About this Crew Operations Manager role at Shell
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Job Description:
We’re looking for an Operations Manager to lead day‑to‑day fleet operations and power the next chapter of our company’s growth. If you’ve built your craft at sea and want to amplify your leadership ashore, this is your chance to shape outcomes across safety, reliability, people, and performance, while growing your own leadership portfolio at pace.
The role requires sailing experience as a senior officer on LNG carriers, together with a thorough understanding of the shipping industry and tanker operations. Given the nature of the position, the successful candidate must have substantial strong solid expertise relevant to LNG and tanker vessels, including operational, safety, regulatory and commercial knowledge that can only be acquired through significant seagoing and fleet management experience.
Why this role matters
Our fleet is expanding. We need an operations leader who understands ships, crews, ports, and most importantly, the realities of seagoing life, someone who can translate that insight into outstanding operational delivery and continuous improvement. You’ll help us deliver on our vision: the right people, in the right place, at the right time, at the right cost, every voyage, every time.
What you’ll do
- Lead end-to-end crew operations
Ensure safe, compliant, reliable, and cost-effective manning for the fleet. Oversee day-to-day crewing delivery across a diverse seafarer population, ensuring the right people are deployed to the right vessel at the right time. Apply practical operational knowledge of LNG and tanker operations to assess competence requirements, operational risks, and vessel-specific crewing needs. - Deliver operational excellence and compliance
Maintain compliance with MLC 2006, STCW, Flag State requirements, and internal Information Management standards. Lead initiatives to improve compliance and operational effectiveness, including developing new ways of working to manage work and rest hour risks, fatigue mitigation, competency assurance, and crew welfare. Anticipate and proactively mitigate risks before they impact vessel operations. - Drive performance, investigations and continuous improvement
Deliver against established KPIs including attrition, recruitment, relief on time, training, and costs. Conduct and support operational and technical investigations involving crewing, competency, fatigue, vessel incidents, and human factors. Analyse trends, identify root causes, implement corrective actions, and champion continuous improvement across fleet operations. - Lead, develop and empower the operations team
Manage, coach, and develop a team of 10-16 professionals. Build capability within the team by sharing practical insight from LNG and tanker operations, supporting sound operational decision-making and effective stakeholder engagement. - Partner with fleet and key stakeholders
Work closely with Fleet Managers, Masters, Chief Engineers, Marine and Technical teams, vessel owners, and manning agents. Serve as contract holder for key SSML agreements, ensuring vendor compliance and effective mobilisation processes. Maintain crewing policies and procedures that reflect operational realities, industry developments, and legislative requirements. - Support fleet growth, transitions and workforce planning
Lead strategic workforce planning for fleet expansion, vessel deliveries, fleet transitions, and retractions. Ensure manning strategies align with vessel operational requirements, training pipelines, and long-term business needs while maintaining seafarer wellbeing and engagement. - Provide operational leadership and assurance
Oversee crewing performance reporting, budget planning, portfolio reviews, and structured engagement with stakeholders. Provide expert advice on operational risks, competency management, succession planning, and safe vessel operations to support business decision-making.
What you’ll bring
- LNG and tanker operational experience
Significant seagoing experience as a senior officer on LNG and/or tanker vessels, combined with a deep understanding of shipboard operations, vessel management, and the practical realities faced by seafarers. This experience is essential to make informed decisions on crewing, competency assessment, operational risk management, fatigue prevention, and incident investigations. - Strong technical and industry knowledge
Demonstrable understanding of LNG and tanker operations, including cargo operations, safety-critical activities, vessel regulatory requirements, competency frameworks, and human factors. Able to apply technical knowledge when assessing operational risks, investigating incidents, and developing effective solutions. - Proven leadership in complex operational environments
Experience leading teams and making sound decisions in fast-paced, time-critical maritime operations. Brings strong judgement, credibility, and professionalism when dealing with operational challenges, vessel incidents, stakeholder management, and personnel matters. - Strategic and continuous improvement mindset
Uses operational experience, data, KPIs, and industry insight to identify emerging risks, improve work processes, optimise work and rest hour management, enhance crew performance, and drive sustainable operational improvements. - Strong regulatory and compliance expertise
Thorough working knowledge of MLC, STCW, Flag State requirements, and global crewing regulations, together with a practical understanding of Information Management System and tanker industry best practices. Able to interpret regulatory requirements and translate them into effective operational controls and crewing strategies.
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