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Posted 16 June, 2026

Lead - Shipping Operations (Chartering, Vetting & Port Clearance)

bp
Pune, MH, IN Full Time
Reference: 5f8804f1b0b543f3

Job Description

Role title - Lead - Shipping Operations (Chartering, Vetting & Port Clearance)\nLocation - Pune\nThis role is critical to building Castrol’s independent marine capability, ensuring safe, compliant, and cost-efficient global supply.\nYou will lead the establishment and ongoing operation of Castrol’s independent global Shipping Operations function, transitioning from bp TSA to a fully owned, future-ready operating model.\nThis is an enterprise-critical role with end-to-end accountability for safety, compliance, cost, and continuity across global marine movements. You will establish the Shipping Operations Centre of Excellence, define governance and decision rights, and ensure effective execution across chartering, vetting, and port clearance.\nYou will also ensure Shipping Operations is fully integrated into Castrol’s Logistics Control Tower, enabling end-to-end visibility, performance management, and data-driven decision-making across global marine flows.\nThis role sits at the intersection of operations, risk management, and strategy, requiring strong leadership across internal teams, TSA providers, third parties, and senior partners.\n\nKey Responsibilities -\n1. Shipping Operations CoE & Operating Model:\nEstablish and lead the global Shipping Operations Centre of Excellence\nDefine the target operating model, roles, governance, and decision rights across chartering, vetting, and port clearance.\nBuild scalable operating rhythms, standards, and blocking issue pathways across regions.\nDevelop organisational capability to support Castrol’s long-term independent marine operating model\n2.

TSA Ownership & Transition:\nAct as Castrol owner for Shipping Operations under the TSA environment\nLead transition planning, cutover readiness, and TSA exit execution\nEnsure operational continuity, knowledge transfer, and effective mobilisation of internal and third-party capabilities\nSupport the development of regional procedures, controls, and service expectations for post-TSA execution\n3. Global Performance, Cost & Optimisation:\nDrive freight cost optimization, service reliability, and operational efficiency across marine operations\nDefine and govern indicators covering cost, service, safety, compliance, utilization, and demurrage\nOversee shipping capacity, utilization, and operational trade-offs across regions\nEnsure marine operations support supply-demand plans, inventory positioning, and customer delivery commitments\nIdentify and priorities continuous improvement opportunities to improve value delivery and resilience\n4. Safety, Compliance & Marine Risk:\nSet and govern standards for HSSE, sanctions compliance, and marine risk management\nEnsure robust control frameworks are in place for vessel, terminal, and cargo movement decisions\nOversee governance for incidents, exceptions, and critical issues impacting safety, compliance, or continuity\nEnsure marine operations are driven in accordance with regulatory, internal policy, and assurance requirements\n5.

Digitalisation & Logistics Control Tower Integration:\nDefine requirements and lead selection of digital tools for Shipping Operations post-TSA\nEmbed digital ways of working across chartering, vetting, clearance, and performance reporting\nIntegrate Shipping Operations into the Logistics Control Tower to improve visibility, exception management, and decision support\nEnable data clarity and analytics to support performance management and operational governance\n6. Collaborator & Partner Management:\nBuild strong alignment with Procurement, Finance, HSSE, Legal, Digital, and regional Supply Chain teams\nLead engagement with TSA providers, ship owners, brokers, terminals, and marine service providers\nDefine clear interfaces between global CoE, regional execution teams, and assurance roles\nInfluence senior partners on risk, cost, continuity, and operating model decisions.\nRequired Skill\n12–18 years of experience in marine or shipping operations, including chartering, vetting, clearance, and/or port operations\nStrong experience in global tanker, lubricants, chemicals, or liquid bulk shipping environments\nProven experience leading complex operating model transitions, TSA exits, outsourcing transitions, or major shipping transformations\nDeep understanding of marine risk, vessel vetting standards, sanctions controls, and maritime compliance requirements\nDemonstrated ability to lead global teams and influence across regions, functions, and third parties\nStrong commercial and operational judgement, with the ability to balance cost, service, risk, and continuity\nBachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Maritime Studies, Supply Chain, Engineering, or a related field.\nPreferred Skill\nExperience in oil & gas, lubricants, or chemical shipping environments\nFamiliarity with chartering, vetting, voyage management, or Control Tower systems\nExperience working with brokers, marine service providers, or 3PL/4PL operating models\nStrong understanding of trade compliance, geopolitical risk, and marine assurance governance

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