At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead regional shipping operations, ensuring safe and efficient marine shipments.
- Company: Join the innovative Castrol team within bp, a leader in marine logistics.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working options, generous parental leave, and excellent retirement benefits.
- Other info: Collaborate with diverse teams and build strong industry relationships.
- Why this job: Shape the future of marine operations while tackling exciting challenges.
- Qualifications: Experience in marine operations, chartering, and strong problem-solving skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
This is a role within the Castrol organisation and the successful candidate will become part of the Castrol ring-fence. If you are part of the ring-fence, it is encouraged that your employment will move with Castrol to new ownership.
Role Summary
We are building Castrol's independent marine capability, and this role plays an integral part in that journey. As the Regional Chartering & Voyage Operations Lead for the West region, we rely on you to help us deliver safe, compliant, and efficient marine shipments across sophisticated routes. We work closely with partners across the supply chain, and this role helps us bring clarity, stability, and strong judgement to a fast-moving operational environment.
What You Will Deliver
- We work together to ensure our regional shipping operations run safely, efficiently, and in line with our global standards. This role leads chartering and voyage execution while supporting our transition to an independent operating model.
- TSA readiness & transition: We are preparing for a smooth shift from TSA support to our own internal execution model.
- Build understanding of regional shipping flows, suppliers, and constraints.
- Shadow TSA and provider operations to prepare for transition.
- Shape regional procedures, governance, and escalation pathways.
- Support a flawless move into Castrol's internal operating model.
- Chartering & voyage execution: We depend on this role to guide day-to-day chartering and voyage execution.
- Manage spot, term, and contract chartering.
- Oversee vessel scheduling, nomination, loading, discharge, and voyage execution.
- Deliver safe, reliable, and efficient operations.
- Fleet utilisation & optimisation: We aim to use our fleet effectively and responsibly.
- Improve vessel utilisation and turnaround.
- Identify opportunities to reduce avoidable cost.
- Provide insight into routing, freight optimisation, and network planning.
- Supply-demand integration: We work closely with supply, planning, and commercial teams to keep operations aligned.
- Manage capacity constraints and rescheduling.
- Balance operational trade-offs to protect customer commitments.
- Share regional insights to support network optimisation.
- Demurrage & operational risk: We rely on this role to help us manage risk and respond quickly when issues arise.
- Oversee demurrage exposure, port delays, claims, and disruptions.
- Resolve exceptions with sound judgement.
- Supervise voyage performance and operational risks.
- Terminal & customer coordination: We collaborate with a wide network of partners to keep operations moving.
- Coordinate with ports, terminals, barge operators, agents, and suppliers.
- Ensure smooth ship-shore interface.
- Build relationships with brokers, ship operators, and regional partners.
- Align with the Logistics Control Tower for visibility and escalation.
- Governance & compliance: We hold ourselves to high standards of safety and compliance.
- Ensure adherence to vetting, clearance, HSSE, sanctions, and marine risk controls.
- Operate within global governance frameworks.
- Partner with the Marine Vetting & Clearance Specialist to ensure safe execution.
What You Will Need to Be Successful
We are looking for someone who brings a strong understanding of how marine operations work end-to-end and who can help us run reliable, safe, and efficient regional shipping activity. Success in this role comes from combining operational rigor with practical judgement. We value people who stay calm in fast-moving situations, who can navigate disruption without losing sight of safety or service, and who build strong working relationships with terminals, barge operators, brokers, and service providers. If you enjoy solving operational challenges, working across diverse teams, and shaping how a new capability grows, you will thrive here.
You’ll stand out if you also bring:
- Experience in oil & gas, lubricants, or chemical shipping.
- Familiarity with voyage management or chartering systems.
- Exposure to TSA or transition-related operating models.
- Comfort working across multiple geographies and time zones.
You Will Work With
We work closely with teams across shipping operations, supply chain, procurement, commercial, and planning. You will also partner with terminals, barge operators, ship owners, brokers, agents, and marine service providers. We are a team focused on operational excellence, continuous improvement, and building a resilient marine logistics capability for the future.
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 important, 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 crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
Reinvent your career as you help our business meet the challenges of the future. Apply now!
Travel Requirement
Up to 25% 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.
Regional Chartering & Voyage Operations Lead - West (Castrol) in Slough employer: Bp Energy
At Castrol, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work environment that empowers our employees to thrive. As the Regional Chartering & Voyage Operations Lead, you will benefit from flexible working options, generous parental leave, and excellent retirement benefits, all while contributing to our mission of building an independent marine capability. Join us in a role that not only offers professional growth opportunities but also allows you to make a meaningful impact in a fast-paced and collaborative setting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Regional Chartering & Voyage Operations Lead - West (Castrol) in Slough
✨Get Involved in Industry Events
Logistics and supply chain are all about networking, so hit up those trade shows and local meetups. Places like the UK's Logistics and Supply Chain conference can be goldmines for connecting with potential employers like Bp Energy and learning about the latest trends in the industry.
✨Leverage Online Communities
Join forums and LinkedIn groups specifically for logistics professionals. Share your insights and ask questions to get noticed. Being active in these spaces can help you establish credibility and might just lead to an opportunity at Bp Energy!
✨Showcase Your Skills with a Portfolio
Even if it’s a full-time gig, having a portfolio can really set you apart. Include case studies or projects that demonstrate your understanding of supply chain management, logistics software, or solving operational challenges. You’d be surprised at how much this can impress hiring managers.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Website
Don't forget the power of applying directly through our website! A lot of companies like Bp Energy keep job postings exclusive to their sites. This way, you can easily keep track of your applications and ensure your profile is in front of the right people.
We think you need these skills to ace Regional Chartering & Voyage Operations Lead - West (Castrol) in Slough
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Supply Chain Savvy:In your CV and cover letter, make sure to highlight your understanding of logistics and supply chain management principles. Mention any relevant courses you've taken or tools you've used, like inventory management software or data analysis platforms, to showcase your skills and keep up with best practices in the industry.
Quantify Your Achievements:When detailing your previous work experience, remember to use numbers wherever possible. Did you improve delivery times by a specific percentage? Did you help reduce costs? These kinds of quantified achievements not only catch the eye but also demonstrate your capability in the logistics sector.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Bp Energy:This is your chance to really connect with the team at Bp Energy. In your cover letter, express why you're passionate about supply chain logistics and how your goals align with the company’s mission. A little personalisation goes a long way!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you've got any certifications related to logistics or supply chain management—like APICS or Six Sigma—make sure you flaunt them! These show that you're committed to your professional development and can set you apart from other candidates.
How to prepare for a job interview at Bp Energy
✨Know Your Logistics Tools
Make sure you're familiar with key logistics software and tools like SAP or Oracle ERP. These are often used in the industry, and being able to demonstrate your knowledge or experience with them can really set you apart during your interview with Bp Energy.
✨Perfect Your Problem-Solving Skills
Expect to tackle scenarios that showcase your problem-solving skills. Think about past experiences where you've had to optimise supply chains or handle logistics challenges. Have a few examples ready to discuss how you made decisions that led to improvements.
✨Show Your Team Spirit
Supply chain roles heavily rely on teamwork and communication. Be prepared to discuss how you've collaborated with others in previous roles. Maybe share a time when you coordinated with a team to resolve a logistical hiccup. This can show Bp Energy that you're a team player!
✨Understand the Big Picture
Be ready to talk about the broader logistics and supply chain trends. Having insights into current challenges in the industry, like sustainability or lead times, can impress the interviewers at Bp Energy. Show them you’re not just focused on the day-to-day but also have a strategic mindset!
