Role Overview
This is a unique opportunity to join ED&F Man Commodities’ newly established cotton trading business unit as an Operations Execution Officer. The role offers hands-on experience in the end-to-end trade execution process, from contract to delivery, while supporting global operations and developing operational expertise in commodity trading. The Operations Execution Officer will work closely with the Amsterdam trading desk and international origination teams, helping to streamline processes and support digital initiatives across our operations.
Business Overview
ED&F Man Cotton was established in mid-2025 with the ambition to become a leading trader of raw cotton worldwide. Leveraging the breadth of ED&F Man Commodities’ existing operations, the business benefits from offices in major cotton-producing regions and expertise in operating sustainable containerised supply chains, underpinned by robust risk management procedures. ED&F Man Commodities is a global leader in trading agricultural products including coffee, sugar, cotton, molasses, and animal feed. This position is based at our offices in Amsterdam, Netherlands reporting to our Commercial Operations Manager.
Key Accountabilities
- Build, optimize, and support digital solutions for managing the end-to-end lifecycle of physical cotton contracts, shipping instructions and Letters of Credit (LCs), integrating workflows with internal systems and external counterparties.
- Execute physical cotton contracts end-to-end, including shipping instructions and LCs, working cross-functionally with trade finance, commercial teams, service providers and counterparties.
- Manage the full trade documentation process for global shipments, ensuring accuracy, compliance and timely submission, while driving continuous process improvements.
- Ensure timely submission of documentation to banks and customers in line with LC and contractual requirements, minimising operational risk.
- Monitor contract and trade performance, proactively identifying, escalating, and resolving delays or discrepancies and ensuring compliance with Incoterms, export controls, sanctions, and internal policies.
- Track shipments, documentation status, and inventory, resolving operational issues proactively and maintaining full visibility across the supply chain.
- Act as the liaison between commercial, trade finance, logistics, compliance, and external counterparties to ensure commercial alignment and resolution of escalated trade-related matters.
- Manage invoicing, payment processing, and account reconciliations, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and contractual compliance.
- Monitor inventory maintaining accurate stock-in/stock-out records for shipments, deliveries and warehouse balances.
- Drive the adoption of digital trade solutions and platforms, collaborating with IT teams to enhance system integration, data accuracy and workflow efficiency.
- Develop and maintain dashboards, KPIs, and reporting mechanisms to identify opportunities for process improvement and accelerate document turnaround.
Skills and Experience
- 3+ years of experience in trade operations, logistics or related fields, with high preference to have experience in a commoditized industry.
- Knowledge of international trade processes, including trade documentation, Incoterms, Letters of Credit (LCs) and logistics.
- Proficient in data analysis and reporting experience with Excel (including VBA), Power BI, Tableau, Python or other business intelligence tools is highly desirable.
- Analytical and detail-oriented, with the ability to work under pressure.
- Proactive, eager-to-learn, and problem-solving mindset with the ability to manage multiple tasks.
- Good communication and collaboration skills, able to work effectively with internal teams, external customers and service providers.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to work accurately under deadlines.
We recognise that talent comes in many forms, and we value potential just as much as experience. If this role excites you but you don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply.
Our Offer
We provide a fast-paced, stimulating and truly global environment, which will stretch your abilities and channel your talents. We also offer competitive salary and benefits combined with outstanding career development opportunities in one of the global leaders in soft commodity trading.
Our Values
Respect, Integrity, Meritocracy, Client Focus, Entrepreneurship
Our values define who we are. They are the fundamental beliefs that determine our actions and guide our behaviour. They influence the way we communicate and collaborate, and define the way we engage with our clients, partners, and communities. Our values are underpinned by a set of essential behaviours, which form part of our performance management approach. Delivering on our objectives is very much about ‘what’ we do, but these essential behaviours also provide a guide and measure for ‘how’ we do things. Our performance essentials are Take Initiative, Self‐Management, Deliver Results and Collaboration.
Our Commitment
We are committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive and diverse work environment where all employees are treated with dignity and respect. We are committed to promoting equal opportunities in employment and are focussed on actively building and developing diverse teams. All qualified applicants will receive equal treatment without regard to race, colour, sex, gender, age, religion or belief, ethnic or national origin, marital or civil partner status, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender reassignment (identity, gender expression), genetic information or any characteristic protected by local law.
