What is Vopak?

Vopak is the leading global independent provider of tank storage and related logistic services to the chemical and oil industries for the storage of liquid chemical products and oil products throughout the world. With operations in a large number of countries on all continents, Vopak owns and operates a vast international network of liquid bulk storage terminals, deep-sea tankers, coastal vessels and inland tank barges and a number of strategically placed logistic warehouses.
Vopak’s background and focus on the oil and chemical industry has resulted in an in-depth knowledge of the industry needs and future logistic trends, whereby it’s expertise lays in optimising logistic flows and reducing costs in the supply chain. Linked to this is Vopak’s continuous attention towards achieving the highest safety, health, environment and quality performance equal to that of its customers.

How is Vopak Organized?

The company is divided globally into five market regions, the divisions. The divisions are primary responsible for their strategy, in line with the Vopak financial and strategic objectives, their market and customer intelligence and commercial policies. As a matter of course, each division has prime responsibility for its operations and profits, meeting the companies’ overall objectives in areas such as safety, health & environment, human resources and finance (like ROCE -return on capital employed- and other financial ratios).
The Vopak corporate head office is based in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. From here, the strategic planning for Vopak as a whole is formulated, its execution within the divisions monitored and funds according to the strategic priorities provided and allocated. Further, the corporate head office executes a number of governance tasks, both internal (policies, procedures and guidelines on health, safety & environment, human resources, standardization, ICT) and external (corporate governance tasks related to the companies stock exchange listing).

How many people does Vopak employ?

Vopak employs world wide around 4,000 employees. Our biggest employment base is in Europe - the divisions Chemicals and Oil (EMEA) together employ around 2,500 employees at large facilities in a.o. Belgium, The Netherlands, United Kingdom and Germany. The remaining approximately 1,500 employees are active in the divisions Asia, Latin America and North America. In employee numbers these regions are smaller, but will grow relatively faster than Europe in the next few years.

How many graduates does Vopak recruit annually?

Vopak only recruits a limited number of fresh graduates, world wide on the average no more than 20. This number includes both the graduates we recruit as a part of our management development program as well as graduates who are hired for existing vacancies in our operating companies.
In our recruitment process, we aim to select the most promising graduates, and we want to retain only the best of them, based on what they have shown to be capable of in the first years of their employment with Vopak.

What are the chances of an international assignment at Vopak?

Normally you will be recruited and employed in your home country. Vopak employs local staff as much as possible. In some situations we recognize the need for cross borders assignments, especially:

• Where qualified local staff are not (yet) available
• If it is regarded essential to have non local management in place
• Where existing Vopak knowledge, skills and company culture need to be transferred
• If an international assignment supports an individual's development

Depending on your discipline, your capabilities and the opportunities available, you may be sent on a short-term assignment abroad at an early stage of your career.
A long-term international assignment normally only happens if you have been with us for some time, once you have gained sufficient professional skills and knowledge of our business to make an assignment beneficial for both Vopak (see above) and yourself.

What terms and conditions of employment does Vopak offer?

Vopak offers competitive terms and conditions of employment, in line with the relevant general market and competitive position. We regularly benchmark our position.
Vopak's salary policies allow for salary reviews tuned to the individual's contribution and effort.

Will I get a permanent contract of employment?

Not all our employees need to be permanent employees right from the start. Vopak uses more flexible ways of employing staff, such as fixed term contracts, if appropriate.
Wherever possible, newly recruited graduates will be offered a fixed term contract for the initial phases of their career rather than a permanent contract.

 

How long does the graduate recruitment procedure last?

Following your application, you may expect an initial response from us within 2 weeks. When you pass the first selection interview, we will inform you when the next round of interviews will take place. The process from the 2nd interview round, via the assessment to a concrete job offer normally takes 6 to 8 weeks.

Should I apply by normal paper mail or by email?

Now you have found us via the website... we prefer applications by email. What we would like to receive is your application, explaining why you want to work with Vopak and what you would add, plus your CV / resume, using the Application Form.

I have not graduated yet, is that a problem?

If you apply as a graduate, we will only employ you if you have passed your final examinations. Of course, there is nothing wrong if you send your application to us before you actually graduate, as long as you are graduated at the moment you are in the final stages of the application procedure.