Lead Shipping Operations (Chartering, Vetting & Port Clearance)

Job Family Group:

Shipping Group

Job Description:

• This role is critical to building Castrols independent marine capability ensuring safe compliant and cost-efficient global supply.
• You will lead the establishment and ongoing operation of Castrols independent global Shipping Operations function transitioning from bp TSA to a fully owned future-ready operating model.
• This is an enterprise-critical role with end-to-end accountability for safety compliance cost and continuity across global marine movements. You will establish the Shipping Operations Centre of Excellence define governance and decision rights and ensure effective execution across chartering vetting and port clearance.
• You will also ensure Shipping Operations is fully integrated into Castrols Logistics Control Tower enabling end-to-end visibility performance management and data-driven decision-making across global marine flows.
• This role sits at the intersection of operations risk management and strategy requiring strong leadership across internal teams TSA providers third parties and senior partners.

• Establish and lead the global Shipping Operations Centre of Excellence
• Define the target operating model roles governance and decision rights across chartering vetting and port clearance.
• Build scalable operating rhythms standards and blocking issue pathways across regions.
• Develop organisational capability to support Castrols long-term independent marine operating model

• Act as Castrol owner for Shipping Operations under the TSA environment
• Lead transition planning cutover readiness and TSA exit execution
• Ensure operational continuity knowledge transfer and effective mobilisation of internal and third-party capabilities
• Support the development of regional procedures controls and service expectations for post-TSA execution

• Drive freight cost optimisation service reliability and operational efficiency across marine operations
• Define and govern indicators covering cost service safety compliance utilisation and demurrage
• Oversee shipping capacity utilisation and operational trade-offs across regions
• Ensure marine operations support supply-demand plans inventory positioning and customer delivery commitments
• Identify and prioritise continuous improvement opportunities to improve value delivery and resilience

• Set and govern standards for HSSE sanctions compliance and marine risk management
• Ensure robust control frameworks are in place for vessel terminal and cargo movement decisions
• Oversee governance for incidents exceptions and critical issues impacting safety compliance or continuity
• Ensure marine operations are driven in accordance with regulatory internal policy and assurance requirements

• Define requirements and lead selection of digital tools for Shipping Operations post-TSA
• Embed digital ways of working across chartering vetting clearance and performance reporting
• Integrate Shipping Operations into the Logistics Control Tower to improve visibility exception management and decision support
• Enable data clarity and analytics to support performance management and operational governance

• Build strong alignment with Procurement Finance HSSE Legal Digital and regional Supply Chain teams
• Lead engagement with TSA providers ship owners brokers terminals and marine service providers
• Define clear interfaces between global CoE regional execution teams and assurance roles
• Influence senior partners on risk cost continuity and operating model decisions.

• 1218 years of experience in marine or shipping operations including chartering vetting clearance and/or port operations
• Strong experience in global tanker lubricants chemicals or liquid bulk shipping environments
• Proven experience leading complex operating model transitions TSA exits outsourcing transitions or major shipping transformations
• Deep understanding of marine risk vessel vetting standards sanctions controls and maritime compliance requirements
• Demonstrated ability to lead global teams and influence across regions functions and third parties
• Strong commercial and operational judgement with the ability to balance cost service risk and continuity
• Bachelors degree or equivalent experience in Maritime Studies Supply Chain Engineering or a related field.

• Experience in oil & gas lubricants or chemical shipping environments
• Familiarity with chartering vetting voyage management or Control Tower systems
• Experience working with brokers marine service providers or 3PL/4PL operating models
• Strong understanding of trade compliance geopolitical risk and marine assurance governance

• Regional Chartering & Voyage Operations Leads
• Marine Vetting & Clearance Specialist
• Global Supply Chain and Logistics leadership
• Procurement Finance HSSE Legal and Digital teams
• TSA providers ship owners charterers brokers terminals and marine service partners
• Procurement (marine sourcing & contracts)
• HSSE Legal and Compliance teams
• Finance (freight cost budgeting performance tracking)
• Digital & IT teams (system selection and integration)
• External partners: ship owners charterers brokers vetting agencies port authorities
• Regional Supply Chain Procurement and Commercial teams

Travel Requirement:

Up to 25% travel should be expected with this role

Relocation Assistance:

This role is eligible for relocation within country

Remote Type:

This position is not available for remote working

Skills:

Analytical Thinking Analytical Thinking Ancillary cost management Bunker buyer Chartering Coaching Commercial Acumen Communication Customer service delivery excellence Demurrage Developing and implementing strategy International Shipping Liquid Handling Listening Marine assurance Marine Operations Marine systems and processes Marine technical Market Knowledge Mentoring Negotiating value Operational Excellence Partner relationship management Problem Solving Sentiment and Trends 8 more

Legal Disclaimer:

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race religion color national origin sex gender gender expression sexual orientation age marital status socioeconomic status neurodiversity/neurocognitive functioning veteran status or disability with an accessibility need may request an adjustment/accommodation related to bps recruiting process (e.g. accessing the job application completing required assessments participating in telephone screenings or interviews etc.). If you would like to request an adjustment/accommodation related to the recruitment processpleasecontact us.

If you are selected for a position and depending upon your role your employment may be contingent upon adherence to local policy. This may include pre-placement drug screening medical review of physical fitness for the role and background checks.