Head of Shipping

VIU Partners Inc.; Genf; On-site; CHF 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

VIU Partners Inc. in Geneva seeks a seasoned Chartering Manager to build a Geneva-based chartering capability, supporting growing commercial activity across East and West Africa.

You will ensure competitive vessel fixing, disciplined execution, and full compliance with operational, sanctions, KYC and risk requirements. Reporting to the Head of Operations and collaborating with the Head of Trading and traders, you will coordinate with operations, trading, finance, demurrage, risk and compliance

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of chartering experience in wet cargo and related shipping operations.
• Strong knowledge of wet freight markets, tanker chartering practices, voyage and TC structures.
• Demonstrated negotiation, communication and relationship-building skills.
• Fluent in English and French.
• Wide network in chartering.
• Experience using ETRM or shipping systems to record fixtures and voyage economics.

Responsibilities

• Provide timely market updates (EAF, WAF, and other markets) for optimization and risk management.
• Deliver timely and cost-effective vessel fixing to support commercial requirements.
• Prepare accurate voyage economics, freight calculations and shipping cost assumptions.
• Manage broker, shipowner and counterparty relationships; monitor performance.
• Document negotiations and fixtures clearly according to internal standards.
• Coordinate with operations, trading, finance, demurrage, risk and compliance teams.
• Ensure accurate and timely entry of shipping information into the ETRM system.
• Define and execute shipping strategies based on market dynamics and company needs.
• Communicate with the commercial team on voyage parameters to ensure smooth execution; coordinate with operations.
• Manage freight payments with Finance; support KYC and sanctions requirements with Compliance.
• Document all negotiations and provide inputs for the ETRM and reporting.

Skills

Negotiation

Communication

Relationship building

English (Fluent)

French (Fluent)

Chartering knowledge

ETRM systems

Tools

ETRM systems

Job description

This role will be responsible for building a Geneva-based chartering capability tu support growing commercial activity across East and West Africa, ensuring competitive vessel fixing, disciplined execution, strong internal coordination, and full compliance with operational, sanctions, KYC and risk requirements.

This position will report to the Head of Operations and work closely with the Head of Trading and the traders.

Key responsibilities

• Provide timely market updates (EAF, WAF & other relevant markets) throughout the day for commercial optimization and risk management purposes
• Deliver timely and cost-effective vessel fixing to support commercial requirements
• Prepare accurate voyage economics, freight calculations and shipping cost assumptions
• Manage broker pol, shipowner and counterparty relationships effectively and monitor performance
• Document negotiations and fixtures clearly, consistently, and in line with internal standards/policies
• Coordinate proactively with operations, trading, finance, demurrage, risk and compliance teams
• Ensure accurate and timely (on execution) entry of shipping information into the ETRM system
• Define and execute shipping strategies, based on market dynamics and the company's commercial requirements

Day-to-day communication with other departments

• Communicate with the commercial team on all parameters of the voyage to ensure smooth execution, maximizing financial success
• Communicate with the operations department to ensure a smooth operation of all voyages / TCs
• Manage freight payments in conjunction with the Finance department
• Manage KYC and sanctions requirements and support the Compliance team in complex counterparty onboarding
• Document correctly all negotiations and provide the necessary inputs for the ETRM

Reporting, Procedures and Standards

• Implement procedures for executing fixtures, monitoring and reporting on vessel performance, and communicating underlying variances.
• Enforce operating procedures to comply with the highest standards.
• Understand and communicate relevant information on changing legislation directly affecting the shipping activities.
• Assist with preparation of weekly shipping and demurrage reporting and monthly management reporting
• Promote safe, compliant and responsible shipping practices in all chartering decisions and day-to-day interactions with internal and external stakeholders.

Required qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of chartering experience in wet cargo, combined with previous shipping operations experience
• Strong knowledge of wet freight markets, tanker chartering practices, voyage and TC structures, port and terminal restrictions, bunker and freight cost components, and the commercial drivers affecting shipping decisions in African markets
• Demonstrated negotiation, communication and relationship building skills
• Fluent in English and French
• Wide and strong chartering network
• Comfortable using ETRM or shipping systems to record fixtures, voyage economics, freight exposure, contractual terms, operational updates and supporting documentation accurately and on time
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to coordinate daily with trading, operations, demurrage, finance, risk, compliance, brokers, shipowners and counterparties under time pressure
• Proven adaptability to changing market conditions