The Senior Operations Manager leads, optimizes, and governs end-to-end maritime operations across the business. The role is both strategic and hands-on, ensuring operational excellence from voyage planning through post-voyage settlement while providing leadership, guidance, and escalation support to operations managers and cross-functional teams. The position is critical to stakeholder management, risk mitigation, financial performance, and continuous improvement, and aligns operations closely with the Chartering, Control, Legal, and Technical teams. Key Responsibilities 1. Strategic Voyage Oversight & Execution
Provide senior oversight of voyage planning, execution, and completion, ensuring consistency with commercial strategy and contractual obligations. Enhance voyage, loading, and discharge instructions issued to vessels and agents. Agency appointments via DA-Desk, including approval of pre- & final payments. Initiate negotiations on agency fees and port-related expenses to drive cost efficiency. Act as the primary escalation point for complex operational issues involving captains, customers, brokers, and agents.
2. Operational Performance & Optimization
Partner with the Chartering team to drive proactive operational interventions that enhance voyage outcomes and profitability. Provide guidance to Masters and Operations team on optimized stowage, loading, and cargo operations. Oversee vessel performance monitoring (speed and consumption), ensuring corrective actions are taken and claims are handled, settled or pursued, when required. Analysing vessel performance data and converting it into practical insights that support cost control, fuel efficiency improvements, claims defence, and management reporting. Champion continuous improvement initiatives across operational processes and systems. Ensure timely and accurate preparation and settlement of freight, hire, and T/C invoices in coordination with the Control team. Maintain senior accountability for compliance with Charter Party and Bill of Lading terms, particularly freight and hire payment provisions. Oversee the issuance, review, and acceptance of Letters of Indemnity (LOIs), ensuring risk exposure is managed appropriately. Provide senior oversight of bunker procurement decisions and fuel management in coordination with the Chartering team. Ensure appropriate insurance coverage is in place for voyages, including war risk and other special circumstances. Lead and oversee operational claims related to vessels and cargo, working closely with Legal and insurers to achieve favourable outcomes.
5. Compliance, Governance & Documentation
Ensure full compliance of Bills of Lading with Voyage Charter Party and T/C contracts. Maintain governance over operational reporting, including daily itinerary updates and P&L tracking in Next Voyage. Coordinate at senior level with Technical Superintendents on surveys, hull cleanings, and operational readiness.
6. Leadership, Reporting & Stakeholder Engagement
Actively participate in weekly operations meetings, setting priorities and driving accountability. Represent Operations in meetings with agents, vendors, senior stakeholders, and project groups. Provide mentoring, performance feedback, and operational guidance to Operations Managers and team members. Act as a role model for professional conduct, decision-making, and cross-functional collaboration.
Required Skills & Qualifications
Strong, hands-on experience operating, ideally within the Atlantic Basin, is a mandatory requirement for this role, including knowledge of port operations, regional regulations, and market dynamics. In-depth understanding of vessel operations, chartering, and port logistics. Excellent negotiation skills and ability to manage operational budgets effectively. Ability to analyze and optimize operational performance, particularly in relation to vessel speed and fuel consumption. Over five years of experience with voyage instructions, documentation, and compliance requirements. Proactive, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
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