Operational Manager

Core Laboratories Inc.; Antwerpen; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Core Laboratories is seeking an Operations Manager to lead end-to-end operational tasks, coordinate with inspectors, laboratories, and clients, and ensure smooth daily activities at our Antwerp operations hub. The role involves on-call duty and occasional international customer meetings.

The ideal candidate brings maritime or oil/energy sector experience, strong business acumen, spoken English at business level, and a track record of driving efficiency while safeguarding safety and quality

Qualifications

• Relevant higher education degree.
• Experience in maritime sector (e.g., ship captain, oil terminal/refinery operations, shipping agency, or similar).
• Strong business acumen and strategic thinking abilities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Analytical and results-oriented mindset.
• Customer-focused approach, with the ability to identify and address customer needs effectively.
• Proficiency in English at a business level.
• Knowledge of HSSEQ and the oil/energy industry is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the operations process from order receipt to final reporting.
• Maintain daily communication and provide updates to customers.
• Plan and coordinate operational tasks efficiently.
• Collaborate closely with inspectors, laboratory staff, and the invoicing team.
• Assist in solving operational challenges and ensuring smooth workflows.
• Participate occasionally in the on-call duty schedule, including night and weekend shifts.
• Attend customer meetings both domestically and internationally.
• Participate and contributing to continuous improvement and efficiency.
• To always respect and protect company and client confidentiality.
• Perform additional duties as assigned, demonstrating adaptability and a commitment to operational excellence.

Skills

Business acumen

Execution excellence

People advocacy

Data literacy

Digital agility

People analytics

Leading self

Leading others

Decision making

Customer orientation

Strategic thinking

Operational coordination

Communication collaboration

HSSEQ awareness

Education

Higher education degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

SUMMARY

The Operations Manager will play a key role in managing operational tasks, coordinating with inspectors, laboratories, and customers, and ensuring smooth day-to-day operations. The position includes occasionally participation in our on-call duty schedule, covering both day and weekend shifts. Customer meetings in Denmark and abroad also required.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Oversee the operations process from order receipt to final reporting.

• Maintain daily communication and provide updates to customers.

• Plan and coordinate operational tasks efficiently.

• Collaborate closely with inspectors, laboratory staff, and the invoicing team.

• Assist in solving operational challenges and ensuring smooth workflows.

• Participate occasionally in the on-call duty schedule, including night and weekend shifts.

• Attend customer meetings both domestically and internationally.

• Participate and contributing to continuous improvement and efficiency.

• To always respect and protect company and client confidentiality.

• Perform additional duties as assigned, demonstrating adaptability and a commitment to operational excellence.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A relevant higher education degree.

• Experience in the maritime sector (e.g., ship captain, oil terminal/refinery operations, shipping agency, or similar).

• Strong business acumen and strategic thinking abilities.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Analytical and results-oriented mindset.

• Customer-focused approach, with the ability to identify and address customer needs effectively.

• Proficiency in English at a business level.

• Knowledge of HSSEQ and the oil/energy industry is an advantage

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES

• Strong understanding of maritime and oil industry operations.

• Ability to work independently while maintaining a structured and solution-oriented approach.

• Strong problem-solving skills with attention to detail.

• Effective stakeholder management and negotiation skills.

• Adaptability to changing priorities and operational demands.

• A proactive and service-minded attitude.

Commitment to safety regulations and quality assurance standards.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications.

COMPETENCIES

• Business Acumen: interpret external trends, business context, strategy, and operations of the organization and analyse customer needs, and co-creates business strategy and operational solutions that create value and impact to achieve sustainable business results

• Execution Excellence: deliver impact through practical problem-solving, finding practical solutions to navigate and overcome obstacles; engagement with stakeholders, achieving shared goals using effective interpersonal skills; and purposeful execution, implements actionable and adaptive plans to achieve results.

• People Advocacy: build human-centric organizational cultures that promote performance, productivity and wellbeing, navigating change, and holding the organization to ethical standards, ensuring ethical conduct and compliance, and mitigating people risks.

• Data Literacy: analyse, interpret, and communicate operational data to derive actionable insights, inform decision-making, and operational improvements to achieve strategic business objectives.

• Digital Agility: utilize technology to enhance operational efficiency and prepare the organization to adopt digital practices.

• People Analytics: collecting and applying organizational and operational data to improve critical business outcomes

• Leading Self: has a self-awareness of how actions are perceived and how to respond to feedback. Leading with empathy towards others and understanding the world from their point of view.

• Leading Others: Inspires, motivates, and supports team members to achieve their best. Builds strong relationships, promotes collaboration, and effectively manages conflict.

• Decision-Making: Analyzes complex situations quickly and effectively to make timely, well-reasoned decisions.

• Customer Orientation: Focused on delivering high-quality service and meeting client expectations.

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to analyze and optimize workflows for efficiency. HSSEQ Awareness: Understanding of safety, security, and quality standards within the industry (advantageous).

• Operational Coordination: Ability to oversee and manage multiple operational tasks efficiently.

• Communication & Collaboration: Strong interpersonal skills to liaise with internal teams and customers.

• WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.This position resides within a normal office working environment. International travel will be required.

Core Laboratories, including all of its affiliated and related entities, is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. Employment decisions are made regardless of characteristics including, but not limited to, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, religion, genetic information, protected veteran or uniformed service member status, and any other characteristic protected under applicable law.