Head of Shipping

This role will be responsible for building a Geneva-based chartering capability tu support growing commercial activity across East and West Africa, ensuring competitive vessel fixing, disciplined execution, strong internal coordination, and full compliance with operational, sanctions, KYC and risk requirements.
This position will report to the Head of Operations and work closely with the Head of Trading and the traders.

Key responsibilities
Provide timely market updates (EAF, WAF & other relevant markets) throughout the day for commercial optimization and risk management purposes
Deliver timely and cost-effective vessel fixing to support commercial requirements
Prepare accurate voyage economics, freight calculations and shipping cost assumptions
Manage broker pol, shipowner and counterparty relationships effectively and monitor performance
Document negotiations and fixtures clearly, consistently, and in line with internal standards/policies
Coordinate proactively with operations, trading, finance, demurrage, risk and compliance teams
Ensure accurate and timely (on execution) entry of shipping information into the ETRM system
Define and execute shipping strategies, based on market dynamics and the company's commercial requirements

Day-to-day communication with other departments
Communicate with the commercial team on all parameters of the voyage to ensure smooth execution, maximizing financial success
Communicate with the operations department to ensure a smooth operation of all voyages / TCs
Manage freight payments in conjunction with the Finance department
Manage KYC and sanctions requirements and support the Compliance team in complex counterparty onboarding
Document correctly all negotiations and provide the necessary inputs for the ETRM

Reporting, Procedures and Standards
Implement procedures for executing fixtures, monitoring and reporting on vessel performance, and communicating underlying variances.
Enforce operating procedures to comply with the highest standards.
Understand and communicate relevant information on changing legislation directly affecting the shipping activities.
Assist with preparation of weekly shipping and demurrage reporting and monthly management reporting
Promote safe, compliant and responsible shipping practices in all chartering decisions and day-to-day interactions with internal and external stakeholders.

Required qualifications
Minimum 10 years of chartering experience in wet cargo, combined with previous shipping operations experience
Strong knowledge of wet freight markets, tanker chartering practices, voyage and TC structures, port and terminal restrictions, bunker and freight cost components, and the commercial drivers affecting shipping decisions in African markets
Demonstrated negotiation, communication and relationship building skills
Fluent in English and French
Wide and strong chartering network
Comfortable using ETRM or shipping systems to record fixtures, voyage economics, freight exposure, contractual terms, operational updates and supporting documentation accurately and on time
Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to coordinate daily with trading, operations, demurrage, finance, risk, compliance, brokers, shipowners and counterparties under time pressure
Proven adaptability to changing market conditions
Leadership and management capabilities