Desk Manager | APAC

Desk Manager | APAC

Keizersgracht, Amsterdam

Mandarin Speaking

About OLYX

OLYX is an ambitious and fast-growing organization based in the heart of Amsterdam. Since its founding in 2014, OLYX has specialized in trading renewable energy and environmental commodities. Building on a strong position in the international biofuels market, we connect buyers and sellers across the globe.

What sets OLYX apart is the combination of entrepreneurship, international market dynamics, and strong personal relationships. We believe sustainable, long-term partnerships are built on genuine connections between people.

Guided by this philosophy, OLYX has developed an extensive international network and established itself as a recognized player in the global biofuels market.

Our international team represents more than 15 nationalities and languages. We operate in a fast-moving market where agility, commercial instinct, and effective collaboration are essential. No two days are the same.

Be part of our future, and let’s thrive together.

About the job

Job title: Desk Manager - APAC

Reports to: Management Board

Location: Amsterdam

Direct reports: 3 (Junior and Senior Brokers)

Employment: Full-time, 40 hours per week

We are looking for an experienced and commercially driven Desk Manager to lead our APAC Physical desk from our headquarters on the Keizersgracht in Amsterdam.

This role combines commercial ownership with people leadership.

You will be responsible for the performance and further development of the desk across physical biofuels, including advanced feedstocks, FAME, HVO, ethanol, bunkering, and other niche renewable fuels. Your focus will be on developing flows and opportunities across Asia and Southeast Asia, including trade into European markets.

At the same time, you will lead and develop the brokers on your desk. You will set clear commercial standards, create accountability, and help each member of the team strengthen their market knowledge, network, and commercial performance.

This is a genuine player-coach role. You will remain active in the market, manage your own key accounts, and originate and close transactions, while dedicating a meaningful part of your time to coaching, reviewing, and developing the brokers around you.

If you get as much satisfaction from helping a junior broker close their first significant deal as you do from closing a major transaction yourself, this could be the right role for you.

Markets Covered

• Feedstocks, including UCO, Acid Oil, and related products

• FAME

• HVO

• Ethanol

• Bunkering

• Other niche and emerging biofuel markets

Tasks and Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Development 

Lead, coach, and develop the brokers covering the APAC physical market while supporting the continued expansion of both the desk and its market presence. Manage a small group of brokers as direct reports, providing direction, performance feedback, and career development support. Run structured one-to-ones, call reviews, and deal post-mortems, build individual development paths, and actively create the conditions for your people to succeed; leading structured onboarding of new joiners during the growth phase, unblocking stuck deals, and making the introductions that accelerate their portfolios. Set the desk's cultural and commercial tone, modelling integrity, long-term thinking, and collaborative behaviour.

Team Performance Management 

Own the desk's targets and translate them into clear individual objectives. Track performance transparently, address underperformance early and directly, and recognise strong contributions. Manage account distribution across the team based on objective performance metrics, ensuring optimal client allocation. Maintain a firm hand on the standard while keeping the desk a place people want to work.

Commercial Ownership & Deal Origination 

Carry your own portfolio alongside the team's. Originate, structure, negotiate, and mediate physical biofuel transactions between producers, traders, importers, blenders, and obligated parties across APAC and Europe. Own execution of high-value transactions and complex deal structures — tolling agreements, long-term offtakes, and strategic partnerships — and act as a senior point of escalation, supporting the team in navigating complex or high-value deals.

Counterparty Network Development 

Expand and deepen OLYX's relationships across Asia, Southeast Asia, and Europe. Maintain and develop senior-level relationships across the desk's key counterparty base, and form strategic partnerships in the renewable fuels market with consultants, banks, traders, and other market participants. Build the kind of trust that makes counterparties call you first, representing OLYX in the market with the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.

Market Intelligence & Positioning 

Maintain a strong understanding of pricing, supply-and-demand dynamics, trade flows, and the regulatory developments shaping the biofuels market.

Closely monitor developments affecting flows between APAC and Europe, including RED III implementation, sustainability requirements, certification frameworks, and changing import and compliance requirements.

Cross-Desk & Internal Collaboration 

Work closely with the other desks and with our compliance, operations, and finance teams to move deals cleanly from agreement to confirmation to invoice.

• A minimum of 5 years' experience in a commercial role within physical biofuels

• Fluent in Mandarin and excellent command of English; additional asian languages are a plus

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Economics, Finance, Engineering, or a related field

• Proven industry experience in advanced feedstock, physical biofuels, HVO and/or FAME, gained in a trading or brokerage environment

• At least two years of people-leadership experience, with a minimum of two to five direct reports, in a commercial or trading setting

• A demonstrable track record of growing a team and growing the people in it; you can point to specific individuals whose performance and careers moved forward under your leadership 

• An established network among APAC producers and trading houses

• Genuinely good with people. You build trust quickly, read a room, and instinctively invest in the development of those around you 

• Strong personal commercial drive, paired with the discipline to hold a team accountable to its numbers 

• Analytical and strategic thinker, able to navigate a complex, heavily regulated market and translate data into opportunities

• Entrepreneurial, resilient, and comfortable in a fast-paced, high-performance environment 

• Based in the Netherlands (or willing to relocate)

• Visa sponsorship is provided if needed

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive Compensation: Receive a competitive salary, with the opportunity to earn a profit share based on your performance and contributions and the option to participate in the share program of OLYX

• Daily Lunch & Fruit: Enjoy fresh, healthy lunch provided every day at the office, along with fresh fruit available throughout the week

• Well-being & Social Environment: Recharge in our in-house yoga room, unwind in the game room, join regular ping pong tournaments, and take part in team activities and social outings

• Dynamic & Driven Team: Work alongside an ambitious, international, and collaborative team with a strong performance mindset.

• Growth Opportunities: We support your development with tailored learning and career growth opportunities.

• Inspiring Workspace: Based in the heart of Amsterdam, our office offers a spacious garden, ideal for stepping away, connecting with colleagues, or enjoying lunch outdoors.

• The Annual OLYX Trip: Join our yearly company trip to celebrate success and connect with the team. 

Application Process

If you're excited about environmental commodities and want to build a career at the center of the energy transition, apply today.

Our recruitment team reviews every application and will contact you within one week if you're selected for an initial screening call.

Here at OLYX, we are committed to a fair and inclusive recruitment process. We carefully consider all applications and aim to give every candidate an equal opportunity to succeed.