Desk Manager | DACH

Desk Manager | DACH

Keizersgracht, Amsterdam

German Speaking

About OLYX

OLYX is a brokerage company located in the heart of Amsterdam, active in the dynamic world of renewable energy in the transport sector. We are convinced that human relationships and trust are essential ingredients in trading.

We have intermediated over €10 billion in total deal value through more than 700 trading partners across Europe, Asia, and South America.

We are proud of our collaborative culture and the strong results achieved by our team of 40+ professionals from diverse international backgrounds. We celebrate our successes together and continuously strive for improvement.

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

About the job

Job title: Desk Manager Physical DACH

Reports to: Management Board

Location: Amsterdam

Team size: 3 (growing to ~5 within 12 months)

Direct reports: 3 (Junior and Senior Brokers)

We are looking for a full-time (40-hour) Desk Manager to lead our DACH Physical desk at our head office on the Keizersgracht in Amsterdam.

In this role, you carry two mandates. You own the commercial performance of the desk across physical biofuels, HVO, FAME, and ethanol into and out of the German, Austrian, and Swiss markets. And you lead the brokers on it: you set the standard, hold the team to it, and make each person on your desk measurably better than they were when they joined.

This is a player-coach position. You will stay close to the market and to your own key accounts, while spending a meaningful part of your week coaching, reviewing, and developing the brokers around you. If you get as much satisfaction from watching a junior broker close their first significant deal as from closing one yourself, this is the right fit.

Markets Covered

• FAME

• HVO

• Ethanol 

• THG (not as a stand-alone product but in combination with biofuels)

• Feedstocks (UCO, Acid Oil, etc.)

Tasks and Responsibilities

Building the Desk 

Define and execute the strategy for OLYX's DACH physical biofuels desk — scope, target counterparties, product focus, and growth path. Establish clean working boundaries with our existing physical biofuels and German quota desks, so that client coverage is complementary rather than competing. Put the desk's operating rhythm in place: pipeline reviews, performance reporting, and coverage discipline. Work with our recruitment function to attract, assess, and hire brokers, and make the case for headcount as the desk earns it.

Leadership & Team Development 

Lead, coach, and grow the desk's team of brokers covering the DACH physical market, expanding the team substantially over the first 6–9 months. Manage a small group of senior 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 cultural and commercial tone of the desk, modelling the values of 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, and mediate physical biofuel transactions between producers, traders, and obligated parties across the DACH region, negotiating price, specification, and delivery terms to close. 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 the German, Austrian, and Swiss markets: producers, importers, blenders, obligated fuel suppliers, and trading houses. 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 

Stay on top of pricing, supply and demand flows, and the regulatory drivers shaping the region — RED III implementation, national quota obligations, and certification requirements. Translate that into actionable insight for your desk and for our counterparties.

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.

What we are looking for 

• A minimum of 5 years' experience in physical biofuels, with working knowledge of the German THG quota market and how it drives physical biofuel flows into Germany

• Native-level German and an excellent command of English; additional languages are a plus

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

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

• At least two years of people-leadership experience, with a minimum of three 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 DACH producers, obligated parties, 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) and holding a valid work permit

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

Our recruitment team will review your application and contact you within 1 week if you are 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 provide every candidate with an equal opportunity to succeed.