Vessel Chartering Lead in Colchester

Role Highlights:

• Location: Remote role, UK based candidates are preferred, Northern European candidates will be considered.
• Compensation: Competitive Salary and Benefits Package (to be discussed during first contact).
• BUPA private healthcare, annual incentive bonus scheme, DCAS car allowance.
• New & exciting role within a privately owned, well-established & growing business.
• Rare opportunity to build & lead a department.
• Highly influential position with professional development & progression.
• Travel: Regular travel throughout the UK and Northern Europe

The Role:

We are seeking an experienced, entrepreneurial Vessel Chartering professional to build & lead a new short sea dry cargo chartering function, with a focus on Northern European trades.

This is a highly influential, hands-on commercial role with responsibility for growing the business, securing profitable fixtures, developing key relationships, building a team and owning the department's P&L. You'll have the opportunity to shape the strategy, establish the desk and make a significant impact within a well-established and growing shipping business.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, launch and implement the company's short sea dry cargo chartering strategy, establishing the foundations for a sustainable and profitable business unit.
• Lead and develop the short sea dry cargo chartering desk and commercial strategy.
• Source cargoes and suitable tonnage across Northern European trades.
• Negotiate and conclude profitable voyage and time charter fixtures.
• Leverage and expand relationships with shipowners, charterers and brokers.
• Develop new customers, trade lanes and commercial opportunities.
• Monitor freight markets, vessel availability and cargo flows.
• Manage voyage economics, charter-party negotiations and commercial risk.
• Own departmental P&L, budgets, forecasts and performance.
• Recruit, lead and develop a high-performing commercial team.
• Work closely with operations and finance to ensure effective post-fixture execution.
• Represent the business with customers and industry contacts across the UK and Northern Europe.

About You:

You'll have substantial experience in short sea dry cargo chartering, with strong knowledge of Northern European trades, charter-party terms and voyage economics.

We're looking for someone with:

• A proven track record of negotiating and concluding profitable fixtures.
• An established network of shipowners, charterers and brokers.
• Strong commercial and business development capability.
• Experience leading a chartering operation or the ambition to step into a leadership role.
• Previous team leadership and P&L responsibility.
• Excellent negotiation, communication and relationship-building skills.
• An entrepreneurial, resilient and results-focused approach.
• Strong commercial judgement and a disciplined approach to risk.
• A relevant maritime, shipping or commercial qualification is desirable but not essential where equivalent experience can be demonstrated.

What Success Looks Like:

Success will be measured through profitable growth, quality and volume of fixtures, development of a sustainable customer and owner portfolio, effective risk management, and the successful growth of the chartering team and function.

If you feel you are suitable, please apply today by submitting your CV. If you would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact Alice McGlaughlin.

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Thank you for your interest. We carefully review every CV and will contact shortlisted applicants by phone or email. If you don't hear from us within 5 working days, unfortunately your application hasn't been successful on this occasion.