Principal Specialist, Trading Management

Role Overview

Principal Specialist, Trading Management at Ma'aden, reporting to the Director, Commercial & Physical Trading within the Gold & Gemstones Mining (GGM) business unit, based in Business Development - GGM.

Role Purpose

The Principal Specialist, Trading Management is responsible for maximizing the commercial value of Ma'aden's Gold Doré sales through advanced market intelligence, price forecasting, commercial analysis, and trading strategy evaluation. The role serves as the Company's subject matter expert on global precious metals markets and provides strategic advisory support to management and sales teams on pricing decisions, market opportunities, risk management strategies, and sales execution. The position is accountable for monitoring market developments, evaluating pricing alternatives, assessing market risks, and identifying value enhancement opportunities through market timing, optimized pricing mechanisms, and trading structures.

Key Responsibilities

Market Intelligence & Analysis

• Monitor global Gold Doré, precious metals, foreign exchange, interest rate, and macroeconomic markets to identify pricing opportunities, market trends, and commercial risks.
• Continuously assess market conditions, analyst reports, refinery developments, geopolitical events, central bank activities, and economic indicators impacting Gold Doré prices and demand.
• Maintain comprehensive market intelligence databases and historical pricing records to support forecasting, reporting, commercial evaluations, and strategic planning activities.
• Stay informed of developments in global precious metals markets, commodity trading practices, financial markets, risk management tools, and emerging industry trends relevant to Gold Doré commercialization.

Forecasting & Reporting

• Develop and maintain short-term, medium-term, and long-term gold price forecasts using fundamental, technical, quantitative, and market-based analysis methodologies.
• Provide daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual market intelligence reports covering market developments, price trends, forecasts, assumptions, opportunities, risks, and strategic recommendations.
• Prepare executive-level presentations and strategic reports highlighting market outlooks, price forecasts, commercial opportunities, risk assessments, and performance analyses.
• Develop and maintain advanced analytical models, dashboards, and reporting tools utilizing Excel, Power BI, PowerPoint, and Think-Cell to support management reporting and decision-making.

Pricing Strategy & Commercial Advisory

• Act as the Company's internal advisor on Gold Doré pricing and commercialization strategies, providing expert guidance to the Sales and Commercial teams on pricing decisions and market execution.
• Evaluate and recommend optimal sales and pricing strategies for Gold Doré, including LBMA AM and PM benchmark pricing, live LBMA spot price execution, auction-based sales mechanisms, fixed-price transactions, formula-based pricing structures, and alternative pricing mechanisms offered by refineries and offtakers.
• Develop pricing models and commercial scenarios to compare pricing alternatives and identify the most value-accretive strategy for Ma'aden's Gold Doré sales.
• Provide market timing recommendations to maximize realized prices and support commercial decision-making throughout the sales cycle.

Risk Management & Trading Alternatives

• Analyze and assess trading and risk management alternatives to enhance commercial value and manage market exposure, including hedging strategies, forward sales arrangements, gold derivative instruments, call option purchasing and selling strategies, put option purchasing and selling strategies, and collar structures and other market risk management solutions.

Performance Optimization & Benchmarking

• Track and benchmark Ma'aden's realized Gold Doré sales performance against global market references, industry benchmarks, and pricing indices.
• Identify opportunities to enhance revenue through market optimization, pricing strategy improvements, commercial structuring, and strategic sales execution.

Procurement & Evaluation Processes

• Participate as a Technical and Commercial Evaluator in Ma'aden's annual Gold Refining and Offtake RFP processes, including the evaluation of refinery capabilities, commercial terms, pricing methodologies, treatment and refining charges, settlement mechanisms, precious metal recoveries, and overall economic value.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Strategic Recommendations

• Collaborate closely with Sales, Finance, Operations, Supply Chain, Treasury, and senior management to ensure pricing strategies, market positioning, and commercial decisions are aligned with business objectives.
• Provide strategic recommendations to management regarding pricing policies, commercialization strategies, market exposure, refinery selection, and revenue optimization initiatives.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, or related field; Master's degree or professional certification (e.g., MBA) is preferred.
• Minimum of 10-15 years of experience in Gold Doré trading, precious metals marketing, commodity trading, market intelligence, pricing analysis, treasury, risk management, or commercial strategy functions.
• Proven experience in LBMA pricing mechanisms, precious metals markets, refinery commercial agreements, market analysis, forecasting, hedging strategies, and derivative products.
• Demonstrated experience in commercial evaluations, refinery selection processes, contract negotiations, and strategic pricing decision-making.

Skills & Competencies

• Advanced knowledge of Gold Doré markets, LBMA pricing mechanisms, refinery commercial structures, precious metals trading practices, and market risk management.
• Strong understanding of derivatives, hedging instruments, forwards, futures, put options, call options, and pricing risk mitigation strategies.
• Expert-level market analysis, forecasting, valuation, and commercial optimization capabilities.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Power BI, PowerPoint, and Think-Cell with the ability to develop sophisticated financial models, executive dashboards, and management presentations.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to convert market intelligence into actionable recommendations that maximize Ma'aden's Gold Doré revenue and profitability.
• Excellent analytical, reporting, presentation, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work effectively in dynamic market environments and provide timely recommendations in response to rapidly changing market conditions.
• High attention to detail, strategic thinking, and decision-making capabilities.