Shipping Digital Lead

Shipping Digital Lead

Full-Time 60000 - 80000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
B

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead digital transformation in shipping, optimising commercial activities and enhancing decision-making.
  • Company: Join bp, a diverse and innovative leader in the energy sector.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous parental leave, and excellent retirement benefits.
  • Other info: Hybrid work model with opportunities for professional growth and development.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by driving digital innovation in the shipping industry.
  • Qualifications: Degree in relevant field and experience with commercial shipping systems required.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.

The Shipping Digital Lead (Commercial) is an individual contributor within the Shipping Technical team, collaborating with the Shipping Digital & Technology Manager. The role acts as the digital and technology partner for Shipping’s commercial activities, ensuring that systems, data, and digital capabilities effectively support Chartering and Optimisation, including voyage management, freight economics, emissions, and performance reporting. The role provides senior expertise to support broader Shipping digital priorities, including digital transformation, business process modernization, data quality improvement, AI-enabled capability development, and value realization.

As the domain authority for commercial systems and tools (including IMOS and a suite of other commercial platforms), the role combines deep functional expertise with hands-on experience in configuration and development. The position is responsible for shaping commercial digital priorities and delivering business value through effective technology enablement, including supporting the ambition to apply AI where it enhances decision quality, efficiency, and performance.

Key Responsibilities
  • Act as the primary digital interface for Chartering, Optimisation, and related commercial teams.
  • Develop a deep understanding of chartering workflows, voyage optimization, voyage economics, and performance management.
  • Translate business needs into clear, value-driven digital requirements.
  • Serve as product owner and functional authority for key commercial shipping systems, including IMOS, ZeroNorth, Stormgeo, and other chartering tools.
  • Lead data structures to optimize systems, reduce workarounds, and improve usability.
  • Work with vendors to influence system enhancements that add new value to chartering and optimisation workflows.
  • Maintain prioritized backlogs, shape delivery scope, and oversee implementation to ensure solutions are fit-for-purpose, adopted, and deliver measurable value.
  • Apply strong knowledge of commercial shipping processes to guide system configuration and technology decisions.
  • Find opportunities to reduce manual effort, improve data quality through consistent collection and validation, strengthen reporting, and accelerate commercial decision-making across the voyage lifecycle.
  • Build trusted relationships with stakeholders across commercial teams at all levels.
  • Communicate digital strategy, priorities, and progress in clear business terms.
  • Influence decisions and secure alignment without formal authority.
  • Define success measures for digital initiatives and ensure benefits are tracked, evidenced, and reported.
  • Contribute to Shipping Technology governance by providing visibility of progress, risks, and value realization within the commercial domain.
  • Champion compliance through auditability and self-verification.
  • Promote safe digital working practices and end-user awareness.
  • Support cyber security resilience across commercial systems.
  • Drive digital transformation across the commercial shipping domain.
  • Assess external markets, vendors, and competitors to identify high-value opportunities.
  • Introduce and scale advanced analytics, automation, and AI-enabled capabilities within commercial systems where they improve efficiency, optimisation outcomes, emissions insight, or performance transparency.
  • Shape the digital roadmap for Chartering and Optimisation.
  • Evolve systems from transactional record-keeping to effective commercial decision support tools.
  • Identify, prioritize, and deliver digital initiatives aligned to broader Supply, Trading & Shipping strategy.
Education

Degree or equivalent professional experience in a relevant field (e.g., Technology, Maritime, Engineering, or Business). Professional training in Agile delivery, product ownership, or business change is desirable.

