Analyst, Commercial Operations

Venture Global LNG ("Venture Global") is a long-term, low-cost provider of American-produced liquefied natural gas. The company's Louisiana-based export projects service the global demand for North American natural gas and support the long-term development of clean and reliable North American energy supplies. Using reliable, proven technology in an innovative plant design configuration, Venture Global's modular, mid-scale plant design will replace traditional designs as it allows for the same efficiency and operational reliability at significantly lower capital cost.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Commercial Analyst in Commercial Operations focuses on the management and alignment of all Venture Global LNG internal and external interfaces and relationships. This position's goal is the flawless execution of cargo deliveries across all LNG facilities, in line with the contractual rights and obligations of the Sales and Purchase Agreements (SPAs). The successful candidate ensures the safe and reliable delivery of all SPA obligations while achieving Venture Global LNG's commercial goals and maintaining compliance with all of Venture Global LNG's values.

The role is highly cross-functional within Venture Global LNG and requires excellent communication and internal stakeholder management skills. This position demands constant real-time alignment and coordination with Production Engineering, Marine, and others to ensure commercial commitments are effectively positioned via proactive risk mitigation.

KNOWLEDGE

The position requires both an operational and commercial mindset in order to anticipate potential risk. Employee a good understanding of transaction and contract management, and excellent interpersonal skills and relationship management. To assist Commercial Operations' management, the candidate should have the following, but relevant experience in a similar capacity will be considered:

• An understanding of contractual language and the interpretation of Sales and Purchase Agreements (SPA) in the LNG industry is preferred
• Basic operational knowledge of scheduling, inventory management, shipping operations, and cargo transfer
• An understanding of maintaining business processes within a transaction management system and all supporting systems
• Strong ability to communicate effectively with both internal and external parties.
• Professional disposition with strong attention to detail
• Ability to interface with mid-office and accounting to ensure correct accounting of transactions
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
• Language proficiency in Mandarin, Spanish or German a plus

RESPONSIBILITIES AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES

The Commercial Analyst is responsible for assisting in managing the long and short-term scheduling and coordination of all LNG liftings across all Venture Global LNG facilities.  This includes relationship management with all internal stakeholders, driving alignment between Buyers and Venture Global LNG facilities' operational interfaces, ensuring the accurate and up-to-date system of records and documentation, and optimizing long-term commercial contract performance.

Alignment with Operations:

• Facilitate Buyer's schedule change requests and coordinate Buyer's vessels to allow for a dynamic lifting schedule and seamless execution
• Drive compliance with the terminal operational requirements and procedures to minimize delivery risk and delays
• Closely coordinate with the production engineering team to forecast and manage expected LNG inventory, mitigate impact of unplanned outages, and identify any changes/deviations in the production plan. 

Relationship Management:

• Manage responses to external Buyer inquiries on a day-to-day basis and the management of the Annual Delivery Program (ADP) and Ninety Day Schedule (NDS) process
• Communicate and coordinate with all required Venture Global LNG internal departments.
• Ability to interact with executive management and summarize activity, as well as recommend action plans
• Resolve potential disputes with Buyers
• Work closely with the Marine organization on vessel scheduling and other commercial-related matters

System of Records:

• Provide business subject matter expertise in support of effective automation and system implementations
• Verify and maintain daily LNG commercial positions and accuracy of lifting schedule per Buyer obligations and agreements
• Verify custody documentation and invoices
• Maintain the transaction management system as the main Buyer interface
• Maintain Excel-based models

Long-Term Contract Performance:

• Continue to develop and maintain procedures to ensure optimal commercial guidelines and practices
• Minimize the risk of contractual disputes with effective foresight and proactive coordination of a resilient lifting schedule
• Drive operational efficiency of the Commercial Operations team via continued improvement and implementation of scalable procedures

QUALIFICATIONS (EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS)

Education and Certifications:  

• Bachelor's degree in business, economics or other related field is preferred. Bachelor's degree in maritime studies or a technical degree desired

Experience: 

• Two (2) or more years working in the energy commodities industry. LNG experience is preferred but not required.

Skills:

• Strong problem solving and analytical skills
• Strong leadership skills including a focus on teamwork, results orientation, and a commitment to continuous improvement
• Highly organized and able to prioritize and manage multiple activities promptly and with a high degree of accuracy and strong attention to detail
• Strong and effective communication skills (verbal, written, and interpersonal) with individuals and groups from different disciplines.  Skillfully manage potentially contentious situations
• Ability to work effectively on short notice and off-hours
• Energetic; adeptly work under pressure
• Ability to anticipate risk
• Ability to translate operational changes into financial impacts
• Excellent Buyer relationship management
• Competent with using computers, particularly in everyday use of standard office applications (Advanced Excel skills or exposure to other scheduling systems are desired)