Maritime Sales & Operations Specialist

An exciting opportunity has arisen at Control Union Inspections (Pvt.) Ltd. at Colombo, Sri Lanka for MARITIME SALES & OPERATIONS SPECIALIST.

As a Maritime Sales & Operations Specialist you will be responsible for coordinating vessel inspections, supporting client relationships, and driving operational and commercial activities across our global maritime network.

Are you proactive, detail-oriented, and commercially minded and do you want to be part of our international network? Then we are looking for you!

Tasks

Inspection and operations coordination

• Plan and coordinate vessel inspections, aligning schedules, port locations, vessel availability and inspector availability.
• Confirm the scope, required documentation, sampling or inspection instructions, access arrangements and reporting expectations with relevant stakeholders.
• Monitor each assignment actively from confirmation through completion and final reporting.
• Review incoming information carefully, identify missing or conflicting details and raise issues before they affect delivery.
• Follow up promptly with vessels, clients, inspectors, laboratories and internal colleagues.
• Maintain clear handovers, status updates and records so that colleagues can take over work when required.
• Support the operational team during busy periods and help resolve practical issues in a calm and structured manner.

Commercial and client support

• Assist with professional client outreach, proposal preparation and follow-up on leads and opportunities.
• Build and maintain relationships with shipowners, ship managers, operators, agents and other maritime contacts.
• Understand client needs, explain VPC services clearly and identify relevant opportunities for additional support.
• Maintain an accurate overview of leads, proposals, opportunities, client contacts and next actions.
• Follow up consistently without waiting for repeated instruction and escalate opportunities or concerns at the right time.
• Support the preparation of presentations, pricing templates and service information for client discussions.
• Contribute to commercial development in Sri Lanka and the wider APAC region

Administration and continuous improvement

• Maintain complete and accurate records of enquiries, quotations, assignments, inspections and follow-up actions.
• Prepare clear email correspondence, status updates and basic reports.
• Use agreed digital tools consistently for planning, document control and opportunity tracking.
• Identify practical improvements that reduce delays, missed actions and duplicate work.
• Take ownership of assigned actions and communicate early when priorities, capacity or information create a risk.

Responsibilities

Operational Responsibility

• Ensure vessel inspections are coordinated and delivered efficiently, safely, and in accordance with client requirements.
• Take ownership of assigned projects and inspection activities from initiation to closure.
• Ensure accurate communication and effective coordination among all stakeholders.
• Maintain clear handovers and documentation to support business continuity.
• Proactively identify risks, delays, or operational issues and escalate them when required.

Commercial Responsibility

• Build and maintain strong professional relationships with clients and industry stakeholders.
• Understand client requirements and promote suitable VPC services and solutions.
• Contribute to the generation of new business opportunities and support revenue growth initiatives.
• Support commercial development activities in Sri Lanka and across the APAC region.
• Ensure opportunities and client interactions are accurately tracked and followed up.

Administrative & Continuous Improvement Responsibility

• Maintain high standards of accuracy, recordkeeping, and reporting.
• Ensure all information, documentation, and operational records remain current and complete.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce delays, and eliminate duplicate work.
• Take accountability for assigned actions and communicate resource, priority, or information constraints proactively.
• Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement, teamwork, and customer service excellence.

Requirements

• A degree or diploma in Maritime Studies, Marine Engineering, Operations Management or a related field.
• At least two years of relevant experience in maritime, shipping, inspection, technical services, logistics or a comparable environment.
• Experience in operational coordination and customer communication.
• Commercial experience in lead follow-up, proposal support, account coordination or business development is strongly preferred.
• Confident use of Microsoft 365 and practical experience with spreadsheets, customer relationship management systems, scheduling tools or similar business applications.
• Knowledge of vessel operations, ports, ship management or maritime compliance services is an advantage.

Our Company

Control Union is a global leader in certification, inspection, and auditing services across diverse industries, including agriculture, textiles, and sustainability. Our expertise lies in verifying compliance with international standards such as organic farming, fair trade, and environmental stewardship. With a global network of offices, we offer customized solutions to help companies meet regulatory requirements and market demands. Our services enable businesses to achieve transparency, traceability, and sustainability in their supply chains, enhancing market credibility and ensuring responsible operations in an increasingly regulated global market. 

Our values drive our business, and our people demonstrate these attributes in all that they do. We are looking for candidates that act with integrity, demonstrate the highest level of service quality, are resilient, have an adaptive mindset and are committed to working safe, with long-term view and sustainability. If you have these qualities, then we look forward to welcoming you to our global family!     

Disclaimer: Please do not expect our team to respond if you do not meet the specified requirements.