Manager, Natural Gas Trading & Origination

About the role

BASF is hiring a Manager for Natural Gas Trading & Origination in Houston, TX (hybrid) to join its Direct Global Procurement team. The role manages and optimizes one of the largest industrial natural gas portfolios in North America, leading physical trading, supporting risk management and growing the business through origination and commercial development.

Key responsibilities

• Monitor North American energy markets and build your own market analysis of natural gas.
• Manage and optimize BASF's natural gas portfolio across the Gulf Coast and Southeast U.S., balancing physical supply needs with market opportunities.
• Execute and manage physical natural gas transactions, transportation agreements and financial hedges.
• Identify and run profitable physical and, to a lesser extent, financial trading strategies based on market volatility, basis differentials, seasonal spreads and infrastructure constraints.
• Develop short-, medium- and long-term market views and turn them into trading and risk management strategies.
• Take ownership of commercial opportunities that improve portfolio performance and earnings.
• Acquire pipeline capacity and negotiate commercial agreements for infrastructure, mainly pipelines.
• Support colleagues in negotiations and directly negotiate structured transactions across supply, market, transportation and storage to generate profit.
• Work with manufacturing sites, schedulers, risk management and commercial teams to secure cost-effective gas supply, and act as the interface between trading, operations, accounting, risk control and external counterparties.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, Logistics, Accounting, Engineering, Energy Management, Science or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in natural gas trading, with a strong grasp of market dynamics and trading strategies.
• Experience using financial risk management tools to support trading decisions.
• Origination experience and a proven ability to find, develop and execute commercial opportunities.
• Negotiation experience with producers, marketers, utilities, industrial customers or energy service providers.
• Able to work in a fast-paced environment, including occasional after-hours, weekend or holiday coverage.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Required skills

• Solid understanding of natural gas trading concepts and hands-on experience with ETRM systems.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills, including reconciling data and investigating discrepancies.
• Commercial mindset and effective collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders.

What we offer

• Flexible work arrangements whenever possible.
• Retirement savings plan with company match and investment options.
• Well-being programs including mental health support for you and your family.
• Family forming benefits and back-up child and elder care with discount programs.
• Mentoring and career development, matching gifts to charity, employee crisis support, wine cellar and employee discounts.