Essential Experience & Skills
  • Demonstrable deep expertise in system design and configuration of commercial shipping systems, particularly IMOS (and platforms such as ZeroNorth and Stormgeo).
  • Experience working with vendors (e.g., Veson) to enhance system functionality and optimize configuration.
  • Solid understanding of commercial shipping processes, including chartering, optimisation, voyage economics, emissions, and performance reporting.
  • Experience in digital product management, technology delivery, or business change within shipping, trading, or logistics environments.
  • Validated ability to operate at senior stakeholder level and influence outcomes without formal authority.
  • Experience working in Agile delivery environments, with ownership of scope, priorities, and outcomes.
  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
Desirable Experience
  • Experience supporting emissions, efficiency, or decarbonisation initiatives in shipping.
  • Background in process modernization, analytics, or AI-enabled decision support.
  • Previous experience as a Product Owner, Digital Lead, or Business Technology Partner within Trading & Shipping or adjacent domains.
  • Relevant professional certifications (e.g., Agile, Product Ownership, Business Analysis, Project Management).
Why join us?

At bp, we support our people to grow in a diverse and exciting environment. We believe that our team is strengthened by diversity. There are many aspects of our employees’ lives that are meaningful, so we offer benefits to enable your work to fit with your life. These benefits can include flexible working options, a generous paid parental leave policy, excellent retirement benefits, among others!

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation!

Travel Requirement

Up to 10% travel should be expected with this role.

Relocation Assistance:

This role is not eligible for relocation.

Remote Type:

This position is a hybrid of office/remote working.

Skills:

Analytical Thinking, Ancillary cost management, Bunker buyer, Chartering, Coaching, Commercial Acumen, Communication, Customer service delivery excellence, Demurrage, Developing and implementing strategy, 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, Shipping/transport, Trading and scheduling operations.

Shipping Digital Lead employer: Bp Energy

At bp, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment that empowers our employees to thrive. As a Shipping Digital Lead, you will benefit from flexible working options, generous parental leave, and excellent retirement benefits, all while contributing to innovative digital transformation initiatives in the shipping sector. Our commitment to employee growth and well-being makes bp an exceptional employer for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in a dynamic industry.

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Contact Details:

Bp Energy Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Shipping Digital Lead

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the shipping and tech space, especially those who work with IMOS or similar systems. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that aren't even advertised yet.

Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! If you’ve got experience with digital transformation or AI in shipping, make sure to highlight that in conversations. We want to see how you can bring value to the team, so be ready to share examples of your past successes.

Tip Number 3

Prepare for those interviews! Research the company’s digital initiatives and think about how your expertise aligns with their goals. We love candidates who can connect the dots between their skills and our needs.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at bp.

We think you need these skills to ace Shipping Digital Lead

System Design and Configuration
IMOS
ZeroNorth
Stormgeo
Chartering Workflows
Voyage Optimisation
Performance Reporting

Some tips for your application 🫡

Know the Role:Before you start writing, take a good look at the job description. Understand what the Shipping Digital Lead role is all about and how your skills fit in. This will help us tailor your application to show that you're the perfect match!

Showcase Your Experience:When detailing your experience, focus on relevant projects or roles that highlight your expertise in commercial shipping systems like IMOS. We want to see how you've tackled challenges and delivered results in similar environments.

Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon unless it's specific to the role. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications.

Apply Through Our Website:Make sure to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it helps us keep everything organised!

How to prepare for a job interview at Bp Energy

Know Your Systems Inside Out

Make sure you have a solid understanding of the commercial shipping systems mentioned in the job description, especially IMOS, ZeroNorth, and Stormgeo. Be prepared to discuss how you've used these tools in the past and how they can be optimised for better performance.

Showcase Your Analytical Skills

Since the role requires strong analytical and problem-solving skills, come ready with examples of how you've tackled complex issues in previous roles. Highlight any experience you have with data quality improvement and how it has impacted decision-making.

Communicate Like a Pro

This position involves engaging with various stakeholders, so practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. Prepare to explain digital strategies and priorities in simple terms, ensuring you can influence decisions without formal authority.

Demonstrate Your Digital Transformation Knowledge

Be ready to discuss your experience with digital transformation initiatives, particularly in the shipping or logistics sectors. Share specific examples of how you've introduced advanced analytics or AI capabilities to enhance efficiency and performance.