Chartering Manager

Confidential Jobs; Dubai; On-site; AED 661,000 - 1,102,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential Jobs is seeking a versatile tanker professional to lead chartering, voyage operations and S&P activities for crude tankers (VLCC focus). You will source and charter tonnage, oversee end-to-end voyages, and contribute to strategic fleet acquisitions, with exposure to product tankers and related trades in the Gulf.

The role demands hands-on operations experience, strong negotiation skills, and a track record in crude tanker charters, with preference for MEG/Arabian Gulf market

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level education in Maritime Studies, Shipping, Naval Architecture, Business, Economics, Finance, or related field.
• Postgraduate qualification is an advantage.
• Professional shipping qualifications (e.g. IC Shipbrokers) are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Source, negotiate, and conclude time and voyage charters for crude tankers (VLCC focus).
• Develop relationships with owners, brokers, charterers, traders and oil companies in the Gulf and beyond.
• Analyse freight markets, voyage economics and TCE to inform pricing decisions.
• Structure charter party terms, laytime, demurrage and related clauses.
• Oversee voyage operations end-to-end including laycan, port ops, bunkering and vessel positioning.
• Coordinate with agents, terminals, and technical teams to ensure compliant, cost-efficient voyages.
• Support vessel acquisitions/disposals including due diligence and MOA/closing processes.
• Contribute to fleet strategy and contracted employment development across segments.

Skills

Chartering

Voyage operations

S&P transactions

VLCC chartering

Market analysis

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

English communication

Education

Maritime Studies/Shipping/Naval Architecture

MBA or Master's in Shipping/Trade/Finance

Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (IC) qualification

Job description

The successful candidate will be a versatile tanker professional whose core strength is chartering, supported by hands‑on operations experience and the ability to execute vessel sale-and-purchase (S&P) transactions. They will be responsible for sourcing and chartering tonnage (from single vessels up to multiple VLCCs simultaneously), overseeing voyage operations, and contributing to the group's fleet acquisition strategy. Beyond crude tankers, the role calls for commercial awareness across product tankers, bitumen, sulphur, and dry/breakbulk feeder trades within the Gulf.

Key Responsibilities

• Source, negotiate, and conclude time charters and voyage charters for crude tankers (VLCC focus), including chartering-in multiple vessels simultaneously to meet cargo and trade requirements
• Develop and maintain relationships with shipowners, brokers, charterers, traders, and national oil companies across the Gulf, Asia, and other relevant markets
• Analyse freight markets, voyage economics, and TCE returns to inform chartering decisions and pricing
• Structure and negotiate charter party terms, laytime, demurrage, and related commercial clauses

Operations

• Oversee voyage operations end-to-end - laycan management, port operations, loading/discharge, STS operations, bunkering, and vessel positioning
• Coordinate with agents, terminals, technical managers, and counterparties to ensure smooth, compliant, and cost-efficient voyage execution
• Monitor vessel performance, voyage costs, and post-fixture matters including claims and demurrage
• Support and execute vessel acquisitions and disposals, including candidate identification, valuation, due diligence coordination, inspection oversight, negotiation, and MOA/closing processes
• Liaise with S&P brokers, class societies, technical inspectors, and legal advisors through the transaction lifecycle

Commercial & Strategic

• Contribute to fleet strategy, trade route analysis, and investment cases for tanker acquisitions and newbuilds
• Leverage the group's cargo access and relationships (including Iraqi crude/products and regional trades) to develop contracted employment for vessels
• Provide market intelligence and commercial input across adjacent segments - product tankers, bitumen, sulphur, and dry/breakbulk feeder trades in the Gulf
• Support the build-out of the department, including processes, counterparty networks, and future hiring as the desk scales

Requirements

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Maritime Studies, Shipping, Naval Architecture/Marine Engineering, Business, Economics, Finance, or a related field
• Postgraduate qualification (e.g. Master's in Shipping, Trade, Finance, or an MBA) is an advantage
• Professional shipping qualifications (e.g. IC - Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers) are a plus

Experience

• Minimum 8-15 years' experience in tanker chartering and commercial management, ideally gained owner-side or disponent-owner-side at a tanker shipping company (as opposed to pure brokerage)
• Demonstrable track record concluding crude tanker (VLCC/Suezmax/Aframax) charters, both time and voyage
• Hands‑on tanker operations experience across the voyage lifecycle
• Exposure to and involvement in vessel S&P transactions
• Commercial experience or working knowledge of product tankers, and ideally bitumen, sulphur, and/or dry/breakbulk feeder trades
• Direct experience of the Arabian Gulf / MEG market, its charterers, terminals, and trade routes, is strongly preferred
• Experience building or operating within a lean/entrepreneurial commercial desk is an advantage

Skills

• Strong commercial acumen with deep understanding of freight markets, voyage economics, and TCE analysis
• Skilled negotiator across charter parties, MOAs, and commercial terms
• Solid grasp of chartering documentation, laytime/demurrage, and post-fixture matters
• Working knowledge of tanker vetting (SIRE), class, flag, P&I, and sanctions/compliance considerations
• Analytical and numerate, comfortable building and interpreting voyage estimates and investment models
• Excellent relationship-builder with an established network of owners, brokers, traders, and charterers
• Self‑starter, entrepreneurial, and comfortable operating with autonomy in a build-out environment
• High integrity and sound judgment, particularly around compliance and counterparty risk
• Strong written and verbal communication in English; Arabic is an advantage given the group's regional focus