Senior Relationship Manager – Metals & Minerals

Location: MCB Johannesburg office, South Africa

Join our Commodity Trade Finance team

Embark on a journey within the Commodity Trade Finance ("CTF") segment of the Energy, Infrastructure and Commodities ("EIC") team.

The Commodity Trade Finance ("CTF") team provides structured trade and working capital solutions to participants across global commodity value chains. Through a combination of sector expertise, strong execution capabilities and comprehensive risk management frameworks, the team supports leading commodity traders, producers, processors and distributors operating in the Oil & Gas and Metals & Minerals sectors.

As part of its growth strategy, the Bank is seeking an experienced Senior Relationship Manager to support the development of its Metals & Minerals activities. Based in Johannesburg, you will play a leading role in driving the origination strategy, developing client relationships across the sector and expanding the Bank's footprint in the sector.

Purpose of the role

Reporting directly to the Head of Commodity Trade Finance, you will be responsible for driving the origination and development strategy of the Bank's Metals & Minerals portfolio and establishing the Bank as a recognised financing partner for participants operating across this value chain.

You will be expected to identify and originate new relationships, deepen existing client engagements, develop strategic market intelligence, proactively identify financing opportunities and contribute to the growth and profitability of the Metals & Minerals portfolio in line with the Bank's risk appetite and strategic objectives.

You will also be expected to provide guidance, coaching and practical support to members of the wider CTF team on industry dynamics, trade flows, transaction structures, market practices, logistics considerations and emerging sector trends.

Working closely with the Head of Commodity Trade Finance and internal stakeholders across Collateral Management team, Credit Risk, Legal, Compliance and Operations, you will contribute to ensuring that business growth is achieved in a disciplined manner and in line with the Bank’s risk appetite framework.

In this role, you will:

Origination and business development

Lead the execution of the Bank's Metals & Minerals origination strategy across Africa and selected international markets.
Identify, originate and develop new client relationships aligned with the strategic objectives of the CTF platform.
Establish and maintain relationships with key market participants within the Metals & Minerals value chain.
Develop and maintain a robust origination pipeline and actively work to materialise opportunities from initial identification through onboarding and execution with a prompt turn around time.
Work closely with the Head of Commodity Trade Finance to identify priority markets, sectors, counterparties and strategic opportunities.
Represent the Bank at client meetings, industry events, conferences and other relevant market forums to enhance the visibility and reputation of the CTF franchise.
Develop strategic relationships with key industry participants to strengthen market access and support future business development efforts.

Portfolio development and commercial management

Drive the growth, profitability and diversification of the Metals & Minerals portfolio while ensuring alignment with approved strategic and risk objectives.
Identify opportunities to increase wallet share and deepen relationships with existing clients.
Monitor portfolio utilisation levels and support initiatives aimed at improving revenues, client penetration and overall relationship profitability.
Contribute actively to the formulation and execution of the broader CTF business development strategy.
Identify opportunities for product expansion, cross-selling and collaboration with other business lines across the Bank.

Market intelligence and sector leadership

Develop and maintain a deep understanding of the global Metals & Minerals markets, including key trade flows, supply chains, logistics corridors, market participants and financing structures.
Monitor commodity market developments, geopolitical events, regulatory changes and industry trends which may impact clients, transactions or portfolio performance.
Share relevant market intelligence in a timely manner with the Head of Commodity Trade Finance and other stakeholders to support strategic decision-making.
Produce and contribute to sector reviews, market updates, presentations and strategic papers relating to the Metals & Minerals sector.
Act as a recognised subject matter expert within the organisation on Metals & Minerals financing and related market developments.
Support the identification of emerging opportunities within adjacent segments and new commodity groups.

Credit and risk management

Ensure that prospective and existing client relationships remain aligned with the Bank's risk appetite, compliance requirements and strategic objectives.
Contribute to the assessment of potential counterparties and provide views on business models, management quality, operational capabilities, logistics arrangements, market positioning and sector risks.
Support the onboarding of new counterparties by working closely with Credit Risk, Credit Analysis, Compliance and other relevant functions.
Ensure that transactions are structured in a manner consistent with approved risk frameworks and internal policies.
Escalate material risks, emerging concerns and adverse developments promptly to the Head of Commodity Trade Finance and relevant stakeholders.
Monitor market developments and sector-specific risks that could impact the portfolio and contribute to appropriate risk mitigation strategies.
Assist in defending and presenting transactions before internal governance committees when required.

