Claims Specialist

The Claims Specialist is responsible for the accurate and timely review, issuance, negotiation, and settlement of freight, deviation, and port costs related claims associated with the transport of crude oil and other oil products for UNIPEC America. The Specialist will interface with 3rd parties, including owners, major oil companies, and trading companies ensuring proper management of shipping related claims. This role closely collaborates with trading operations, finance, legal, and compliance to ensure accurate information and guidance are being provided to the traders to reduce risk and exposure to the company and optimize trading profits. This position reports to the Shipping and Chartering team and is office in Houston, TX.

Responsibilities:

• Manages assigned claims, properly auditing and conducting data analysis in support of the trading organization.
• Negotiates assigned claims from shipping and trading contracts.
• Invoices third parties in line with the charter party and trading contract terms.
• Builds and maintains professional relationships with internal and external clients.
• Actively communicates with counterparties to ensure timely collection of receivables.
• Reports the status of claim negotiations to the manager and relevant departments.
• Work closely with Finance/Accounting to ensure efficient processing of payables and proper billing of receivables.
• Disputes claim as necessary and resolve account payable discrepancies.
• Communicate with the shipping, operation, and trading team to proactively minimize and avoid potential cost issues.
• Thoroughly reviews contracts and advises traders when the shipping costs language requires realignment. Reviews third-party contracts and proposals for potential commercial risk
• Schedules reviews for expiring contracts
• Analyzes shipping cost trends to understand business updates and advises the shipping and trading group in ways to minimize future risk.
• Other responsibilities when assigned.

• Bachelor's Degree in Maritime or related field
• 5+ years of relevant shipping or ship agent commercial operation experience
• Some experience with port costs, charter party agreements, or trading contract general terms and conditions.
• Shipping knowledge is strongly preferred.
• Meticulous and has a keen ability to analyze data.
• Ability to analyze data and create metrics from multiple sources.
• Communication effectively and professionally both verbally and in writing.
• Strong critical thinker and problem solver.
• Highly motivated and a team player.
• Successful multitasker and can perform under pressure and strict timelines.
• Advanced Microsoft Office Applications.
• Knowledge and exposure to contract interpretation.
• Excellent negotiation skills and ability to create strong relationships.

Please note we will not sponsor, obtain, and/or petition for temporary visa status (for example, E, F-1, H-1, H-2, L, B, J, or TN) for candidates for this position and/or personnel hired for this position.

We are not accepting unsolicited resumes from third-party recruitment agencies; therefore we will not pay a fee for resumes submitted.