Regional Operations & Procurement (OPPC) Head

Role Overview

Regional Operations Strategy & Performance

• Lead and embed a culture of continuous improvement across regional Liner operations by identifying inefficiencies and operational bottlenecks and initiating actions to enhance performance and reliability.
• Own the delivery of OPPC-related KPIs for agencies and branches within the region through continuous monitoring, performance assessment, and timely corrective actions.

Vessel Operations & Turnaround Management

• Work closely with Head Office Liner Operations on vessel call planning, schedule integrity, and required adjustments to minimize delays and optimize overall network performance.
• Partner with terminals to optimize berthing plans, port productivity, and vessel turnaround time, driving Terminal Velocity improvements across locations within the region.
• Ensure maximum vessel utilization upon departure from the region.

Agency Operations Management

• Provide operational oversight and functional leadership to country agencies to ensure consistent execution of operational processes, timely system updates, and adherence to required standards.
• Oversee operational coordination with partners and agents, as required, to ensure smooth vessel and port operations across the region.

Terminals, Marine Vendors & Third-Party Feeder (3PF) Operations

• Drive cost-efficiency initiatives across liner operations, marine, terminal, agency, and Third-Party Feeder (3PF) activities within the region, in collaboration with Head Office Procurement.
• Partner with Head Office Procurement on contract renewals and negotiations with marine and terminal vendors.
• Partner with Head Office Procurement on regular review of vendor service quality, tariffs, and market benchmarking.
• Partner with Head Office Procurement on Third-Party Feeder (3PF) procurement activities within the region.

Liner Operations Support & Compliance

• Provide regional oversight for the safe and compliant handling of special cargoes (e.g. project cargo, OOG), working with terminals to build handling capability and secure competitive tariffs.
• Ensure stowage planning processes at terminals within the region meet basic safety parameters, IMDG requirements, and special cargo stowage instructions issued by Central Planners.
• Ensure implementation of Head Office circulars and operating procedures and provide feedback on process improvements relating to IMDG bookings, cargo handling, operational systems, and staff training.

Incident & Emergency Management

• Lead the management of vessel emergencies within the region and coordinate with local authorities, classification bodies, and internal stakeholders to support Fleet and Safety teams and expedite vessel dispatch.
• Partner with the Regional Head to enable commercial requirements and support value-added service (VAS) initiatives as new services are developed.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Provide overall operational leadership for the region by setting clear direction, priorities, and expectations aligned with OPPC strategy and regional operations objectives.
• Translate regional operations strategy into execution by establishing clear governance, performance cadence, and accountability across country operations teams.
• Lead and mobilize country operations teams to deliver agreed operational and cost efficiency targets.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration across Operations, Procurement, Commercial, Finance, Logistics, Fleet, and HQ stakeholders to resolve operational challenges and drive continuous improvement.
• Build and maintain strong leadership relationships with agencies, as well as key operational stakeholders to ensure alignment on goals, performance expectations, and compliance standards.
• Provide senior-level stakeholder leadership with terminals, marine vendors, third-party feeder operators, and partners to drive performance, reliability, and long-term collaboration.
• Act as the senior escalation and decision authority for significant operational issues, disruptions, and emergencies, providing clear leadership, timely decisions, and effective coordination during critical situations.

Qualification & Experience Required

• Master Mariner with a minimum of 10 years' shore-based experience in the transportation and logistics industry, specifically within container liner shipping and commercial operations; or
• Master's or Bachelor's Degree from a recognized institution in Shipping, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, or MBA (General Management), with a minimum of 15 years' experience in senior operations leadership roles within container liner shipping and commercial operations.
• Sound knowledge of Liner operations is essential; working knowledge of logistics and supply chain operations will be an advantage.
• Excellent written and spoken English is required.

Professional Skill Sets

• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office tools, particularly Excel and PowerPoint, with the ability to analyze data and present insights clearly to support decision-making.
• Experience with business intelligence and visualization tools (e.g. Tableau, Power BI) to monitor performance trends and drive operational improvements will be an advantage.
• Solid knowledge of liner shipping, marine operations, terminal operations, and broader supply chain concepts, with the ability to apply this knowledge across regional contexts.
• Advanced capability to analyze operational KPIs, identify trends and performance gaps, and translate insights into actionable improvement initiatives.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to lead discussions, align diverse stakeholders, and achieve outcomes.