Trade Operations Assistant

We are looking for motivated and passionate personnel for the role of Trade Operations Assistant that is willing to learn and strive for operations excellence with combined skills in logistics, conflict management, and commercial agility.

What's the role?

• Operators are the key executors of the deals done by the Traders, managing movements on different product tankers from supply to delivery point in an operationally excellent and optimal manner, preventing profit leakage, and looking for value add or optimization opportunities.
• The Company might/will be involved in some blending activities. In these instances, Operators are expected to defend the P&L and look out for opportunities to maximize margins through effective asset utilization, preventing unnecessary downtime/demurrage or improving blend margins.
• Ensure that all obligations arising from the contract and charter party are executed flawlessly, in compliance with governmental and industrial regulations as well as Company's guidelines.
• Daily external interface with contractual counterparties, terminal operators, vessel owners/brokers and contracted vendors such as cargo surveyors or port agents.
• Daily internal interface including but not limited to Traders, Shipping & Maritime, and Trade Finance.
• Expected to manage supply and delivery schedules with internal and external counterparties. Operators will need to appreciate the challenges and constraints of the end-to-end supply chain and operationalize a plan to meet those objectives while remaining profitable and compliant.
• Timely and accurate ship/cargo and date range nominations to ensure supply integrity and successful implementation of commercial business/supply intent.
• Manage vessel operations, such as scheduling, routing, bunkering, stow planning & optimization, issuing voyage orders, and monitoring the fleet of vessels under your charge.
• Manage cargo operations, such as managing off-spec issues, cargo readiness, scheduling, blending (where applicable for more senior or specialized Operators roles), avoiding tank-top/stock-out situations and volume/date-range optimization.
• Support post-deal activities like settlements, customs clearance, demurrage and claims for example; ensuring that all necessary operational information is passed on in good time and documentary requirements are met.
• Appoint independent cargo surveyors, expeditors, ship-to-ship service providers, and ship agents.
• Ensure that all operational data is updated into trading systems in a timely and accurate manner, facilitating up-to-date and accurate information flow.
• Ensure that adequate records are filed to meet the company's legal and fiscal obligations.
• Ensure that any necessary financial security is in place prior to the transfer of title to customers.
• Be available to manage critical out-of-regular office hour issues.
• The job may require after-office hours or weekend attention from time to time.
• Attention to detail, meticulousness, and numeracy skills are a prerequisite.

What We Need From You

• We are open to graduates who are motivated and willing to learn from Science or Business School etc Chemical Engineering/ Business Management/International Trade studies. It will be advantageous to have some prior working experience in a Commercial (or similar) Operations-type environment or some science/chemistry background.
• Ability to communicate proficiently and effectively in Mandarin with Chinese internal and external stakeholders.
• Display some evidence of commerciality and ability to maximize margins or add value to the bottom line. For example, the ability to participate in or positively contribute to end-to-end supply strategy plans as well as the ability to identify/resolve potential blockers to successful operational execution.
• Ability to contribute to the successful implementation of an operations plan, identifying and managing supply/operational constraints independently.
• Display some understanding of and ability to articulate the demands and nature of the commercial business.
• Display evidence of effective teamwork, strong networking and influencing skills. Prospective candidates should be able to give evidence of effective stakeholder and relationship management.
• Evidence of being able to manage multiple and conflicting priorities to achieve business intent and objectives with minimal supervision.
• Evidence of ability to problem solve in uncertain circumstances or working with incomplete information.
• Evidence of ability to function well in a fast-paced dynamic environment where changes are the norm.
• Candidates are expected to be proactive self-starters, as well as demonstrable evidence of resilience in adversity, determination and drive to get things done.
• Demonstrate a passion for operations excellence and evidence of participating in optimization initiatives or activities.