Environmental Commodities Trader (EAC & Voluntary Carbon Markets)

Environmental Commodities Trader (EAC & Voluntary Carbon Markets)

South Pole

Amsterdam or Brussels

You will originate, structure, and execute transactions across Europe and beyond, actively managing risk, capturing arbitrage opportunities, and driving both supply and demand in fast-moving, fragmented markets. This is a rare chance to shape a hybrid trading desk at the intersection of renewable energy and carbon markets, with clear responsibility for delivering commercial outcomes.

Main tasks & responsibilities:

Trading & Execution

• Own and execute trades across Guarantees of Origin (GOs) and voluntary carbon credits, as well as new environmental commodities should they arise, capturing both flow and opportunistic market opportunities
• Actively manage portfolio positions, exposures, and risk, optimising performance within defined mandates
• Identify and exploit arbitrage, sourcing, and pricing inefficiencies in fragmented and illiquid markets
• Drive deal structuring and pricing strategy across EACs and carbon credits, balancing commercial upside with market integrity
• Monitor market dynamics, provide real-time insights, and translate market dislocations into actionable trading decisions

Origination & Market Development

• Originate supply of Guarantees of Origin and carbon credits across European and global markets
• Develop demand-side opportunities across wholesale, intermediated, and client-driven channels
• Build and maintain relationships with utilities, project developers, brokers, and market participants
• Represent South Pole in the market and at key industry events

Portfolio Management

• Manage and optimise South Pole’s environmental portfolios in coordination with internal teams
• Develop and implement trading strategies across markets, including positioning and risk-taking
• Contribute to expansion into adjacent products (e.g., biomethane, removals, emerging environmental assets)

Carbon Market Focus (VCM)

• Source and evaluate carbon credits across a range of project types (e.g., nature-based, avoidance, removals)
• Conduct commercial and qualitative due diligence on projects (standards, methodologies, integrity considerations)
• Structure primary and secondary market transactions, including long-term offtake agreements where relevant
• Navigate evolving market dynamics, including pricing, liquidity, and integrity frameworks

Client Advisory

• Support clients with procurement strategies across EACs and carbon credits
• Translate sustainability frameworks (e.g., RE100, CDP, net-zero targets) into executable trading solutions
• Partner with internal commercial teams to convert client demand into structured transactions

Strategy & Market Intelligence

• Monitor and interpret regulatory and voluntary market developments across EACs and carbon markets
• Generate actionable market insights and translate them into commercial opportunities
• Contribute to internal views on market direction, pricing, and risk

Requirements:

Essential

• 3+ years of experience in environmental commodities, energy trading, or carbon markets
• Direct experience in Guarantees of Origin and/or voluntary carbon markets
• Strong commercial mindset with a track record of originating and executing transactions
• Experience managing risk, with the ability to clearly articulate positions and rationale to internal stakeholders
• Solid understanding of EAC market structure and/or carbon markets (standards, project types, pricing dynamics)
• Strong analytical capability with the ability to convert market insights into trading strategies
• Existing network across EAC and/or carbon markets
• Fluency in English and at least one additional European language

Desirable

• Experience across both EACs and voluntary carbon markets
• Familiarity with carbon standards (e.g., Verra, Gold Standard) and evolving integrity frameworks
• Experience with structured transactions (e.g., long-term offtakes, portfolio deals)
• Knowledge of biomethane or other environmental commodities
• Additional European languages (e.g., German, Spanish, French)