About the job
Symmetry Energy Solutions is a premier retail natural gas marketing and logistics company, supplying our customers with natural gas when and where they need it. We achieve this by working with natural gas producers, suppliers, and associated infrastructure owners to facilitate the efficient and economic supply of natural gas throughout the markets we serve. Symmetry is proud to provide innovative energy solutions and exceptional customer service to nearly 100,000 customers in over 30 States, supplying more than 1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas annually.
Symmetry’s vision is to be a trusted partner who delivers reliable and innovative energy solutions. The Company’s core values are:
- Acting with integrity. Symmetry believes in always doing the right thing for its customers, employees, and community.
- Embracing diversity. Symmetry encourages and supports an inclusive and diverse culture where its employees are valued and empowered.
- Providing quality customer service. Symmetry understands the needs of its customers and is committed to providing dependable quality service.
- Operating as One Team. Symmetry commits to operating as One Team focusing on the needs of its customers and the overall success of the Company as a whole.
- Striving for continuous improvement. Symmetry strives to be better today than it was yesterday.
Job Summary
The Manager, Portfolio Optimization is responsible for managing Symmetry’s forward position and price exposure resulting from transactions of physical sales, supply, and transportation assets. This role requires knowledge of financial products including natural gas basis and outright Nymex futures transacting through both an exchange and over the counter. The Manager, Portfolio Optimization will be responsible for leading and developing a team of financial traders and analysts engaged in executing financial market products and building a strong framework of fundamental information to help lead decision making.
Essential Duties/Responsibilities
Reporting to the Senior Vice President of Supply, Asset Management and Optimization, the Manager, Portfolio Optimization will be responsible for the following:
Manage the forward price risk and positions:
- Understand and validate positions from internal deal capture process by working with Sales, Supply, IT and Risk
- Execute financial market products to manage both outright and basis positions.
- Adhere to Value at Risk (VaR) and corporate Risk Policy
- Maintain a strong knowledge of Symmetry’s deal entry and risk systems.
- Set proper liquidity and risk premiums to support pricing.
- Work together with the organization to properly model and forecast forward value and exposure.
- As required, with sales provide input into unique deal structures.
Develop term optimization strategies:
- Develop tactics to manage term volume shape, market size differences and liquidity challenges.
- Work with physical traders to understand the influence of existing assets and physical supply on term price risk and position management.
- Identify extrinsic or non-linear risk that could be further optimized.
- Apply alternative hedging techniques as needed.
- Foster opportunities between operating groups and make sure deal flow aligns.
Create a fundamentals framework of actionable intelligence:
- Organize data and analysis that impacts liquid term (inside 2 years) including items that influence price sentiment.
- Build material for the medium-term outlook (> 5 years), including natural gas infrastructure changes and impact of larger directional themes.
- Provide quantitative support as required for the fundamental work, including tools that are useful to both Sales and Supply.
- Develop fundamental analysis that allows for better decision-making in optimization.
Lead and develop a team of professionals:
- Develop team direction, manage priorities and set proper targets.
- Strengthen the team through performance management, employee engagement and development.
Behavioral Dimensions/Characteristics:
- Communicates clearly, effectively, timely, and persuasively, with both verbal and written communications. Possesses strong presentation skills.
- Exercises discretion, tact, and good judgment in dealing with internal and external stakeholders.
- Cultivates relationships, collaborates across boundaries, consistently demonstrates respect for all individuals, and shares information proactively to achieve goals while being fair to others.
- Works well with a variety of personality types.
- Fosters and participates successfully in a team-based environment to accomplish assignments and produce results through others while maintaining a high level of morale.
- Conducts effective meetings, including setting an effective agenda, facilitating discussion, developing consensus, and securing agreement.
- Applies basic project management skills to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines.
- Adheres to company values, makes informed decisions, follows procedures, and complies with applicable laws and regulations and company policies.
- Makes sound decisions and solves problems with logical solutions by applying knowledge, skills, and experience.
- Works with confidential information, materials, and files in an appropriate, professional, and discrete manner.
- Able to function innovatively, including being receptive to new ideas, approaches, and processes.
- Able to make decisions in a timely and effective manner.
- Able to work with close attention to detail, in a highly accurate manner, to produce complete and timely work.
- Able to adapt quickly to changing demands and to demonstrate flexibility in the face of change or uncertainty.
- Able to motivate self to accomplish projects and achieve goals with minimal supervision, including self-directed learning.
- Must be able to successfully engage multiple stakeholders, including the senior leadership, supply, sales, finance, accounting and financial operations teams – gaining support for efficient processes and teamwork.
Education/Certification/Experience:
- Requires a bachelor’s degree in accounting, economics, finance, or business from an accredited college or university OR a combination of education and experience providing equivalent or related knowledge. (Experience in lieu of education is in addition to the Experience requirement.)
- 10 years of experience in the energy industry with at least 5 in a financial trading role and 2 years managing people
- Understanding of clearing mechanisms and working with a Financial Clearing Member
- Experience working with large amounts of data and able to use software tools to help analyze data.
- Knowledge of derivatives, futures and different natural gas commodity products
- Strong understanding of the energy industry and drivers of commodity prices
- Able to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of risk management tools, demonstrated analytical and financial skills and ability to develop, as well as tactically execute, business strategies.
- Experience coaching, developing and managing a team of professionals.
Physical Requirements / Working Conditions:
- Able to reach, grasp and move items.
- Able to sit, stand or walk for extended periods.
- Able to speak, read and understand the English language.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced office environment with deadlines that may require more than a 40-hours as required.
- Able to work indoors, in an office environment, regardless of whether open office, cubicle, or private office.
- Able to travel regularly, possibly overnight, to attend meetings and/or conferences.
Symmetry Energy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identification, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.
