Head of Operations & Business Management

Metals Steel Trading | Schaumburg, Illinois, USA
Our client is a leading global trading and distribution organization with a strong presence across international metals and steel markets.
Our client is looking for an experienced and proactive Operations Manager Americas to lead and support its US operations.
Based in Schaumburg, Illinois , the role has direct operational responsibility for the performance of the Americas Operations team, with Operations leads in the US and India reporting into the position.
The Operations Manager is expected to remain hands-on in trade execution , personally owning individual trade deals end-to-end while also managing and developing the wider Operations team.
Lead, manage, mentor and supervise the US and India-US Operations teams across all aspects of trade execution.
Personally manage the Niche desk and/or step directly into deal-execution responsibilities whenever required.
Own individual trade files end-to-end , including contract review, LC issuance/negotiation with banks, customs and regulatory documentation, and logistics coordination.
Act as the direct escalation point for urgent or complex transactions, personally intervening with banks, customs brokers, vendors and logistics providers .
Manage and continuously improve operational procedures through streamlining, standardization and automation .
Develop a customer-focused Operations function with strong relationships across commercial teams, customers and suppliers.
Train and support Operations staff in coordinating with stevedores, warehouses, trucking companies and other logistics providers .
Ensure monthly warehouse reports are received and reviewed, ageing inventory is optimized, and inventory is reconciled against the system of record.
Resolve issues or delays relating to payments for steel purchases, freight and service providers.
Liaise with IT to improve existing operational systems and processes and manage operational claims.
Strong understanding of international trade operations, products and customer service , gained through recent, direct desk-level exposure.
Hands-on experience managing physical trade transactions end-to-end .
Hands-on exposure to customs, import/export documentation, regulatory requirements and international logistics .
Proven team management and people-development experience .
Strong customer orientation, communication and stakeholder-management skills.
Experience within a trading house is strongly preferred , particularly from:

Steel Mills / Steel Operations
International Physical Trading
Bachelors degree in Finance, International Trade, Business, Supply Chain , or a related field, or equivalent qualification.
The ideal candidate combines operations leadership with genuine hands-on trade execution experience . Lead the Americas Operations team while remaining directly involved in end-to-end trade execution.
Work across international steel/metals trading, banking, customs, logistics, suppliers and customers.
Drive operational improvements, standardization and automation across the Americas business.
Work closely with traders and operations teams across the US and India .
Take ownership of a critical operations function within a large, established global trading organization .