Crude Trader

We are seeking an experienced, commercially driven Head of Crude Oil Trading to build and lead our crude paper trading business. This is a senior-level role suited to a trader with a proven track record in flat price, spreads, options and volatility , with the vision to scale a high-performance desk. You will be responsible for strategy development, P&L ownership, risk oversight, and team leadership , operating across global crude benchmarks.

Key Responsibilities;

• Build and lead the crude oil trading function with a focus on paper markets (ICE, CME, OTC).
• Develop directional and market-making strategies across futures, swaps, and options.
• Originate and manage positions across time spreads, inter-commodity spreads, and volatility structures.
• Establish relationships with brokers, exchanges, and counterparties to optimise execution and market access.
• Oversee trading book P&L, risk management, and compliance in alignment with firm limits and frameworks.
• Recruit, mentor and manage a team of junior and mid-level crude traders as the desk scales.
• Work with internal tech and quant resources to build and refine trading tools, models, and analytics.
• Engage in macro and fundamental analysis, flow reading, and microstructure-driven strategies.

What we are looking for;

• 5 years’ experience trading crude oil derivatives with consistent P&L delivery.
• Deep market expertise across benchmark crude grades and product structures.
• Experience at a trading house, market maker, hedge fund or proprietary trading firm.
• Strong leadership capability with an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Demonstrated ability to manage risk and capital at scale.
• Commercially driven with the ability to build a trading franchise from the ground up.
• Comfortable working across geographies and time zones with a global client and market base.
• Technically fluent – able to communicate effectively with developers and quants.

Neruda Capital is a specialist commodity trading firm with a growing presence in global paper markets, particularly in energy and crude oil derivatives. Founded by experienced market professionals, we combine institutional discipline with entrepreneurial agility to capitalise on inefficiencies across futures markets.

We operate with a lean, focused structure that gives our traders direct ownership of strategy, access to capital, and the freedom to build and lead high-performing desks. With a strong emphasis on market making and liquidity provision