Transaction structuring and execution

Work closely with clients and internal stakeholders to structure financing solutions that appropriately address client requirements while protecting the interests of the Bank.
Provide guidance on transaction structures, collateral arrangements, security packages and risk mitigation tools relevant to the Metals & Minerals sector.
Support the negotiation of financing structures, commercial terms and key transaction parameters.
Collaborate with Credit Analysts, Legal, Compliance, Middle Office and Operations teams to facilitate efficient execution of transactions.
Contribute to the continuous enhancement of transaction structuring standards and best practices across the CTF platform.

Team development and knowledge transfer

Act as a mentor and coach to Relationship Managers, Credit Analysts and other team members involved in the Metals & Minerals sector.
Share practical market knowledge and provide guidance on commodity trade flows, transaction structures, client engagement approaches and sector-specific risks.
Support the development of technical expertise across the CTF team through coaching, knowledge-sharing sessions and ongoing collaboration.
Contribute to the development of sector-specific training materials and internal knowledge resources.
Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, professionalism and continuous learning.

Stakeholder management

Build strong working relationships with internal stakeholders across Credit Risk, Credit Analysis, Compliance, Legal, Middle Office, Operations and Coverage.
Maintain open and regular communication with senior management regarding market developments, origination opportunities and portfolio performance.
Support strategic discussions relating to the development of the broader CTF franchise.

Competencies

To succeed in this role, you will be required to demonstrate the ability to:

Develop and maintain senior-level relationships across international commodity markets;
Identify commercial opportunities and convert them into sustainable business outcomes;
Influence stakeholders and drive alignment across complex transactions and initiatives;
Analyse complex market developments and translate them into actionable insights;
Exercise sound commercial judgement while maintaining strong risk discipline;
Lead discussions with sophisticated market participants and internal stakeholders;
Mentor and develop colleagues through coaching and practical guidance;
Operate effectively within fast-moving and highly dynamic international markets;
Demonstrate resilience, accountability and a strong sense of ownership.

Qualifications and experience

We are looking for a candidate who has:

A degree in Finance, Economics, Accounting, Business, Engineering or another relevant discipline;
A minimum of 10 years' experience within commodity finance, trade finance, corporate banking, commodity trading or a related field;
Demonstrated experience covering Metals & Minerals markets and participants;
Proven experience in originating, structuring and executing international commodity finance transactions;
Experience engaging with senior management teams and decision-makers across commodity corporates and trading houses;
Strong understanding of international trade flows, structured trade finance solutions and commodity risk dynamics; and
Previous experience operating across African and international markets.

Technical capabilities and personal attributes

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

Deep knowledge of the Metals & Minerals value chain and market participants;
Strong origination and business development capabilities;
Sound understanding of structured trade finance and commodity financing solutions;
Strong credit, risk and commercial assessment skills;
Well-developed negotiation and stakeholder-management capabilities;
Excellent analytical and communication skills;
Strong interpersonal and relationship-building abilities;
Curiosity and passion for international commodity markets and geopolitical developments;
Ability to identify emerging opportunities and anticipate market developments;
Strong leadership, mentoring and coaching capabilities; and
An unwavering commitment to protecting the Bank's interests while supporting sustainable portfolio growth.

Should this opportunity match your career aspirations, skills and competencies, click on ‘Apply’ to complete your online application.

Please ensure all required information is accurately entered in relevant sections. Any incomplete application will not be considered. Kindly attach a complete CV when applying.

As part of the recruitment process, candidates will be required to provide a valid Certificate of Character of less than 3 months and two professional references.

The deadline for submission of application is01 October 2026.

The Management reserves the right not to appoint anyone following this advert.

Temporarily remote job Data Officer job (1)

Sign up to Job Alerts!

HEAD OF FINANCE

Boost your career