear visibility at Board level.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading hands-on trading activity across proteins and non-hedgeable commodities, while developing global commercial strategy aligned with corporate objectives.
• Overseeing international trading activity, personally contributing to key deals and mentoring a high-performing trading team in the UK and overseas.
• Identifying and securing new opportunities across seafood, meat, poultry and wider commodity markets.
• Building and maintaining profitable supplier and customer relationships across international regions.
• Using market insight, competitor intelligence and commercial analysis to guide decisions and manage risk.
• Taking responsibility for commercial performance, margin optimisation, forecasting and P&L delivery.
• Supporting strategic planning, business development and international growth initiatives.
• Ensuring compliance with international trading regulations, sustainability standards and company governance.
• Representing the business at trade shows, customer meetings and industry events worldwide.

Candidate profile:

• Degree qualified in Business, Finance, Economics or a related discipline.
• Proven success as a hands-on trader, Head of Trading, Senior Trader or trading-led commercial leader within proteins, frozen food, seafood, meat, poultry, pork, agriculture or comparable non-hedgeable commodity markets.
• Strong experience of negotiating profitable deals, managing margins and developing supplier and customer relationships.
• Global experience involving international markets, cultures, pricing dynamics or cross-border supply chains.
• Sound understanding of commercial finance, budgeting, forecasting, supply chain and international trade.
• Confident leadership capability, with the credibility to manage experienced traders, develop talent, influence senior stakeholders and progress towards board-level responsibility.
• Strategic, entrepreneurial and commercially sharp, with excellent analytical and communication skills.
• Willingness to travel frequently and represent the company internationally.

The successful candidate will join a business with an established reputation for reliability, quality and integrity, and a culture known for low attrition, high staff satisfaction and collaborative leadership. This is an outstanding opportunity to take on a highly influential global commercial role within a substantial, ambitious and privately owned international trading group.