Senior Contract Negotiator - Growing Energy Trading Company
Senior Contract Negotiator - Growing Energy Trading Company | Houston, TX
About the Opportunity
An established and rapidly growing energy trading organization is seeking a Senior Contract Negotiator to join its commercial team. This is a highly visible role supporting traders, legal counsel, credit, risk, and commercial stakeholders across a broad range of physical energy transactions.
The successful candidate will take ownership of trading documentation from initial negotiation through execution, serving as a key commercial partner and primary point of contact for counterparties on contractual matters. This position is ideal for an experienced energy contracts professional who enjoys negotiating complex agreements, managing commercial risk, and operating in a fast-paced trading environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the negotiation and execution of physical energy trading agreements with counterparties.
- Draft, review, and negotiate industry-standard trading documentation, including NAESB, EEI, ISDA-related schedules, confirmations, master service agreements, transportation agreements, and other commercial contracts.
- Partner closely with traders, legal counsel, credit, risk, operations, and commercial teams to facilitate trading activity while appropriately managing contractual risk.
- Analyze contract terms and identify potential legal, credit, operational, and commercial risks.
- Work directly with counterparties to resolve contractual issues and negotiate mutually acceptable terms.
- Maintain and manage contract documentation through execution and ongoing lifecycle support.
- Assist with the development and implementation of documentation standards, templates, and negotiation playbooks.
- Serve as a trusted advisor on contractual matters and support the continued growth of the trading platform.
Qualifications
- A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in energy trading, commodities, commercial contracting, or trading documentation.
- Significant experience negotiating and managing physical energy trading agreements and related commercial contracts.
- Strong understanding of commodity trading structures, transaction workflows, and industry-standard documentation.
- Ability to independently assess contractual and commercial risk and exercise judgment comparable to a junior energy attorney, regardless of whether a law degree is held.
- Proven experience negotiating directly with counterparties rather than solely administering finalized agreements.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and relationship-building skills.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple negotiations simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
Preferred Backgrounds
Candidates may come from roles such as:
- Senior Contract Negotiator
- Senior Contracts Analyst
- Trading Documentation Specialist
- Commercial Contracts Manager
- Energy Trading Contracts Manager
- Commodity Operations & Documentation Professional
- Energy-Focused Corporate Paralegal
- Trading Documentation or Master Agreements Specialist
Experience within commodity trading firms, power marketers, natural gas marketers, merchant energy companies, utilities, independent power producers, or energy-focused investment platforms is highly desirable.
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