You have always wanted to be key operations controller in a fast-moving environment? You have a natural drive of being very precise and keen in your daily routines? You can work under pressure with short deadlines? Then take the challenge and become a Junior Operations Manager at Northpool!
Knowing first and acting first is key to making the trading business pay-off. As (Junior) Operations Manager you will make sure the trading tools and systems run smoothly. You will sit side-by-side with a seasoned trader and you will be aiding their trading: making sure all trading tools run smoothly, taking care of communications, discussing decisions, and you will be the one making sure the electrons are being sent across the power lines!
Next to making sure the daily business runs smoothly, you will also learn what factors drive the market, and how to use those factors to make the biggest impact. You will be trained by analysts on how to give yourself and the traders the latest insights. Learn how to operate and interpret the trading models and discussing the trading strategies with the traders.
Besides your work on the daily shifts within the trading team you will assist in optimizing a smooth workflow. In close cooperation with the Data Engineers and Data Scientists you will optimize the tools for daily business and make sure they will not fail at the moment when they are most needed.
Your challenge? Making sure of the smoothest operations possible and being the tower of strength for the traders on these operations.
Your goal? Using your skilful operational knowledge enabling the team to outperform the competitive market and increase the efficiency of the energy system. As a junior operations manager, you will learn to operate the trading tools in detail, get yourself familiar in resolving issues as well as learning to communicate with the grid operators. In the first two months you will be educated about the drivers that make the power market move.
You will be trained on how to read the signs, make predictions, and use your skills to operate the tools in the best way possible, so the trader will not have to worry about the operational processes.
After four months you will start operating independently as operational support for the trader on the desk. By operational perfection you make sure the trading team is working like a Swiss watch: all perfectly aligned and working together. Off the desk you will focus on streamlining the processes even further, testing newly to be used tools for the trading desk and making sure (backup) procedures are documented and in place.
The role as Operations Manager is diverse as you are the spider in the web for the trading team on the shift. Making sure everything runs smoothly and the trader does not have to worry about the operations and can focus on the different markets. Frequent communications with the Traders, Energy Analysts, Data Engineers, and Data Scientist within the organization, as well as being first point of contact for external trading related sources, like the grid operators or other market participants, make this role an essential job within Northpool.
• An analytical or quantitative degree at MSc level
• Logical reason & problem-solving attitude
• Good social and communication skills
• Willing to work in the evenings and weekends
• Powerful sense of responsibility & self-sufficient
• Eye for perfection
• Maximum of three years of work experience
• Knowledge of energy markets and/or sustainable energy
• Affinity for meteorology
• A fast learner
• Some programming skills
• Pro-active and flexible work mentality
• Experience in operational excellence
• Interest in trading
• Training, continuous learning and development opportunities
• Competitive compensation package
• Annual performance-based bonus
• A non-hierarchical workplace
• Young and highly motivated teammates
• A career in trading
• Steep learning curve and ownership in your work
• A dynamic work environment where no two days are the same
• Plenty of social events!
Northpool is a commodity trading company, based in Leiden, the Netherlands. Northpool’s main focus lies with energy and weather-related commodities and is currently active on the power and gas markets.
With the future going forward to an even more sustainable energy environment, anticipating the future energy trends for the coming years is imperative. With wind, sun and rain as ideal sustainable energy sources,
the weather has become increasingly important in the energy markets. Variations in weather lead to volatility in the power market.
Northpool’s expertise is founded on three pillars, Fundamentals, Efficiency and Opportunities. First, Northpool has a strong knowledge on the fundamental drivers in the energy market. Second, Northpool uses data
driven feeding trading strategies leading to a more efficient power market. The trading strategies are strongly driven the combination of market data and technological possibilities. Finally, Northpool is always seeking opportunities in the market. At Northpool we have four trading desks: Intraday, short term, long term and algorithmic trading. We are always looking for graduates for these desks and want to start their career with us.
Whether you aspire to a career as a trader, analyze situations in the market or like to build models, at Northpool we look for the best place for you in our organization.