Regional Chartering & Voyage Operations Lead – East

Entity:

Customers & Products

Job Family Group:

Shipping Group

Job Description:

Are you ready to join a team that’s driving the future of lubricants & beyond and setting new industry standards? Discover how our diverse and passionate people at Castrol are shaping the industry – and how you can be part of this journey?

We’re seeking versatile experts who share our passion for innovation and excellence. Bring your outstanding perspective, collaborative spirit, and challenge our thinking as we continue to lead the way in the lubricants' market & build businesses beyond lubricants. This is your chance to learn, grow, and thrive in a dynamic and inclusive organization.

Castrol is a global leader in lubricants and part of the bp Group, one of the world’s largest energy companies. In India, Castrol is a publicly listed company, leading in the Automotive, Industrial, and Marine lubricant sectors. With iconic brands, steadfast innovation, strong customer relationships, and a team of highly motivated employees, we have maintained our market leadership in India for over a century. Our robust manufacturing and distribution network in India helps us reach consumers through more than 135,000 outlets.

At Castrol, success knows no bounds. We offer a fast-paced learning environment where you can develop your career, whether in specialized functions or on a general management track. Castrol India has a proud legacy of championing top talent for leadership roles, both locally and globally.
 

This is a role within the Castrol organisation, and the successful candidate will become part of the Castrol ring-fence.  If you are part of the ring-fence, it is expected that your employment will move with Castrol to new ownership.

 

Culture

bp believes in creating a culture that allows you to live our purpose, play to win while caring for others - and there is a huge focus on diversity equity and inclusion. We are a very open and respectful organization, where there is a lot of respect given to listening to all perspectives and hence people are encouraged to speak up, chip in at all levels irrespective of level or department.

The marketing team is a bunch of energetic and passionate individuals from varied backgrounds, and we thrive on being able to learn from each other as well as a lot of external orientation from the best in the industry. we deeply value partnerships especially with our sales colleagues and strongly believe in the power of igniting one team to be able to break barriers, challenge status quo and create new achievements.

Role - Regional Chartering & Voyage Operations Lead – East

Role & Responsibilities –

This role is critical to building Castrol’s independent marine capability, ensuring safe, compliant, and cost-efficient global supply.

You will lead chartering and voyage operations across the East region, ensuring safe, compliant, and efficient execution of marine shipments across high-volume, complex shipping lanes.

You will play a key role in managing regional shipping operations within the TSA environment, working closely with service providers and internal partners to build operational understanding, strengthen supplier relationships, and support transition to Castrol’s independent operating model.

This is a senior operational role requiring autonomy, strong judgement, and the ability to handle partner concerns in a fast-paced, globally interconnected environment while balancing cost, service, and risk.

Accountabilities –

1. TSA Readiness & Transition:

• Shadow TSA and provider operations for East region chartering and voyage execution

• Build deep understanding of regional shipping flows, suppliers, routing dynamics, and operating constraints

• Support development of regional procedures, governance, and critical issue pathways

• Prepare for a seamless transition to Castrol’s internal execution model post-TSA

2. Chartering & Voyage Execution:

• Implement chartering activities across spot, term, and contract chartering requirements

• Plan and manage vessel scheduling and voyage execution across East region shipping lanes

• Coordinate vessel nomination, loading, discharge, and shipment execution activities

• Deliver safe, efficient, and reliable marine operations aligned with global standards

3. Fleet Utilisation & Optimisation:

• Optimise vessel utilisation, turnaround, and capacity usage across regional operations

• Find opportunities to improve deployment efficiency, reduce avoidable cost, and support effective use of capacity

• Provide operational input into freight optimisation, routing decisions, and network planning

• Support cost-efficient execution through disciplined planning and regional market understanding

4. Supply–Demand Integration:

• Align shipping execution with regional supply-demand plans and customer delivery requirements

• Manage capacity constraints, rescheduling requirements, and operational trade-offs

• Support continuity of customer commitments through proactive planning and coordination

• Provide regional insights to support network optimisation and freight strategy

5. Demurrage & Operational Risk:

• Manage demurrage exposure, port delays, and operational disruptions

• Drive proactive resolution of issues, deviations, and exception scenarios

• Monitor voyage performance, service reliability, and key execution risks

• Apply sound judgement to balance cost, service, and operational continuity

6. Terminal & Partner Coordination:

• Coordinate closely with ports, terminals, agents, suppliers, and service providers

• Ensure smooth ship–shore interface and effective operational execution

• Build strong relationships with brokers, ship operators, and regional partners

• Maintain alignment with the Logistics Control Tower for visibility, exception management, and critical issue

7. Governance & Compliance:

• Ensure adherence to vetting approvals, clearance requirements, and marine standards

• Maintain compliance with HSSE, sanctions, and marine risk controls

• Complete operations within global CoE governance frameworks

• Work closely with the Marine Vetting & Clearance Specialist to ensure safe and compliant execution

Required experience -

• 8–15 years of experience in shipping operations, chartering, or voyage operations

• Strong experience in tanker, lubricants, chemicals, or bulk/liquid shipping environments

• Proven capability in high-volume, complex regional operations

• Strong understanding of voyage execution, scheduling, operational risk, and demurrage management

• Strong decision-making capability in dynamic and critical issue driven environments

• Experience working with terminals, suppliers, brokers, and shipping service providers

Preferred experience-

• Experience in oil & gas, lubricants, or chemical shipping

• Familiarity with voyage management and chartering systems

• Exposure to TSA environments, transitions, or carve-out-related operating models

• Ability to work across multiple geographies and time zones

You will work with – Collaborators

• Lead - Shipping Operations

• Regional Chartering & Voyage Operations Lead – West

• Marine Vetting & Clearance Specialist

• Regional Supply Chain, Procurement, Commercial, and Planning teams

• Terminals, ship owners, brokers, agents, and regional marine service providers

Why Join our team?

At Castrol, we support our people to learn and grow in a diverse and challenging environment. We believe that our team is strengthened by diversity. We are committed to crafting an inclusive environment in which everyone is respected and treated fairly. Diversity Statement: At Castrol, we provide an excellent environment and benefits such as an open and inclusive culture, a great work-life balance, tremendous learning and development opportunities to craft your career path, life and health insurance, medical care package and many others!

Diversity sits at the heart of our company and as an equal opportunity employer, we stay true to our mission by ensuring that our place can be anyone's place. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application and interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

Travel Requirement

Some travel may be required with this role, this is negotiable

Relocation Assistance:

This role is eligible for relocation within country

Remote Type:

This position is not available for remote working

Skills:

Analytical Thinking, Analytical Thinking, Ancillary cost management, Bunker buyer, Chartering, Coaching, Commercial Acumen, Communication, Customer service delivery excellence, Demurrage, Developing and implementing strategy, Fluid Transport, International Shipping, Listening, Marine assurance, Marine Operations, Marine Services, Marine systems and processes, Marine technical, Maritime Operations, Market Knowledge, Mentoring, Negotiating value, Operational Excellence, Partner relationship management {+ 10 more}

Legal Disclaimer:

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics like race, religion, color, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status or disability status. Individuals with an accessibility need may request an adjustment/accommodation related to bp’s recruiting process (e.g., accessing the job application, completing required assessments, participating in telephone screenings or interviews, etc.). If you would like to request an adjustment/accommodation related to the recruitment process, please contact us.

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.