Voyage Optimization Specialist

bp•Chicago, IL

1d•$95,000 - $177,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Voyage Optimization Specialist plays a key execution-focused role in enhancing voyage profitability across the shipping fleet through real-time voyage optimization and support for bunker procurement activities. Operating within the US region, this role collaborates closely with bunker buyers, commercial optimization leads, chartering, operations, and performance teams to enhance fleet performance, reduce costs, and improve commercial outcomes. This position is ideal for individuals with hands-on experience in shipping operations or voyage optimization and offers broad commercial exposure with pathways toward specialization in bunkers or commercial shipping optimization.

Requirements

3–5 years of recent experience in commercial shipping, voyage operations, or fleet performance roles with exposure to live voyage management.
Sailing experience on tankers up to senior officer level.
Experience identifying freight losses, minimizing idle time, and leading commercial claims (demurrage, off-hire, miscellaneous claims).
Demonstrated collaboration with vessel operators, masters, and fleet teams to optimize bunker intake and support forward voyage planning.
Recent experience within a vessel-owning organization or tanker pool setup as a bunker buyer or in operations.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency with IMOS or similar commercial voyage management systems.
Sailing experience on chemical tankers.
Working knowledge of global bunker markets, fuel pricing mechanisms, ISO 8217 specifications, and supplier landscape.
Understanding of charterparty bunker clauses and ability to advise Charterers to protect commercial positions.
Strong influencing and stakeholder management skills with validated cross-functional collaboration.
Solid understanding of compliance requirements, risk management practices, and governance frameworks relevant to commercial shipping operations.

Responsibilities

Monitor daily vessel TCE, routing, speed, consumption, weather, and overall voyage performance, identifying deviations and inefficiencies.
Identify and complete daily voyage optimization opportunities to increase earnings and minimize costs.
Participate in daily optimization huddles, providing insights on bunker planning and voyage performance.
Track vessel performance KPIs, highlight underperformance, and support coordination with Operations on corrective actions.
Support preparation of performance and off-hire claims by gathering data, reviewing logs, and coordinating documentation with internal teams and vessel owners.
Assist with tracking rebillable costs at the voyage level to improve transparency and cost recovery.
Contribute to post-voyage analysis, including fuel variance assessments, bunker cost benchmarking, consumption trend reviews, and documentation of voyage findings.
Maintain voyage logs, dashboards, and monthly reports, ensuring timely updates of key commercial and performance metrics.
Assist in testing, validating, and improving digital tools, dashboards, and analytics used for routing, consumption monitoring, and bunker planning.
Track daily bunker price movements and market intelligence, providing timely updates to support procurement decisions.
Assist in planning and optimizing bunker stems for each voyage based on consumption profiles, routing, schedules, vessel performance, and commercial strategy.
Work closely with Chartering, Operations, Performance, Digital, Technical teams, and external vendors to support consistent optimization practices and continuous improvement across the fleet.
Support knowledge sharing and alignment of standard processes across commercial and operational teams.