Institutional Trader

As an Institutional Trader at Optiver you will be instrumental in the decision making and execution of our large-order trading strategies through the management of our relationships with brokers and direct counterparties.

We’re looking for a unique blend of communication skills and quantitative ability. The daily interactions you’ll have with our external partners will provide vital market insights; when these are combined with your analytical skills, intuition and close collaboration with our Screen Traders, you’ll be well placed to negotiate the best possible prices at speed. For many of the products we trade, this approach allows us to continuously operate at the forefront of the market.

What you’ll do

• Identify and capitalize on market opportunities, both independently and within the trading team;
• Make split-second trading decisions that can instantly impact profitability;
• Constantly aim to identify new product/market opportunities to diversify our strategies and maximise success;
• Improve execution and access to volume;
• Network internally with other Institutional Traders and Screen Traders to ensure you’re acting on well-informed decisions;
• Represent Optiver’s quotes and execute orders with many of the world’s largest trading desks via phone, IM and Bloomberg;
• Negotiate prices with brokers and other relevant parties;
• Help improve our systems and tools in order to capture data in the most effective way;
• Understand and apply knowledge of the exchanges’ rules/regulations and market structures in which we engage.

Who you are

• High EQ and strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to positively influence outcomes;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; English fluency is a requirement;
• 2-5 years of professional working experience; Previous experience in a similar seat may be beneficial but there’s also a lot of raw skills that can be learnt from other fields and applied to this type of dynamic role.
• Minimum of a BSc in a quantitative or technical field;
• Ability to work well under pressure, thriving when making fast decisions and handling a high volume of trades, often simultaneously;
• Entrepreneurial mindset;
• Detail oriented;
• Competitive by nature;

If you're interested in learning more, have a look at our 'Inside Optiver's Institutional Trading Team' blog!

Who we are 

At Optiver, our mission is to constantly improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and acting as a stabilizing force no matter the market conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we participate in the safeguarding of healthy and efficient markets for everyone who participates. As one of the largest market making institutions, we are a trusted partner of 70+ exchanges across the globe.

What you’ll get 

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, where you’ll be surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem solvers. Motivated by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, working collectively to tackle the toughest problems in the financial markets.

Your onboarding will start with an intensive three-month training program alongside other new employees from other departments within the organisation. The first month will be classroom based, bringing you up to speed with the theoretical basics of pricing and the workings of the wider organisation. In the second month you will experience a live simulation trading environment, before putting your knowledge into practice by contributing to your own project, meaning you will be delivering business impact right from the start. We believe hands-on experience is the best way to learn and that’s exactly what we provide.

In addition, you’ll receive:

• A performance-based bonus structure, enabling all of our employees to benefit from our global profit pool.
• 27 paid vacation days plus all UK public holidays.
• Daily breakfast and lunch, along with support on commuting expenses.
• Private medical insurance, pension scheme, and ClassPass fitness membership.
• Training and continuous learning opportunities, including access to conferences and tech events.
• International transfer opportunities for global career growth.

How to apply

Apply directly via the form below. If you have any questions feel free to contact our Recruitment team via our recruitment inquiry form.

Please note:

• We do not require any assistance from third-parties including agencies in the recruitment of this role
• We cannot accept applications via email

Diversity statement

Optiver is committed to diversity and inclusion.