Head of Ship Chartering

Role Highlights:

• Location: Remote role, UK based candidates are preferred, Northern European candidates will be considered.
• Compensation: Competitive Salary and Benefits Package (to be discussed during first contact).
• BUPA private healthcare, annual incentive bonus scheme, DCAS car allowance.
• New & exciting role within a privately owned, well-established & growing business.
• Rare opportunity to build & lead a department.
• Highly influential position with professional development & progression.
• Travel: Regular travel throughout the UK and Northern Europe

Role Overview:

The successful candidate will lead and develop the short sea dry cargo chartering function, with a primary focus on Northern European trades. You will leverage your established network of shipowners, charterers and brokers to build a sustainable pipeline of business, secure profitable fixtures and create a high-performing chartering desk over time. This is a highly influential role, combining hands-on broking and commercial delivery with team leadership, business development and full responsibility for the department’s profitability.

Key Responsibilities:

Establish, Launch & Lead the Chartering Department:

• Design, launch and implement the company's short sea dry cargo chartering strategy, establishing the foundations for a sustainable and profitable business unit.
• Develop the chartering department's operational framework, including processes, governance, reporting structures, and KPIs.
• Develop departmental budgets, business plans and revenue forecasts, providing regular updates to senior management on performance against strategic objectives.
• Lead the day-to-day chartering desk and set its commercial strategy, priorities and growth plan.
• Recruit, lead, coach and develop a small team, setting clear expectations and fostering a collaborative, accountable culture.

Commercial Growth & Negotiations:

• Source cargoes and suitable tonnage across short sea dry bulk trades in Northern Europe.
• Negotiate and conclude voyage and time charter fixtures on commercially advantageous terms.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with shipowners, charterers, brokers and other market counterparties.
• Identify new customers, trade lanes and market opportunities, converting them into sustainable and profitable business.
• Represent the business at customer meetings, negotiations and relevant industry events across the UK and Northern Europe.
• Monitor freight markets, vessel availability, cargo flows and relevant commercial developments to support timely decisions.
• Prepare and review voyage estimates, commercial proposals and fixture economics.
• Manage charter-party negotiations and ensure agreed terms protect the company’s commercial interests.
• Work closely with operations, finance and other internal teams to support effective post-fixture execution and issue resolution.

Strategic Management & Commercial Ownership:

• Own the department’s profit and loss performance, budgets, forecasts and management reporting.
• Provide regular updates and recommendations to senior leadership regarding departmental performance and future growth opportunities.
• Maintain high standards of commercial governance, risk management, record keeping and regulatory compliance.

Experience & Qualifications:

• Demonstrable experience in short sea dry cargo chartering is essential, as a chartering broker, owners’ broker, operator or in a comparable commercial shipping role.
• Strong knowledge of Northern European dry bulk trades, market dynamics, charter-party terms and voyage economics.
• Demonstrable track record of negotiating and concluding profitable fixtures.
• Established network of relevant shipowners, charterers and brokers; a transferable portfolio of business would be advantageous.
• Previous experience managing a chartering operation or clear readiness and ambition to step into a leadership role.
• Experience of leading, motivating and developing a team.
• Proven ability to manage a profitable departmental profit and loss account.
• Strong IT proficiency, including confidence with chartering systems, market data tools and Microsoft Office applications.
• A relevant maritime, shipping, business or commercial qualification is desirable but not essential where equivalent experience can be demonstrated.

Skills & Attributes:

• Commercially astute, entrepreneurial and results focused.
• Excellent negotiator with sound judgement and a disciplined approach to risk.
• Confident communicator and relationship builder at all levels.
• Self-starting, resilient and capable of building a department patiently and sustainably.
• Strong networker with the credibility to represent the business externally.
• Organised, analytical and comfortable operating in a fast-moving market.
• Flexible approach to working hours in line with market and customer demands.