Senior Crude Operator

Richard James Recruitment Specialists Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Richard James Recruitment Specialists Ltd is seeking a Senior Crude Operations Specialist to join its London-based operations team, working on a dedicated crude trading desk alongside traders and analysts to ensure efficient execution of physical crude oil transactions.

The role requires strong operational coordination across terminals, shipping, credit and back-office functions, with some out-of-hours support and a focus on continuous improvement, risk mitigation and stakeholder engagement.

Qualifications

• Understanding of the oil trading lifecycle, particularly crude and refined products.
• Knowledge of cargo documentation, bills of lading, inspections, LC, and voyage orders would be advantageous.
• Experience with cargo operations, time charters and vessel operations.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• High attention to detail with an organised working style.
• Fluent English is essential.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day trading operations activities for crude portfolios to ensure efficiency.
• Coordinate voyage orders, pro-forma invoices, nominations, LC, and cargo documentation.
• Support demurrage and cost management processes and resolve operational issues.
• Be focal point for loading programmes, nominations and scheduling with terminals.

Skills

Oil trading lifecycle

Trading & shipping ops

Stakeholder management

Fluent English

Attention to detail

Strong teamwork

Education

Numerate 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.