Crude Operator (North Sea)

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

Job summary

Richard James Recruitment Specialists Ltd is assisting a leading international energy trading organisation in London to recruit a Crude Operations Specialist for its trading desk. You will work within a dedicated crude trading desk, coordinating with traders, analysts and operations colleagues to ensure the efficient execution of physical crude transactions.

You may need to share knowledge across the wider team and provide operational cover.

Qualifications

• Strong academic credentials in a numeracy-oriented discipline.
• Understanding of crude and oil products trading lifecycle.
• Experience with cargo documentation and letters of credit is advantageous.
• Ability to work 24/7 in a fast-paced trading environment.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day trading operations activities to assure operational performance efficiency.
• Manage voyage orders, pro-forma invoices, vessel nominations, LC, and cargo insurance.
• Support demurrage and costs management for ancillary costs.
• Handle North Sea trading portfolio operations including equity and third-party cargoes.
• Oversee BFOETM paper/chain operational and contractual aspects.
• Serve as the focal point for communication with terminals on loading programs.
• Maintain relationships with terminals and internal departments to ensure efficient operations.
• Identify causes of operational problems and coordinate resolutions to mitigate costs.

Skills

Crude trading lifecycle understanding

Operations coordination

Stakeholder management

Attention to detail

Fast-paced environment

Job description

We are working with a leading international energy trading organisation to recruit a 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 the operational performance efficiency.
• Manage voyage orders, pro-forma invoices, documentary instructions, vessel nominations, Letters of Credit, Provisional and Final cargo insurance, Narrowing/Nomination of dates/quantities, Vessel clearance, etc.
• Support our demurrage and costs management team for ancillary costs such as demurrage, freight differentials; deviation costs; dead-freight and assist with their resolutions.
• Manage and optimise the physical operations of the North Sea trading portfolio, including equity, third party and traded cargoes.
• Manage and optimise the operational and contractual aspects of the BFOETM paper/chain activities.
• Be the focal point for all communication with terminals regarding nominations of loading programs etc.
• Manage relationships and communication with terminals and company departments to ensure efficiency of operations activities.
• Building and maintaining good working relationships with internal company stakeholders to ensure the efficiency of operational activities, as well as with external stakeholders such as terminals, inspection companies, and other counterparties.
• Identify the cause of any encountered operational problems and ensure resolution through coordination with all affected stakeholders, mitigating costs and consequences for the Group.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• Strong academic credentials within a numeracy-oriented discipline.
• An understanding of the oil trading lifecycle, in particular crude and oil products.
• An understanding of trading and shipping operations activities (e.g. cargo, time charters, voyage charters, ships, quality and quantity controls).
• Knowledge of cargo documentation, B/I, inspections, L/C, voyage orders and customs would be beneficial.
• Strong motivation, dedication and results-oriented approach to work.
• High attention to detail, organised, structured and logical.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder‑management skills, with the ability to build effective relationships both internally and externally.
• Able to work at fast-pace in a dynamic trading environment with time-sensitive, business critical activities requiring 24/7 responsiveness.
• Strong teamwork skills; experience working in an international organisation would be advantageous.
• A positive attitude and a proactive, results oriented approach, with strong organisational skills.