Head of Trading

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic & Operational Functions:

• Oversee the pricing and updating of pre-match and live in-play sports (excluding events that come through feeds).
• Proactively monitor market pricing for manually traded and high liquidity events, ensuring competitiveness and profitability.
• Early identification and management of high-risk bets, taking corrective action as needed.
• Actively monitor betting activity on sporting events, mitigating risks and ensuring the company’s exposure is minimized.
• Constantly assess department processes and products, identifying areas for improvement and driving continuous growth.
• Identify and act on opportunities to increase overall profitability within the sports book.
• Collaborate with senior management and team members, sharing innovative ideas to enhance the sports book offering.

Management & Leadership Functions:

• Manage, assign, and oversee trader duties, ensuring tasks are completed effectively, accurately, and within the required timeframes.
• Ensure proper staffing coverage, especially during major events, by managing an efficient and effective rostering system.
• Oversee the quality of work being completed within the team, implementing improvements to maintain high performance standards.
• Stay abreast of industry trends and innovations, using insights to inform internal strategic decisions.
• Align team objectives with the broader business strategy, ensuring the sports book’s success is integrated with organizational goals.

Key Skills & Qualifications:

Essential Skills:

• In-depth knowledge of sports book management, risk analysis, and trading, with a particular focus on local sports.
• Proven leadership abilities, with a strong track record of managing teams and delivering results in a fast-paced environment.
• A self-starter with a high level of motivation and reliability, capable of working independently and taking ownership of the department’s success.
• Strong attention to detail, with an analytical mindset to identify issues and opportunities for improvement.
• Expertise in Fixed Odds Markets and a strong understanding of pricing and trading sports events.
• Ability to understand betting patterns and build knowledge of clients to optimize the sports book’s offerings.
• Excellent communication (both verbal and written), influencing, and leadership skills, able to lead and motivate a team effectively.
• Ability to work well under pressure, meet deadlines, and adapt to change in working practices.
• Strong computer literacy, especially in Microsoft Excel and betting software.
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Desired Skills:

• Proven ability to manage a successful sports book team for at least 5 years, with demonstrable results.
• Knowledge and experience with betting software and risk management platforms.
• A passion for sports, with the drive to stay informed on trends, betting behaviors, and market shifts.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends, public holidays, and shifts, to meet business demands.

Qualifications:

• Grade 12 (Matric) certificate required.
• Tertiary education (advantageous).
• At least 5 years of proven experience in a senior role managing a sports book team.