Quick overview
Job description
Castrol is one of the world’s leading lubricant brands, serving customers and consumers in the automotive, marine, industrial and energy sectors. Castrol brands are recognised globally for their premium quality and high performance, shaped by the company’s commitment to innovation and cutting-edge technology. With products sold in more than 150 countries, Castrol has helped keep things moving on roads and racetracks, air, sea, and space for over 125 years.
Whether you're just starting out or ready for your next big move, you're in the right place to explore an exciting career with Castrol.
Job description
About the team:
You will establish and lead Castrol’s independent global Marine & Shipping Operations function, ensuring safe, compliant, reliable and commercially competitive movement of liquid-bulk and finished-goods cargoes. As the functional leader, you will own the voyage operations/execution, operations and financial settlement. You will lead a geographically distributed team and partner with Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, HSSE, Legal and Digital to protect supply continuity, manage marine and commercial risk, optimise freight expenditure and build a scalable global capability.
Establish governance for charter-party terms, laytime and demurrage, claims, freight settlement and contractual performance, working with Procurement, Legal, Finance and insurance partners to minimise leakage and manage commercial exposure.
Key tasks:
- Global Shipping Operations Leadership & Operating Model
a. Establish and lead Castrol's global Shipping Operations, providing functional leadership across voyage operations/ execution, marine assurance, vetting, and port clearance.
b. Design, implement, and continuously improve the target operating model, governance framework, decision rights, and performance standards for global marine operations
c. Build a scalable, resilient, and future-ready global marine capability that supports Castrol's long-term supply chain strategy and growth ambitions.
d. Develop organisational capability, talent, succession plans, and operational excellence standards across the global shipping network. - TSA Transition & Business Readiness
a. Serve as the business owner for Shipping Operations throughout the TSA period and lead the transition to an independent Castrol operating model.
b. Deliver a controlled and successful TSA exit while maintaining uninterrupted service, supply continuity, safety, and compliance.
c. Lead change management, knowledge transfer, capability development, and operating readiness activities across people, processes, systems, and governance.
d. Establish sustainable operating procedures, controls, escalation pathways, and service expectations for post-TSA operations. - Commercial, Chartering & Operational Performance
a. Own the global marine operations strategy and execution, balancing cost, capacity, risk, service, and supply continuity.
b. Drive freight optimisation, operational efficiency, and service reliability across Castrol's global marine network.
c. Govern commercial shipping activities including chartering strategy, contract portfolio management, charter-party governance, freight procurement, and vessel utilisation.
d. Establish and manage performance metrics covering cost, service, utilisation, demurrage, claims, safety, compliance, and customer service outcomes.
e. Lead continuous improvement initiatives that enhance competitiveness, resilience, and value delivery across marine operations. - Stakeholder, Partner & Industry Leadership
a. Partner closely with Procurement, Planning, Manufacturing, Finance, HSSE, Legal, Compliance, Digital, and Supply Chain teams to optimise business outcomes.
b. Build and sustain strategic relationships with shipowners, brokers, terminals, agents, marine service providers, insurers, and assurance partners.
c. Influence senior leaders on marine risk, commercial strategy, operating model design, and investment decisions.
d. Represent Castrol externally within the marine and shipping ecosystem, strengthening industry relationships and ensuring access to best practices, innovation, and market intelligence.
Experience required:
- Required:
a. Significant leadership experience in marine, shipping, chartering, or maritime operations, gained within tanker, chemical, lubricants, energy, liquid bulk, or related global shipping environments.
b. Proven track record leading complex global marine operations, including chartering, voyage execution, vessel vetting, marine assurance, port operations, or shipping governance.
c. Demonstrated success building, transforming, or leading operating models, including large-scale business transformations, TSA exits, outsourcing arrangements, organisational redesign, or capability stand-up activities.
d. Strong commercial acumen with experience balancing freight cost, service performance, supply continuity, operational risk, and customer requirements within a global shipping environment.
e. Deep understanding of maritime regulations, vessel vetting, sanctions compliance, marine assurance, HSSE requirements, and global trade compliance frameworks.
f. Experience leading geographically dispersed teams and influencing across multiple functions, cultures, external partners, and executive stakeholders.
g. Demonstrated ability to lead through ambiguity, manage operational crises, and make sound decisions in safety-critical and time-sensitive environments.
h. Strong analytical, digital, and data-driven decision-making capabilities, with experience leveraging technology to improve operational performance, governance, and visibility.
i. Bachelor's degree in Maritime Studies, Marine Transportation, Supply Chain, Engineering, Logistics, Business, or a related discipline. - Preferred:
a. Experience within oil & gas, lubricants, chemicals, liquid bulk, or tanker shipping sectors.
b. Experience with commercial chartering, freight procurement, charter-party negotiation, voyage management, demurrage, claims, and marine commercial governance.
c. Experience selecting, implementing, or operating marine digital platforms, voyage management systems, Control Tower solutions, or transportation visibility technologies.
d. Strong understanding of geopolitical risk, sanctions management, marine insurance, marine assurance, and business continuity planning.
e. Professional maritime qualifications such as Master Mariner, Chief Engineer, Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS), or equivalent industry-recognised qualifications.
f. Experience managing strategic relationships with shipowners, brokers, terminals, marine service providers, classification societies, insurers, or assurance providers. - You will work with :
Regional Chartering Leads, Marine Vetting & Clearance Specialists, and Global Supply Chain and Logistics leadership, partnering across Procurement, Finance, HSSE, Legal, Compliance, Digital & IT, Commercial, and regional Supply Chain teams. You will also collaborate with external stakeholders including TSA providers, ship owners, charterers, brokers, terminals, vetting agencies, port authorities, and marine service partners, supporting marine sourcing and contracts, freight cost management, budgeting and performance tracking, system selection and integration, and the safe, compliant, and efficient delivery of marine operations.
Privacy
The Castrol entity recruiting for this role is the data controller for the personal information you provide. We use it to assess your application and to manage the recruitment and onboarding process. We may share it with service providers who support our recruitment, and it may be transferred to other Castrol entities internationally under appropriate safeguards. We keep it only for as long as necessary. For details of how we use your information and your data protection rights, contact privacy.response@castrol.com.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, socioeconomic status, neurodiversity/neurocognitive functioning, veteran status or disability status. Individuals with an accessibility need may request an adjustment/accommodation related to Castrol recruiting process (e.g., accessing the job application, completing required assessments, participating in telephone screenings or interviews, etc.).
If you are selected for a position and depending upon your role, your employment may be contingent upon adherence to local policy. This may include pre-placement drug screening, medical review of physical fitness for the role, and background checks.