Contract Negotiator

Richard James Recruitment Specialists Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Richard James Recruitment Specialists Ltd in London is seeking a Senior Crude Operations Specialist to join our client's international energy trading team. You will manage day-to-day crude trading operations and coordinate with traders, analysts and logistics to ensure efficient execution of physical transactions.

You will liaise with terminals, shipping, and compliance functions, build relationships with stakeholders and provide operating cover as needed.

Qualifications

• Strong academic credentials within a numeracy-oriented discipline.
• Solid understanding of the oil trading lifecycle, particularly crude.
• Knowledge of cargo documentation, Bills of Lading, LC and related procedures is advantageous.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced trading environment with outside-hours flexibility.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day crude trading operations to ensure performance and efficiency.
• Handle voyage orders, drafts, LC, cargo docs, nominations, and vessel clearances.
• Support demurrage/cost management and resolve operational issues quickly.
• Optimize physical operations of crude portfolio (equity, third-party, traded cargos).
• Manage operational and contractual aspects of crude trading.
• Act as the main contact with terminals for loading programmes, nominations and scheduling.
• Build strong internal and external relationships to maintain operational efficiency.
• Identify and resolve operational issues to minimize commercial impact.

Skills

Crude trading operations

Stakeholder management

Attention to detail

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Numeracy-oriented degree

Job description

We are working with a leading international energy trading organisation to recruit a Senior Crude Operations Specialist to join its London-based operations team.

Working within a dedicated crude trading desk, you will collaborate closely with traders, analysts and fellow operations professionals to ensure the efficient execution of physical crude oil transactions.

A degree of flexibility is expected within the role to share knowledge across the wider operations team and provide operational cover where required. You will work closely with several internal functions including Trading, Shipping Operations, Scheduling, Credit, Middle Office, Back Office, Insurance, Legal, Finance and Contracts.

This role offers excellent exposure to the full commodity trading lifecycle through close collaboration with multiple business functions. Some out-of-hours work may be required to support business needs.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a highly respected global trading organisation that offers a dynamic environment, ongoing professional development and genuine long-term career progression.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage the day-to-day trading operations activities for the pertaining commodities aiming at assuring operational performance and efficiency.
• Manage voyage orders, pro-forma invoices, documentary instructions, vessel nominations, Letters of Credit, provisional and final cargo insurance, narrowing/nominations of dates and quantities, vessel clearances and associated documentation.
• Support the demurrage and costs management process for ancillary costs such as demurrage, freight differentials, deviation costs and deadfreight, assisting with the timely resolution of operational issues.
• Manage and optimise the physical operations of the crude trading portfolio, including equity, third-party and traded cargoes.
• Manage and optimise the operational and contractual aspects of crude trading activities.
• Be the focal point for all communication with terminals regarding loading programmes, nominations and scheduling.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal stakeholders to ensure operational efficiency, as well as with external stakeholders including terminals, inspection companies and counterparties.
• Identify the cause of operational issues and coordinate timely resolutions with all affected stakeholders, mitigating commercial impact wherever possible.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Strong academic credentials within a numeracy-oriented discipline.
• A solid understanding of the oil trading lifecycle, particularly crude oil and refined products.
• Good knowledge of trading and shipping operations, including cargo operations, time charters, voyage charters, vessel operations, and quality and quantity controls.
• Knowledge of cargo documentation, Bills of Lading, inspections, Letters of Credit, voyage orders and customs procedures would be advantageous.
• Strong motivation, dedication and results-oriented approach.
• High attention to detail with a structured and organised working style.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build effective internal and external relationships.
• Comfortable working within a fast-paced trading environment where business-critical activities can require responsiveness outside standard working hours.
• Strong team player with experience working within an international organisation considered advantageous.
• A proactive attitude with excellent organisational and problem-solving skills.
• Fluent English is essential. Additional languages would be advantageous.