Cobelfret is a well-established group of dry bulk shipping companies with offices in Luxemburg, Singapore, Switzerland, Miami and Antwerp. We operate worldwide a time-chartered and owned fleet of about 100 vessels ranging from handysizes to capesizes.
For our operations team in Singapore, we are seeking a Head of Operations who will be responsible for leading the Operations department and ensuring the operational performance of an assigned fleet, with a focus on safe, compliant and commercially efficient voyage execution.
Within this challenging role, combining operational expertise, team supervision and strategic contribution, you will play a key part in driving operational excellence, developing team capabilities, improving processes and contributing directly to voyage profitability, risk management and strategic decision-making.
Your key responsibilities will be:
Team Leadership & People Management
- Lead, supervise and support the Operations team in Singapore by providing clear direction, guidance and technical support.
- Train, coach and develop team members to strengthen their technical capabilities, autonomy and operational awareness.
- Distribute workload effectively across the team and ensure operational continuity across time zones.
- Foster a positive, professional and performance-driven working environment.
Operational Leadership & Execution
- Lead post-fixture operations for a globally trading dry bulk fleet across multiple time zones.
- Oversee voyage execution from fixture to completion, ensuring efficiency, compliance and cost control.
- Act as a senior escalation point for complex operational matters.
- Support Operators in managing operational priorities, risks and stakeholder expectations.
Voyage Performance & Optimisation
- Optimise routing, speed and bunker strategies, balancing commercial and operational requirements.
- Conduct post-voyage performance analysis and identify continuous improvement opportunities.
- Oversee IMOS data integrity, invoicing processes, laytime calculations, freight/hire flows and voyage P&L.
- Work closely with commercial and finance teams to improve voyage profitability and operational decision-making.
Risk, Compliance & Situational Awareness
- Ensure full compliance with international regulations, port requirements and internal procedures.
- Anticipate operational risks and implement proactive mitigation strategies.
- Assess situations accurately, evaluate their severity and adapt actions accordingly.
- Consider cost, risk, safety, contractual and reputational implications when making operational decisions.
- Provide guidance to the team on claims prevention, documentation and escalation.
Change Management & Process Improvement
- Monitor and assess new technologies, tools and software systems relevant to dry bulk operations.
- Recommend more efficient and effective procedures to improve operational performance.
- Support the implementation of new systems, processes and best practices.
- Encourage the Operations team to adopt a continuous improvement mindset.
Requirements
- Minimum 10–12 years experience in dry bulk vessel operations, with senior (people) management-level exposure.
- Ability to provide direction, encourage collaboration and empower people to develop their skills, take ownership and grow in their role.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management and decision-making skills.
- Ability to perform under pressure in a fast-paced, global environment.
- Strong knowledge of charter party execution, laytime, bunker planning and voyage optimisation.
- Ability to manage complex operations across multiple vessels, time zones and stakeholders.
- Solid understanding of regulatory frameworks and environmental compliance.
- Proficiency in IMOS; experience with NAPA, Shipfix and DA Desk is an advantage.
- Strong situational awareness, with the ability to assess operational issues quickly and respond appropriately.
We offer you an opportunity to join Cobelfret, a leading dry bulk shipping company with a global footprint, where initiative, teamwork, and commercial drive are rewarded. You will play a key role in shaping operational excellence, team structure and risk management frameworks with a direct exposure to senior decision-makers and commercial strategy.
