Tetra Maritime is a leading Nigerian ship owner and operator, providing comprehensive and tailor-made solutions across the oil and gas supply chain, including upstream, midstream, and downstream.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Position: Head, Local Content (WAF)
Job Location: Lagos
Employment Type: Full-time
Role Purpose
- The Head of Local Content oversees all regulatory, compliance, and local content activities for Union Maritime’s operations in Nigeria.
- The role ensures full alignment with national maritime, customs, and petroleum regulatory bodies while maintaining strong relationships with key authorities.
- This position safeguards operational continuity for all union-operated vessels and supports the evolving needs of the Tetra Upstream unit.
Core Responsibilities
Local Content & Regulatory Compliance
- Manage all local content requirements for union-operated vessels in Nigeria.
- Oversee documentation (vessel and technical) submitted to regulators and government bodies.
- Ensure accuracy, completeness, and proper maintenance of all compliance files.
- Provide guidance on local content obligations and ensure internal teams adhere to evolving regulations.
- Drive continuous improvement across all local content processes.
Government & Regulatory Authority Engagement:
Primary bodies include:
NIMASA:
- Cabotage registration
- Labour compliance
- Registration of ships (ROS) / Flagging
- Manning compliance enforcement
- Safety oversight
- Marine Environment Management (MEM)
- General NIMASA services
NUPRC & NMDPRA (HQ & Zonal Offices):
- Tank calibration
- Coastal Vessel License (CVL)
Customs (HQ & Zonal Offices):
- Temporary Import Permit (TIP) processing
- General customs services
Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC) :
- Compliance audits including CBN forex platform requirements
Union & Manning Compliance:
- Manage relationships with maritime unions
- Oversee Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA)
- Ensure compliance for non?Nigerian crew manning
Third?Party Agency Services:
- Provide agency support to partners such as DSL, SALBAS, etc.
Stakeholder & Relationship Management:
- Serve as the primary liaison with all major Nigerian maritime, customs, and petroleum authorities.
- Maintain strong working relationships to ensure smooth vessel operations and regulatory approvals.
- Provide regular updates to leadership on regulatory changes, risks, and upcoming policy shifts.
Operational Oversight & Reporting:
- Monitor all vessel?related regulatory issues and resolve them promptly.
- Track and report upcoming regulatory changes that may impact business operations.
- Ensure timely submission and renewal of all permits, licenses, and certifications.
Role Progression:
- Expand into a supporting function for the Tetra Upstream unit, particularly as regulatory requirements evolve within upstream operations.
- Potential to lead broader regional compliance initiatives across West Africa.
Requirements
- Regulatory Expertise (Nigeria): Deep, hands-on experience with NIMASA, NUPRC, NMDPRA, Customs, and NSC, including cabotage, CVL, TIP, and vessel compliance frameworks
- Experience: Typically 8–15+ years in maritime, offshore, logistics, or regulatory roles in Nigeria, with strong progression and agency exposure
- Local Content Mastery: Strong understanding of Nigerian local content laws as they apply to shipping, offshore, and maritime operations
- Government & Stakeholder Management: Proven ability to build and manage relationships with regulators, unions, and government agencies to ensure smooth operational approvals
- Maritime & Offshore Experience: Background in shipping, marine operations, offshore logistics, or upstream support, with direct exposure to vessel operations in Nigeria
- Documentation & Compliance Control: Experience overseeing regulatory filings, vessel documentation, permits, and audit readiness with high attention to accuracy and timelines
- Union & Manning Knowledge: Familiarity with maritime labour regulations, CBAs, and expatriate crew compliance
- Operational Problem-Solving: Ability to resolve vessel clearance, permitting, and regulatory bottlenecks quickly to avoid operational disruptions
- Leadership & Ownership: Capable of leading the local content function independently, setting processes, and driving accountability
- Commercial & Strategic Awareness: Understands the business impact of compliance decisions and can support operational continuity and growth (including upstream expansion)
Benefits
- This is a unique opportunity to be part of a high-impact team at the heart of the business.
- The role offers exposure to strategic decision-making and the potential for career progression within the organization.
