Voyage Operator

Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Inc; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

BP Shipping is seeking a Voyage Operator within the Voyage Operations team to ensure safe, compliant, and efficient voyages for Time Chartered vessels. You will engage with masters, owners and brokers, manage risk, and maximise commercial value while coordinating with Commercial Analysts, Bunkering, Optimization and Chartering teams.

This frontline role requires strong analytical skills, a commercial mindset, and the ability to act decisively under pressure, delivering reliable voyage

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a large ship owning outfit.
• Previous oil tanker or vessel experience.
• Strong analytical skills and commercial attitude.
• Ability to deliver results under pressure.
• Experience managing counterparty relationships.
• Familiarity with risk frameworks and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with owners, brokers, and internal teams.
• Provide commercial expertise and marine risk guidance for voyages.
• Act as fleet lead and primary liaison for internal and external parties.
• Manage data and communications to optimise TCP/TCE performance.
• Oversee day-to-day voyage operations, port clearances and voyage orders.
• Support out-of-hours duty and incident management activities.

Skills

Analytical skills

Commercial acumen

Stakeholder management

Pressure handling

Tools

SEDNA

Veson Platform

Job description

About us

Our purpose is to bring together people, energy and markets to power and navigate a changing world. In a time of constant change and possibility we need new talent to pursue commercial opportunities, fueled by world-class insight and expertise. We’re always striving for more innovative digital solutions, sustainable outcomes and closer collaboration across our company and beyond, and you could be part of that too. Together we continue to grow as the world’s leading energy company!

About the role

The Voyage Operations team is accountable for the execution of safe, compliant, and efficient voyages for all time-chartered vessels.

As a member of the Voyage Operations team, you will be accountable for assuring compliance and efficient execution of voyages for Time Chartered vessels (TC) on behalf of bp Shipping (ST&S).

A Voyage Operator manages all aspects of the voyage in accordance with the voyage Charter Party terms and Time Charter Party terms; engaging with a wide range of internal and external interested parties and acting as the single point of contact for masters and owners/brokers. This role is on the front line of the management and mitigation of ST&S/Group Risk and is therefore expected to proactively spot issues and take pre-emptive action to mitigate risk and maximise commercial value.

The role involves close collaboration with Commercial Analysts, Bunkering, Optimization and Chartering teams to optimise bunkering strategies, enhance time charter performance, and ensure full compliance with the terms of the Charter Party agreements.

This team offers a dynamic working environment where no day on the job is the same. Being on the front line of managing and mitigating risk on behalf of the Group and ST&S means a highly effective operator can make significant contributions that have a material impact commercially.

Voyage Operators are encouraged to positively challenge and be courageous with all interested parties to eliminate risk and operate safe, commercially viable voyages. The person fulfilling this role needs to be able to see the bigger picture and understand how their individual actions within Voyage Operations has a greater impact in ST&S and the business as a whole.

Key Accountabilities

Build and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of internal and external interested parties, Including but not limited to:

• Vessel owners & brokers
• Teams within Shipping (Vessel Managers, Vetting & Clearance, Optimization, Chartering & Commercial)
• Functional teams (Legal, Finance, AOT)
• External bodies
• The Masters of the vessels
• Bunker procurement team
• Voyage claims analysts

Provide commercial expertise and marine awareness to manage risks associated with transportation of hydrocarbons, chemicals and dry bulk.

Act as the designated fleet lead, overseeing day-to-day operations and serving as the primary liaison for both internal and external interested parties.

Ownership of managing and curating critical fleet-related data and communications, while supporting analysts and chartering teams to optimise time charter performance (TCP) and maximise commercial outcomes (TCE/P&L).

Management of all non-scheduling activity including day-to-day operations of allocated voyages for owned & time chartered vessels in accordance with the charter party terms, ST&S policies and Voyage Operations Procedures, such as:

• Management of vessel, port and berth clearances
• Generation and issue of Voyage Orders (including load and discharge instructions).
• Intakes optimisation and UKC compliance
• Appointment of port agents
• Management of Charter Parties terms
• Find opportunities for optimum bunker procurement
• Make innovative commercial interventions to improve voyage earnings and opportunities for cost savings.

Provide pre-fixture advice to Charterers.

Support out of hours and weekend duty cover, including support to the BP Shipping Incident Management Team (IMT) and Business Support Team (BST) where needed.

Leverage marine expertise to support the development and continuous upskilling of the Voyage Operations team and broader Operations function through training, mentoring, and knowledge sharing.

Essential experience and job requirements

• Previous experience in a large ship owning outfit
• Previous recent oil tanker or vessel experience
• Strong analytical skills, commercial attitude, and attention to detail
• Strong bias for action
• Experience managing counterparty and customer relationships
• Strong influencing and interested party management skills
• Ability to deliver results under pressure (time constraints and market volatility)
• Experience managing diverse interested party needs

Desirable experience and job requirements

• Familiarity with BP's risk framework
• Knowledge of SEDNA / Veson Platform
• Knowledge of shipping regulations and laws, especially in the oil tanker sector