Graduate Programme - Shipping (Commercial)

A 2-year graduate programme at Anglo American focused on building hands-on experience across commercial, operations, safety, and financial aspects of global shipping.

Company Description:

Anglo American's Shipping Division is the Group's exclusive 'in-house' ocean freight service provider, offering a comprehensive range of shipping services to our business units around the world. Using global scale and strength, we aim to optimise our marine activities and provide safe, reliable, compliant and competitive freight to our commodity businesses and their customers in today's dynamic marketplace.

Job Description:

About the Programme

Our two‑year graduate programme is designed to provide graduates with hands‑on, real‑world experience across the core elements of Anglo American’s Shipping function. The programme offers structured exposure to commercial, operational, technical, safety and financial trading activities, giving you a deep understanding of how shipping creates value across the end‑to‑end marketing value chain.

Throughout the programme, graduates are supported to build strong commercial judgement, analytical capability and technical shipping knowledge, preparing them for a long‑term career within Anglo American.

The graduate will develop hands on knowledge across the Shipping Function, namely in Commercial, Operations, Safety & Technical and Financial Trading activities, with the opportunity to be considered for a permanent role at the end of a 24-months rotation program. The program also endeavours to prepare the next generation of leaders in shipping for eventual leadership roles.

The graduate must be analytical, organized, responsible and have good interpersonal skills. This position is a great opportunity for an enthusiastic and ambitious individual seeking to experience the real world of Dry Bulk Global Shipping and learn about the intricate details of the business.

Responsibilities include

As a graduate in Shipping (Commercial), you will gain hands‑on experience across Anglo American’s Shipping function, with structured exposure to Commercial, Operations, Safety & Technical and Financial Trading. The programme is designed to give you a strong foundation in how a global dry bulk shipping business operates end‑to‑end.

Commercial Rotation

During your commercial rotation, you will develop an understanding of how shipping markets operate and how commercial decisions are made.

You will gain exposure to:

• Chartering fundamentals, including time charter and voyage charter structures

• How vessels are selected and matched to different trades and cargoes

• Shipping market analysis and commercial decision‑making

• Voyage economics, including estimating voyage costs and returns

There may also be opportunities for overseas exposure, including placements in locations such as Singapore or Santiago, subject to business requirements.

Operations Rotation

The operations rotation focuses on the practical execution of voyages and the coordination required to deliver cargo safely, efficiently and cost‑effectively.

You will gain experience in:

• Supporting voyage execution in collaboration with chartering, vessels and external stakeholders

• Working with shipowners, brokers, agents and port contacts

• Monitoring voyage performance, costs and efficiencies

• Supporting documentation, invoicing and operational reporting

• Gaining insight into how operational risks, claims and disputes are managed in practice

Safety & Technical Rotation

Safety and technical excellence are fundamental to Anglo American’s shipping operations.

During this rotation, you will:

• Learn how safety is embedded across global shipping activities

• Gain exposure to vessel vetting and safety assurance processes

• Develop awareness of vessel operations, performance and maintenance considerations

• Participate in vessel and port visits where possible

• Support the preparation and communication of safety guidance and best practice

Financial Trading Rotation

This rotation provides an introduction to how freight and bunker market risk is monitored and managed.

You will gain exposure to:

• Market data analysis and reporting

• Understanding freight and bunker market dynamics

• Supporting the preparation of information for brokers and financial counterparties

• Observing trade execution and risk management processes

Graduate Development

• Opportunities to be involved in leadership training and networking opportunities with graduates from other areas of the Group

• Project work potentially outside of Shipping

Qualifications:

• A degree in Shipping, Maritime, Supply Chain or equivalent

• Sound commercial awareness

• Good analytical and problem-solving skills

• Self-motivated individual who can work with minimum supervision

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills

• Can do attitude and strong ability to learn – continuously seeks opportunities to close performance gaps and improve

Additional information:

Who We Are
We aim to lead the industry by pursuing ever safer ways of working, demonstrating integrity and showing care and respect for people and the planet. That means we are constantly seeking new opportunities to mine and process our products sustainably, using less water, less energy and more precise extraction technologies. 

Our extraordinary teams work safely and collaboratively, with the utmost consideration for local communities, our customers and the world at large.

What We Offer
When you join Anglo American, you can expect to enjoy a competitive salary and benefits package. But more than this, you’ll find yourself in an environment where the opportunities for learning and growth are second to none. From technical training to leadership programmes, we bring out the best in our people. There are plenty of opportunities to move onwards and upwards too. We’re a large, successful multinational company – and we’re still growing all the time.

How We Are Committed To Your Safety
Nothing is more important to us than ensuring you return home safely after a day’s work. To make that happen, we have the most rigorous safety standards in the industry. Not only that, we’re also continually investing in new technologies that are helping to make mining safer.

Inclusion and Diversity
We are committed to promoting an inclusive and diverse workplace where we value and respect every colleague for who they are. We provide equality of opportunity to enable everyone to fulfil their potential.