Commercial Manager Salvage

As a commercial manager you get the unique opportunity to make your mark in the adventurous yet highly professional world of maritime salvage (emergency response and wreck removal). Through negotiating and entering into contracts you will help parties such as blue chip shipping or offshore companies and port authorities with saving their ships, cargo and reputation as well as contributing towards preserving one of our most precious resources, our oceans. In the role of commercial manager you will conduct negotiations with clients and ultimately seal the deal. Naturally you will be sensitive towards the client’s needs at all times, but at the same time you will never lose sight of the commercial interests of SMIT Salvage and Boskalis.

In this exiting role, your work as a commercial manager does not end when the contract is concluded; you will keep commercial oversight during the execution stage of the project as a central part of the project team; the calm in the eye of the storm. Working closely together in a team of professionals, you will identify client needs and concerns and negotiate with the client regarding any additional services, new price agreements or variation orders. Your duties will also include the financial settlement, as well as the overall project settlement with subcontractors, dispute resolution, payments and claims.

Given the unpredictability of the powers of the ocean there is no such thing as a ‘typical’ workday for a commercial manager. After all, you never know when and where a vessel might run into trouble, or exactly how a salvage operation or wreck removal will play out. Your work may take you anywhere in the world and needless to say will not always take place during office hours.

Your responsibilities as a commercial manager

• To further shape the commercial activities of SMIT Salvage and contribute to a bright and successful future with a special focus on business development.
• To act as key account manager for our clients or be responsible for our clients in certain regions, thereby positioning SMIT Salvage as preferred responder.
• Maintain and expand our network of response partners and (sub)-contractors and formalize these relationships by pre-qualification and cooperation agreements.
• To commercially manage a project from the office and ensure correct settlement.
• To negotiate and finalize contracts with clients and subcontractors.
• To identify new opportunities and openings both for new business and for variation orders with existing clients.
• To act as first point of contact for emergency response operations, outside office hours, according to rota.

Your qualities
To be a successful commercial manager at SMIT Salvage you must have a commercial and competitive drive, as well as the ability to rapidly build relationships in an international playing field. Being able to recognize the various interest of the different stakeholders involved is key. You are a team player and a persuasive conversation partner, find it easy to communicate at various levels and are mindful of cultural differences at all times. You have strong analytical skills, with a proactive approach. Creativity and decisiveness are characteristics that fit you. In addition you will have:

• Obtained a degree in a nautical or business subject.
• At least two years of work experience in a similar role in an international environment.
• A proven track record in a business-to-business environment.
• An excellent command of written and spoken English, possibly another additional language.
• A keen interest in working abroad when required.
• Experience in the shipping, insurance, towage or salvage sector is a distinct advantage.