Refinery / Asset Economist (m/w/d) - #53205

Refinery / Asset Economist (m/f/x)

Hours: full time

Location: Baar/Switzerland

The Position

The Asset Economist role is based in VAROPreem’s Fuels Value Chain Optimisation organisation in Baar, Switzerland, and focuses on the economic optimisation of VAROPreem’s ownership share in the Bayernoil refining asset. Bayernoil’s joint venture structure creates a complex optimisation environment, with significant margin capture potential that requires close coordination between refinery operations, trading, commercial, logistics and shareholder representatives. The Asset Economist acts as the central interface between Bayernoil refinery operations and VAROPreem’s internal commercial functions, translating operational realities, market signals and LP model outputs into practical day-to-day optimisation decisions.

The role is well suited to an experienced refinery planning or optimisation professional looking to broaden their exposure to central European refining economics and develop towards wider refinery economics responsibilities in a commercially driven environment. The Asset Economist will work closely with the Fuels Value Chain Coordinator, offering a clear development opportunity to take increasing ownership of Bayernoil’s economic analysis and commercial steering over time, including cover of more senior responsibilities.

Your Key Responsibilities

Month M Plan Implementation & Refinery Steering

• Own the economic steering and optimisation of VAROPreem’s Bayernoil ownership share during month M plan implementation.
• Act as the central coordination point between Bayernoil refinery operations, on-site planning/scheduling and VAROPreem commercial functions.
• Translate the monthly operating plan into actionable economic steers across crude supply, product offtake, intermediates, logistics and commercial constraints.
• Prepare and coordinate weekly intra-month plan iterations with the refinery to maximise margin capture under changing market and operational conditions.
• Assess and communicate the economic impact of operational deviations, unit constraints, quality issues, blending limitations and logistics disruptions.
  
  

LP-Based Optimisation & Economic Analysis

• Run and analyse the Bayernoil LP model to direct short-term refinery steering and commercial decision-making.
• Evaluate crude, feedstock, intermediate and product scenarios to identify the most economic operating options.
• Calculate breakeven values for key import and export streams.
• Quantify the margin impact of price movements, operational constraints, yield changes and blending limitations.
• Identify practical short-term optimisation opportunities, including quality giveaway reduction and constraint debottlenecking.
• Evaluate the impact and coordinate responses to unplanned refinery events to mitigate impact on the wider value chain.
  
  

Performance Review & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor deviations between LP plan, refinery execution and actual performance.
• Review the refinery’s post-month apportionment proposals and sign-off on reconciled mass balances.
• Provide challenge and insight to backcasting analysis, identifying recurring performance gaps and improvement opportunities.
• Develop and maintain Power BI dashboards to improve visibility of plan versus actual performance, constraint impacts and key margin drivers.
  
  

Stakeholder Collaboration & Development

• Serve as the central office contact for day-to-day Bayernoil refinery economic topics.
• Prepare and coordinate the implementation of intermediates and blend-component im/exports with responsible traders and logistics.
• Work closely with the Fuels Value Chain Coordinator, with increasing ownership of Bayernoil economic and commercial steering over time.
• Prepare and present structured weekly updates on Bayernoil economics, optimisation opportunities and operational status to internal stakeholders.
• Provide cover for the Fuels Value Chain Coordinator once onboarded, including long term production strategy design, crude evaluation and trading mandate preparation.
  
  

Your Profile

Experience

• 3+ years of relevant industry experience in one or more of the following areas:
• Refinery planning or scheduling
• Process engineering in refining
• Refinery LP modelling.
• Previous direct exposure to refinery operations and processes is strongly preferred
  
  

Technical Knowledge

• Understanding of crude oil qualities & core refinery processes, typical refinery margin drivers and constraints
• Experience in running and analyzing LP models (Haverly GRTMPS, Aveva USC Plan or Aspen PIMS)
• Strong Excel skills & Power BI proficiency required
  
  

Personal Capabilities

• Strong analytical and quantitative mindset & structured problem-solving approach
• Ability to translate technical constraints into economic implications
• Comfortable working in an operational, fast-moving environment
• Proactive and eager to deepen technical expertise
• Fluent in spoken and written English, working knowledge of French strongly preferred
  
  

Education

• Degree in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, Energy Economics or similar quantitative discipline
  
  

We Offer

• A professional and very well connected work environment with a young and international Team in a growing company
• An attractive workplace in Baar with great development opportunities within an international, corporate environment
• Attractive salary and bonus structures, as well as an employer-financed pension and accident insurance
• Further benefits directed towards both physical training and self-development
  
  

Are you ready to take this exciting journey with us?

Then we look forward to receiving your application – simply click on the “Apply now” button to get started.

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