Manager Operations - Tanker (Crude & Products)

Lila Global; Dubai; On-site; AED 350,000 - 550,000; Full time

Job summary

LILA GLOBAL seeks an experienced Operations Manager Tanker – Crude & Products to lead the day-to-day commercial and operational performance of its tanker fleet based in Dubai. The role requires hands-on tanker operations expertise, strong chartering knowledge, and the ability to manage voyages safely, efficiently, and profitably while delivering continuous improvement and cost control.

You will own voyages from fixture to completion, coordinate with masters, brokers, and terminals, and report

Qualifications

• 10 years of hands-on tanker operations experience, with exposure to crude oil and/or petroleum product tankers.
• Strong knowledge of tanker charter parties, voyage management, bunker planning, port operations, laytime and demurrage.
• Experience managing multiple tanker voyages independently.
• Familiarity with class, flag, port-state and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Manage the commercial and operational execution of crude and product tanker voyages from fixture through completion.
• Prepare voyage estimates, voyage plans, budgets and actual voyage performance.
• Manage pre-fixture and post-fixture operations, including spot and time-charter voyages.
• Ensure compliance with charter-party terms and protect the Company’s commercial position.
• Coordinate with Masters, Charterers, Brokers, Agents, Terminals, Technical Managers and internal departments.
• Monitor vessel schedules, cargo operations, bunker consumption, port costs, laytime and demurrage exposure.
• Supervise tanker-specific activities including tank cleaning, gas freeing, cargo preparation and grade changes.
• Control voyage costs including bunkers, lubricants, port expenses and service-provider costs.
• Support demurrage, cargo, off-hire and other operational claims and disputes.
• Coordinate class, flag, inspections, certifications and regulatory requirements where required.
• Identify operational risks, delays and cost-saving opportunities early and take corrective action.
• Ensure compliance with tanker safety, environmental, class, flag and port requirements.
• Provide concise operational and commercial performance reports to senior management and drive continuous improvement in vessel efficiency and profitability.

Skills

Commercial judgment

Voyage profitability

Charter party knowledge

Problem solving

Risk management

Working under pressure

Ownership & accountability

Team leadership

Multicultural coordination

Education

Maritime degree/diploma

Seagoing tanker experience (Master/Chief Officer) advantageous

Job description

LILA GLOBAL is seeking an experienced and commercially minded OPERATIONS MANAGER TANKER – Crude & Products – to manage the day to day commercial and operational performance of its tanker fleet. Based in Dubai.

This role requires a hands‑on tanker operator with strong commercial judgment, charter‑party expertise, and the ability to manage voyages safely, efficiently, and profitably.

The ideal candidate will take ownership of each voyage, PREVENTS problems and acts quickly when they arise, controls costs, protects charter‑party rights, and consistently seeks ways to improve vessel profitability without compromising safety.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

CHARTERING, COMMERCIAL MANAGEMENT

• Manage the commercial and operational execution of crude and product tanker voyages from fixture through completion.
• Prepare and monitor voyage estimates, voyage plans, budgets and actual voyage performance.
• Manage both pre‑fixture and post‑fixture operations, including spot and time‑charter voyages.
• Ensure compliance with charter‑party terms and protect the Company’s commercial position.
• Coordinate closely with Masters, Charterers, Brokers, Agents, Terminals, Technical Managers and internal departments.

VOYAGE MANAGEMENT

• Monitor vessel schedules, cargo operations, bunker consumption, port costs, laytime and demurrage exposure.
• Supervise tanker‑specific activities including tank cleaning, gas freeing, cargo preparation and grade changes.
• Control voyage costs including bunkers, lubricants, port expenses, agency fees and service‑provider costs.
• Support demurrage, cargo, off‑hire and other operational claims and disputes.
• Coordinate class, flag, inspections, certifications and regulatory requirements where required.
• Identify operational risks, delays and cost‑saving opportunities early and take corrective action.

COMPLIANCE & REPORTING

• Ensure compliance with applicable tanker safety, environmental, class, flag and port requirements.

REPORTING & CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

• Provide concise operational and commercial performance reports to senior management.
• Drive continuous improvement in vessel efficiency, cost control and voyage profitability.

CANDIDATE SHALL BRING:

• 10 years of hands‑on tanker operations experience, with strong exposure to crude oil and/or petroleum product tankers.
• Strong knowledge of tanker charter parties, voyage management, bunker planning, port operations, laytime and demurrage.
• Experience managing multiple tanker voyages independently.
• Good understanding of tank cleaning, gas freeing, cargo preparation and tanker safety requirements.
• Experience handling both pre‑fixture and post‑fixture operations.
• Familiarity with class, flag, port‑state and regulatory requirements.
• UAE or Middle East shipping experience would be beneficial.

COMPETENCES SUCCESS PROFILE:

• Strong commercial judgment
• Voyage profitability and cost control
• Charter‑party knowledge
• Problem‑solving and decision‑making
• Claims prevention and risk management
• Ability to work under pressure
• High ownership and accountability
• Team leadership and multicultural coordination

EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS

• A degree or diploma in Maritime Studies, Shipping, Nautical Science, Marine Engineering, or a related field.
• Seagoing tanker experience as a Master Mariner or Chief Officer would be advantageous, although strong shore‑based tanker operations experience is equally valued.