Operator (Crude Oil)

The purpose of the operator is, within the framework of contract specifications as agreed by the traders, to execute efficient handling of transactions, with timely and accurate administration and data entry, directly contributing to maximize the traders’ P&L.

Job purpose:

Contract Management

• Ensure operations do not start (including providing nominations) until a written contract has been sent out, or received from the counterparty as appropriate; where no contract is in place then the required exemption should be obtained.

• Check trader deal sheet against LITASCO contract, contact traders for corrections in case of discrepancies.
• Read and understand the contractual content, terms and conditions.
• Issue instructions to the relevant counterparties to execute the final contract, plus any amendments.
• Review and finalize transhipment, service and storage contracts.

Financial Security

• Instruct LC for issuance/receipt of LCs as per contract.
• Check commercial aspects of drafted LC to ensure details match contractual terms and actual events (e.g. Vessel timings, amended quantities, etc).
• Amend LC terms to match the respective operational data and in any case ensure no delivery is effected without adequate financial security in place as specified in the contract.
• Timely instruction for issue of outgoing invoice/process of incoming invoices.

Cargo Management

• Nominate vessels under the contract agreed by the trader.
• Issue Documentary Instructions – to meet LC, customs and contractual requirements.
• Appoint inspectors for Quality and Quantity as per contractual requirements and other measures/analyses requested by traders.
• Process purchase, sale and services invoices.
• Storage management (where applicable).

Commercial Understanding

• Fully understand how each deal is pricing and ensure pricing events are managed correctly.
• Understanding of hedging and the exposure on each cargo
• Good Commercial Awareness in Operations – (e.g volume tolerances, freight economics, demurrage savings, price exposure)

Vessels Management

• Clear the vessel with terminal and counterparties vetting process through Charterers.
• Read and understand the fixture provided by Shipping Dept.
• Issue instructions to the vessel via brokers - voyage orders/agents appointed/LOIs.
• Process all shipping invoices.

Claims

• Fully understand Oil cargo claims and be able to spot a potential issue or claim that may arise.
• Highlight to loss control potential issues/claims immediately.
• Analyse each voyage and work with loss control to assess incoming and outgoing claims.
• Post Deal claims analysis – Analyse incoming and outgoing claims.

Coordination and data input

• Ensure correct and timely input of all details concerning the deal into trading system, DCTM and other systems
• Creation of Operators Files.
• Ensure the deal in the system is correct and matches final contractual terms.
• Enter and update vessel movements, event dates, Q & Q.
• Enter and update details for invoicing of goods plus costs for services
• Ensure pricing details are correct, to enable prompt invoicing.
• Timely issuance of outgoing invoices.
• Check and allocate incoming invoices for cargoes and related costs.
• Timely and accurate Filing according to agreed procedures in DCTM

If you have/are:

• University Degree or Business School degree;
• Minimum 5 years of experience in operations in trading industry, with a minimum of 3 years on the crude oil desk;
• Knowledge of the international trading environment in the oil industry;
• Knowledge of operational and financial procedures;
• Expert-level knowledge in TCO 
• Strong organization skills and ability to manage priorities;
• Good negotiation skills and ability to build productive relationships;
• Versatile; ability to adapt to situations and resolve problems quickly;
• Autonomous, pro-active and always thinking ahead;
• Good judgment skills and ability to come up with solutions, while minimizing risk and optimizing the company’s interests;
• Fluent in English and Russian (mandatory), Kazakh is a plus.