Company:

INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA

Interested in joining a winning team? A team whose employees are empowered to make a difference?

NGL Exports Optimization Manager

Location: League City, Texas (hybrid)

Grade: H33/34

INEOS is a global manufacturer of petrochemicals, specialty chemicals and oil products. Its production network spans 194 manufacturing facilities in 29 countries throughout the world. INEOS is one of the world’s largest chemicals company with $65b of sales per annum and 26,000 employees worldwide. INEOS Olefins and Polymers (O&P) USA is one of the largest subsidiaries within the INEOS group of companies and is headquartered in League City, TX.

How the Job Fits in

The  Optimization Manager role is a key part of the ITS US feedstock procurement and trading function and is responsible for performing a variety of activities to across feedstock market analysis, logistics and trading.  The Optimization Manager works with the INEOS Trading and Shipping Team while ensuring alignment with the US feedstock supply team.

The Optimization Manager reports to the Commercial Manager for NGL Exports and is responsible for providing fundamental market analysis, logistics support and trade execution support to the NGL Export Team, as well as to the wider ITS Trading and Analysis functions in London. The Optimization Manager is responsible for developing detailed market analysis in natural gas, natural gas liquids, refined products and crude oil to support the Trading and Business Development teams (including Board members) with both day to day and long-term strategic decision making. In addition to fundamental analysis, the Optimization Manager is responsible for assisting the NGL Product and Market Managers in executing daily activities such as nominations, inventory and shipping planning, export documentation and commodity transaction execution. This requires quick decisive thinking and influencing skills in a fast-paced market environment to achieve optimal results.  The Optimization Manager role is a critical role in providing information and analysis to the ITS team, optimizing the ITS export LPG business as well as providing critical trading and hedging back-up to the NGL Export Market Manager, .

INEOS has implemented a market leading strategy to capture advantaged US NGL feedstock into its European facilities in Norway, Scotland and Germany through infrastructure investment and commitment to long term supply, terminal, and shipping agreements. In 2027 INEOS will expand this strategy when it commences operation of its new world scale ethane cracker in Antwerp, Belgium. To supply this growing demand, INEOS has made significant investments into one of the largest dedicated ethane shipping fleets in the world. It is also an anchor shipper on two US export facilities, which have been operating since 2016.  This strategy has been developed and executed through the INEOS Trading and Shipping (ITS) team.  

Accountabilities and Responsibilities

Provide Fundamental Market Analysis

• Provide timely and accurate fundamental analysis of complex market and trading situations that can be used for decision making by senior traders and executive management to improve the profitability of the business.
• Development and maintenance of analytical models used for decision making around commodity trading strategies.
• Acquisition of data and market intelligence that can be used by traders to support trading activities.
• Presentation of financial analysis results to senior traders and executive management
• Close collaboration with Analysts and Traders based in ITS London, UK Office

LPG Export Supply and Operations

• Develop and update Northeast US Supplier database that continuously tracks producer NGL supply activities and volumes available by producing location
• US LPG face-to-market daily activities for logistics, operations, and nomination processes with suppliers, pipelines, and terminal operators
• US LPG face-to-market daily acitivies related to maritime shipping, including communication with ship owners, marine terminals, inspectors/surveyors, and agents for ethane, ethylene, propane and butane
• Develop monthly US LPG shipping and logistics plans with INEOS Trading and Shipping
• Communicate LPG updates to appropriate scheduling, operations, and commercial groups in O&P USA and ITS.
• Tracking LPG movements and inventory balances to verify compliance with nominations
• Monitor and report on LPG volumes transported, product imbalances/losses, and volume deficiencies
• Ensure LPG supplier, pipeline and terminal accounts are reconciled and paid on time
• Manage LPG intra-month changes to the supply plan in response to disruptions (unplanned outages, shipping delays, etc)
• Manage LPG export compliance requirements, providing relevant information on commodity export, USPPI allocations and document instructions to freight forwarder
• Meet with LPG logistics and supply counterparts on a periodic basis
• Meet with third party analysts for information sharing
• Negotiate amendments and additional LPG spot supply and service agreements as necessary
• Understand and be able to update risk management systems and spreadsheet models used by the Finance Group to report daily profit/loss, positions and value-at-risk. Identify potential issues and errors in position reports and engage appropriate team members to resolve accordingly.
• Integrate new LPG suppliers and midstream counterparties into existing Logistics and Operations activities
• Participate in regular strategic meetings between US team and ITS to ensure that US operations are aligned with Rafnes, Grangemouth, Zwijndrecht, and 3rd party needs; identify opportunities for value added optimization

Project Implementation

• Support project implementation activities at additional export terminals in coordination with the ITS and O&P USA management teams during start-up and expansion phases of these potential projects.

Provide back-up coverage for the NGL Market and Product Managers

Within the boundaries of the ITS DoA and in conjunction with the ITS Trading and Trade Control teams provide back-up and cover for the following roles:

NGL Market Manager task back-up:

• Supply trading;
• Hedging;
• Inventory Management;

NGL Product Manager task back-up:

• Operations and schedule management across all NGL export terminals;
• Operations and schedule management across all NGL export pipeline agreements;
• Coordination and communication as required with ITS London team;

Required Profile

Education/Experience

• Degree in engineering, science or business required
• 3 years experience in a operations or commercial role in a manufacturing environment
• Understanding of fundamental economic models
• Understanding and experience with the Petrochemical and NGL industries
• Maritime operations and logistics and LPG quality testing practices a plus

Skills/Competencies

• Excellent communication skills are critical along with the ability to work closely in a high performing team environment
• Candidate should be highly motivated; detail oriented and possess good planning and organizational skills
• Strong analytical skills
• Good interpersonal and influencing skills
• Fluency with complex excel spreadsheets
• Prior experience with risk management concepts or in developing fundamental market analysis or building fundamental economic models is not necessarily expected. However, need strong aptitude for and willingness to develop economic analysis skills
• Motivated learner who can identify and quickly develop the skills required

Our culture is one of honesty and integrity with an emphasis on safety, health and environmental performance.  On our team, people are acknowledged for embracing new practices that help create real value for customers.