Coal Trader

We are partnering with a leading commodities business seeking an entrepreneurial and commercially focused Coal Trader to establish, build, and lead its Thermal Coal Desk across the Greater China market. This is a high-impact front-office role focused on sales origination, market development, and revenue generation within the thermal coal sector. The successful candidate will be responsible for building strategic customer relationships, identifying and executing trading opportunities, and driving the growth of the company’s thermal coal business across China and the wider region. This position is best suited for a commercially driven individual with a strong sales and origination mindset, focused on expanding customer channels and growing market share, rather than procurement or sourcing. Responsibilities Establish, develop, and take full ownership of the Thermal Coal Desk for the Greater China market. Drive commercial growth through active sales origination and customer acquisition across thermal coal markets in China and surrounding regions. Build and strengthen relationships with key market participants, including utilities, industrial end-users, trading houses, distributors, and strategic customers. Identify, originate, and execute new trading opportunities to expand the company’s thermal coal portfolio. Lead commercial negotiations on pricing, contract terms, and delivery structures to secure profitable transactions. Continuously monitor market fundamentals, pricing trends, freight movements, and regional supply-demand dynamics to identify market opportunities. Partner closely with internal operations, logistics, finance, and risk teams to ensure smooth and efficient trade execution. Develop and implement commercial strategies aligned with the company’s broader growth objectives. Provide regular market intelligence and strategic insight on the Greater China thermal coal market. Manage customer relationships throughout the full trade lifecycle to ensure service excellence and repeat business. Support the wider development of the company’s energy commodities platform across the region. Requirements Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Economics, Finance, Energy, Maritime, or a related discipline. Proven experience in thermal coal trading, coal sales, or energy commodities trading. Strong existing network within the Greater China thermal coal market, including utilities, industrial buyers, traders, and end-users. Demonstrated success in originating, negotiating, and closing commodity trading transactions. Strong understanding of thermal coal market fundamentals, pricing mechanisms, and regional trade flows. Excellent commercial acumen, negotiation capability, and relationship management skills. Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to independently build and scale a trading desk. Familiarity with international trade terms, shipping logistics, and trade finance structures is advantageous. Fluent English and Mandarin preferred due to market coverage requirements. Willingness to travel across Greater China and the broader Asia region. Preferred Profile Existing customer portfolio within China’s thermal coal industry. Experience gained within international commodity trading houses, energy companies, or coal producers. Strong market credibility with the ability to open new commercial channels quickly. Proven track record of building, launching, and scaling a trading desk or commercial business line. Highly self-motivated, agile, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced trading environment. Strong sales-led mindset with clear focus on origination, customer development, and revenue growth. Contact Ellaine Legaspi at ellaine@sallingsearch.com for more info or apply via our website. Ellaine Legaspi Gorospe Reg No: R1220634 EA License No: 15S7671