Senior Crude Operator

Richard James Recruitment Specialists Ltd; Slough; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Richard James Recruitment Specialists Ltd is seeking a Senior Crude Operations Specialist to join a London-based operations team within a leading international energy trading organisation.

You will manage day-to-day crude trading operations, coordinate voyage orders and documentation, and optimise the physical crude portfolio while liaising with traders, shipping, and back-office teams. Some out-of-hours coverage may be required.

Qualifications

• Numerate degree and strong understanding of the oil trading lifecycle.
• Experience in trading and shipping operations with cargo controls.
• Fluent English and ability to collaborate with international teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day trading operations activities for crude and related commodities.
• Handle voyage orders, pro-forma invoices, documentary instructions, LC, cargo insurance, and nominations.
• Support demurrage and costs management, resolving operational issues.
• Optimize physical operations of the crude trading portfolio including cargoes.
• Oversee operational and contractual aspects of crude trading activities.
• Be focal point with terminals for loading programmes and scheduling.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure efficiency.
• Identify causes of issues and coordinate timely resolutions while mitigating impact.

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication

Stakeholder management

Team player

Problem-solving

Adaptability

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.