Commodity Trader – Cocoa arbitrage desk (Remote) at Degas

Location
This is a remote-first, contract-based role, open to top-tier talent anywhere in the world, with optional travel to Degas’ HQ in Tokyo, investor locations, and regional field operations in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.

About Degas

Degas’ mission is “Changing people’s lives, dramatically.” We are an innovative AI technology company focused on developing scalable, AI-driven global products that address the world’s greatest challenges. Alongside our most advanced tech products, we also operate deeply rooted field initiatives that increase the income of smallholder farmers in Africa and beyond — combining expertise in data aggregation, AI credit scoring, satellite observations, financing, and carbon markets.

As part of our next strategic evolution, Degas is launching a new global business division that integrates proprietary agricultural yield intelligence with capital markets — starting with soft commodity trading. This marks a bold new chapter in how we scale impact and create financial value from our AI-driven insights.

About the role

We seek an experienced Commodity Trader to convert pre-market yield intelligence into structured futures/options trading strategies, focused initially on cocoa markets in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
This contract-based role is suited for a high-agency trader with deep understanding of soft commodities and ICE market dynamics. The Trader will operate independently with strategic alignment, managing the full trade lifecycle — from thesis design to execution, risk management, and P&L tracking. This is a mission-critical role contributing to Degas’ next revenue horizon via alternative data arbitrage.

Key Responsibilities

• Trade Strategy & Execution: Design and execute directional or relative value cocoa futures/options trades using ICE NY and London instruments. Translate Degas FM’s geospatial yield signals into actionable trade ideas, entries/exits, and hedging strategies. Execute trades with attention to slippage, cost efficiency, and speed, based on signal timing and market volatility.
• Risk & Performance Management: Monitor live risk exposure and track P&L performance with clear reporting against agreed benchmarks (e.g., risk-adjusted return metrics). Implement margin controls, trade limits, and risk stop levels aligned with Degas’ capital allocation policies. Participate in periodic reviews with the finance and data teams to evaluate strategy alignment and trading efficacy.
• Cross-Functional Integration: Collaborate with the Degas FM quant team (to be launched; in the meantime, work with the Machine Learning team) and field operations to refine signal accuracy and contextual interpretation. Integrate insights from West African supply conditions, export logistics, and seasonal risks into trading strategy.
• Governance & Reporting: Maintain clean trade logs, counterparty execution records, and compliance awareness. Support trade audits or internal reviews as part of financial oversight procedures.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• 3+ years of direct experience trading soft commodities; cocoa highly preferred.
• Deep understanding of ICE futures/options mechanics, clearing systems, and margin/risk rules.
• Experience designing and managing structured trades based on yield or climate signals.
• Proven accountability for independent P&L or execution mandates in a hedge fund, trading house, or commodity desk.
• Familiarity with African-origin cocoa supply dynamics (e.g., Ghana COCOBOD, Côte d’Ivoire CCC).
  
  

Desired Attributes

• Risk-conscious and disciplined; comfortable with being measured by strategy performance.
• High adaptability to low-structure, high-impact work environments.
• Strategic thinker with tactical execution skills.
• Collaborative across technical and field-facing teams.
• Self-driven and discreet; able to operate with limited supervision.

Encouragement to Apply

Even if some of the qualifications mentioned above don't align perfectly with your experience, we still want to hear from you! We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every single qualification listed.

Compensation

Competitive salary, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Comprehensive benefits package.

Why Degas?

Degas is committed to the mission of "Changing people’s lives, dramatically" as an impact-oriented, for-profit startup. Degas has achieved 2x year-over-year revenue growth for the past three years and has established a profitable farmer financing business. In 2023 alone, we doubled the incomes of over 26,000 smallholder farmers in Africa, as verified by a third-party assessment.

We leverage both advanced and 'primitive' technologies, from GPUs for state-of-the-art foundation models to offline-enabled mobile apps for data aggregation in rural areas of developing countries.

We prioritize long-term thinking, investing in technology, operations, and people to change the world in ways no one has ever done before.

Support

If you have a condition or require an adjustment to our interview process - please let us know so we can make adjustments to support you. Degas is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, protected veteran status, or any other category protected by law.