Job Description

Commercial & Chartering Manager (Dry Bulk)

Position Summary

The Commercial & Chartering Manager will be responsible for developing and executing the Company's freight trading and chartering strategy across the Handy, Supramax and Panamax dry bulk segments. The role requires ownership of the complete commercial cycle, including cargo sourcing, vessel sourcing, charterparty negotiation, voyage profitability, market analysis, business development and portfolio optimisation.

The successful candidate will possess a strong commercial mindset with a proven ability to generate freight margins, build long-term customer relationships and make sound commercial decisions in dynamic freight markets. This position requires an individual who can balance commercial opportunities with operational and contractual risks while contributing to the Company's overall growth strategy.

Key Responsibilities

1. Commercial & Freight Trading Execution

• Develop and actively manage a balanced portfolio of cargo contracts (COAs, spot cargoes) and chartered-in tonnage.

• Source and develop new cargo opportunities through direct engagement with traders, commodity houses, industrial clients, brokers and shipowners.

• Identify and secure suitable tonnage to optimise fleet deployment and commercial returns.

• Execute Time Charter (TC), Voyage Charter (VC) and Contract of Affreightment (COA) fixtures.

• Optimise freight spreads between cargo revenue and vessel hire.

• Position vessels strategically based on anticipated freight market movements.

• Manage market exposure through an appropriate balance of spot and period business.

• Maximise vessel utilisation and minimise idle time.

• Deliver agreed commercial KPIs and profitability targets.

2. Charterparty Negotiation & Contract Management

• Lead commercial negotiations with owners, charterers, brokers and operators.

• Negotiate commercially advantageous charterparty terms while protecting the Company's interests.

• Review and negotiate key clauses including:

  • Laytime

  • Demurrage and Dispatch

  • Bunker Clauses

  • Performance Warranties

  • Trading Limits

  • Off-hire

  • Cancellation

  • Force Majeure

• Structure charterparty agreements aligned with the Company's risk management strategy.

• Ensure fixtures provide commercial flexibility and optionality where appropriate.

3. Voyage P&L Ownership

• Prepare comprehensive voyage estimates and sensitivity analysis.

• Evaluate voyage profitability before fixture execution.

• Monitor voyage performance against original estimates.

• Manage:

  • Freight

  • Hire

  • Demurrage

  • Dispatch

  • Claims

  • Bunker performance

• Identify cost optimisation opportunities throughout the voyage lifecycle.

• Report voyage profitability and commercial performance to senior management.

• Analyse variances and recommend corrective actions.

4. Market Intelligence & Commercial Strategy

• Maintain real-time awareness of freight markets across Handy, Supramax and Panamax sectors.

• Monitor:

  • Baltic Exchange indices

  • Regional freight movements

  • Commodity flows

  • Fleet supply

  • Congestion

  • Geopolitical developments

• Produce freight market forecasts and commercial recommendations.

• Identify arbitrage opportunities across trade lanes and vessel classes.

• Present structured market reports and strategic recommendations to senior management and the Board.

• Contribute to the Company's long-term commercial strategy and market positioning.

5. Business Development & Customer Relationship Management

• Develop long-term relationships with cargo interests, traders, brokers and shipowners.

• Expand the Company's commercial network and market presence.

• Generate new cargo streams and tonnage sourcing opportunities.

• Develop strategic partnerships that create recurring business opportunities.

• Maintain regular engagement with existing customers while identifying new counterparties.

• Represent the Company at industry events, conferences and commercial meetings.

• Enhance the Company's commercial reputation within the dry bulk shipping market.

6. Portfolio Management & Commercial Optimisation

• Manage a balanced cargo and vessel portfolio.

• Optimise portfolio performance through strategic fixing decisions.

• Continuously evaluate market exposure and recommend portfolio adjustments.

• Balance risk and reward across the commercial portfolio.

• Maximise freight margins while maintaining disciplined risk management.

7. Operational & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Ensure seamless communication between Chartering, Operations, Finance and Accounts teams.

• Coordinate closely with Operations to maximise tradable days.

• Minimise idle time and off-hire exposure.

• Work alongside Technical Management to optimise vessel performance where applicable.

• Support bunker procurement strategy and voyage execution.

• Ensure accurate and timely handover of post-fixture information.

8. Risk Management, Claims & Compliance

• Manage commercial exposure arising from freight volatility.

• Assess contractual and operational risks before concluding fixtures.

• Correspond with P&I Clubs, legal counsel and insurers where required.

• Support arbitration proceedings and dispute resolution.

• Ensure commercial activities comply with Company policies and contractual obligations.

• Maintain complete commercial documentation and audit trails.

9. Leadership & Collaboration

• Mentor junior chartering and commercial personnel.

• Share market intelligence and commercial best practices across the organisation.

• Foster collaboration across Commercial, Operations, Technical and Finance teams.

• Support continuous improvement initiatives and process enhancements.

• Contribute to building a high-performance commercial culture.

Required Competencies

Commercial

• Strong freight trading mindset with excellent commercial judgement.

• Proven ability to generate freight margins in volatile markets.

• Deep understanding of dry bulk chartering structures including:

  • Time Charter

  • Voyage Charter

  • Contracts of Affreightment

• Excellent knowledge of voyage economics.

• Strong understanding of freight derivatives and market dynamics (advantageous).

• Ability to identify profitable trading opportunities.

Technical & Analytical

• Advanced analytical and financial modelling skills.

• Strong voyage estimation capability.

• Excellent numerical and commercial acumen.

• Ability to analyse freight markets and make data-driven decisions.

• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and voyage estimation software.

• Comfortable using digital reporting and commercial management systems.

Negotiation

• Exceptional negotiation skills across complex charterparty clauses.

• Ability to balance commercial opportunity with contractual risk.

• Strong stakeholder management skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.

Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinker with strong commercial instincts.

• Entrepreneurial mindset.

• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail.

• Resilient and able to perform under pressure.

• Results-oriented with a strong sense of ownership.

• Proactive, decisive and accountable.

• High ethical standards and professional integrity.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Maritime Studies, Shipping, Business, Economics or a related discipline (preferred).

• Minimum 5-7 years experience in commercial dry bulk shipping.

• Demonstrated experience across Handy, Supramax and/or Panamax segments.

• Proven track record in freight trading, cargo sourcing and chartering.

• Extensive experience negotiating charterparties.

• Strong understanding of voyage P&L management and freight economics.

• Existing network of brokers, cargo interests, traders and shipowners is highly desirable.

• Experience working with both owners and operators would be advantageous.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The successful candidate will be measured on:

• Freight margin generation.

• Voyage profitability.

• Portfolio utilisation.

• Cargo and tonnage growth.

• New business generated.

• Customer retention and relationship development.

• Charterparty quality and risk management.

• Commercial reporting accuracy.

• Budget and profitability targets.

• Contribution to the Company's commercial growth strategy.