Execution Trader-Event Driven Strategies

O’Connor Alternative Investments, LLC

Job Title: Execution Trader

Investment Focus: Event Driven Strategies

Location: Chicago, IL or New York, NY

About O’Connor

O’Connor is an $8.7B alternatives manager that is a part of Cantor Fitzgerald L.P.

O'Connor is an established alternatives platform with hedge funds, alternative credit and commodities. We have over 40 years of institutional experience in trading and market making, over 30 years’ experience as a Commodities manager, and over 20 years’ experience as a hedge fund manager, with a strong focus on relative value investing and risk management. O'Connor's capabilities cover a wide range of investment programs and we manage over USD 8bn in assets across institutional, high net worth and retail investors.

The Role

We are hiring an execution trader to join our Event Driven team to cover European trading hours.

O’Connor’s Event‑Driven team seeks a high‑conviction, execution‑focused Trader to help originate, price, and risk‑manage positions across European and Asian special situations—including merger arbitrage, spinoffs, restructurings, capital raises, shareholder activism, regulatory outcomes, and other corporate actions. You will partner closely with Portfolio Managers, Analysts, and Risk to express views across equities, equity‑linked, listed derivatives, ETFs, and index/futures overlays, ensuring best‑execution and disciplined risk management.

This is a hands‑on role for a market athlete who thrives in fast, fluid event cycles and can convert insights into executable, risk‑aware trade structures.

Working Arrangement

• European hours with flexibility around major events
• Chicago, IL or New York, NY based with occasional travel for broker/issuer meetings and conferences.

Core Responsibilities

• Execute, monitor, and adjust positions in event‑driven strategies (e.g., M&A spreads, stub trades, rights issues, recapitalizations, catalyst‑driven relative value).
• Continuously monitor position‑level and portfolio‑level exposures (gross/net, factor, liquidity, concentration, currency) against guardrails.
• Own trade lifecycle quality: order construction, staging, execution notes, allocations, and post‑trade reconciliation
• Partner with Compliance to ensure best‑execution; adhere to regulatory rules and firm policies.
• Translate PM/Analyst theses into clear trade structures, including sizing, legging plans, scenario trees, and “break” playbooks.
• Leverage Bloomberg and market data feeds to improve signal‑to‑execution pathways.

Qualifications

• 3–7 years in event‑driven, merger arbitrage, special situations, equity derivatives, or closely related trading at a hedge fund, prop shop, or sell‑side desk.
• Proven track record managing intra‑day risk and delivering best‑execution in fast‑moving, catalyst‑driven environments.
• Proficiency with Bloomberg (EQS/MA/EE, EVTS, CORP, BPIPE/EMSX)
• Prior exposure to distressed/restructuring, convertible arbitrage, or SPAC/post‑deal dynamics.

Core Competencies

• Execution discipline: sharp sense of urgency vs. patience, understanding when to cross, work, or rest; adept with algo selection and liquidity tactics.
• Risk mindset: anticipates breaks, tail paths, and liquidity gaps; pre‑mortem thinking and contingency planning.
• Communication: concise trade rationales, real‑time updates; collaborates seamlessly with PMs, Analysts, Risk, and Ops.
• Commitment to policy adherence and trade surveillance