Senior Port Operation Manager – Norfolk – Maersk Line – Arlington

We are looking for a Senior Port Operation Manager to join our North Americas Marine Ops US East Coast team. This position will be based in Norfolk, VA.

Maersk Line, the global containerized division of the Maersk Group, is dedicated to delivering the highest level of customer-focused and reliable ocean transportation services. Our vision, built from a strong heritage of uprightness, constant care, and innovation, has guided our business operations since the first Maersk Line vessel sailed in 1904. By remaining committed to that vision, we have expanded our business to become the world’s largest ocean carrier. And we are consistently recognized as the most reliable container shipping company.

We offer
As the leading ocean transportation carrier in the world, we offer you exciting career opportunities with an international reach to further expand your experience through our diversity-focused and award winning talent development initiatives. Our competitive compensation and benefits package for full-time employees includes health, dental and vision insurance, 401k savings plan with an employer match and paid time-off. Our parental leave policy is recognized world-wide as one of the best in the industry and we continue to look for new ways to invest in our talent through ongoing personal and professional development initiatives. Lastly, as one of the cornerstones of our values, we strive to deliver the right environment for the right people while fostering a culture of fairness, mutual respect, responsibility, and care for our business and our customers.

Key responsibilities
Berth Planning:
– Maintain and protect performance berth windows for ML services.
– Secure berth/cranes on arrival in accordance to performance or adjusted schedule
– Drive performance changes to support better berth windows.

Labor Orders / Planning:
– Place labor orders with a view to minimize port stay reduce labor cost.
– Develop and execute a ganging and scheduling strategy for each
service ensuring vessels depart in accordance to schedule needs. This
is in conjunction with the Americas Marine Center based in Panama.
– Create synergies with terminals and other Lines to work efficiently

Vessel Operations (Live):
– Monitor arrival and departure of vessels to monitor for waste.
– Monitor vessel ops performance, reviewing production and crane split.
– Adjust ganging to reduce cost and expedite sailing
– Align with terminal and agents on agreed completion and departure.

Post Vessel Operations – Cost Control:
– Review and approve all terminal departure reports (TDR’s) for Maersk
Line and VSA vessels in the ports covered by required deadline.
– Challenge unjustified cost, track and settle disputes with terminal
operators promptly.
– Maintain / Update cost control tool as per required deadline.
– Create and execute strategies per vessel to improve cost each week.
– Monitor and audit terminal invoices to ensure billing accuracy.
– Maintain consistent awareness of current performance of unit cost
associated with (overtime, guarantee, standby and detentions).
– Help support and reduce other marine and terminal behavioral cost.

Performance Management:
– Create a performance improvement mindset within the role including
vendors and stakeholders.
– Secure needed resources (berth and cranes) setting vessels up in
advance to meet needed targets and allow earliest departure.
– Measure / track and review cost and port productivity for each vessel, driving improvements with internal stakeholders and terminal.
– Maintain consistent awareness of contract and service level
agreements.
– Maintain consistent awareness of current cost and productivity
performance versus target.
– Establish shared KPI’s and targets with each terminal or stevedore to
be reviewed weekly.
– Support other key Marine objectives to reduce bunker deviation, idle
time, waiting time, and schedule reliability. Initiate and lead needed
improvements
– Support other ML teams to drive terminal performance and cost.

Stakeholder Management:
– Represent Maersk Line in local vessel sharing agreement (VSA)
operational committees and other industry bodies.
– Build relationship with relevant key stakeholders (Terminal, Port
authorities, 3rd party service providers, Maersk Line vessel command)
– use the relationship to coordinate continuous improvements.
– Support execution staff in LOC with terminal knowledge and updates
to improve their ‘day to day’ execution efforts.
– Support the Procurement department in service level agreement
(SLA) negotiations with terminal operators and stevedores, as
applicable.
– Support other departments of the LOC and Inland Operations teams
to manage equipment inventory, rolling pools, dwell times, gate turn
times, etc., both on terminal and in off-dock locations (as applicable).

General Operations / Management:
– Maintain Maersk Line’s “Portmemo” database up-to-date to ensure
integrity of the vessels, cargo and crew is never compromised.
– Become local focal point ensuring general awareness of local
infrastructure improvements including associated impact and timing.
– Support environmental and safety initiatives.
– Maintain general awareness of local nautical restrictions. Liaise with
husbandry agent to support.
– Liaise with vessel, husbandry agent, and barge operators, to ensure
timely delivery of bunkers.
– Supervise the performance of the third-party husbandry agents.
– Act as back-up for the Sr. Operations Managers in other ports.
– Take lead role as local rep for vessel or terminal crisis (emergency
events, closures, strikes, disruption to the business)

We are looking for
– Bachelor’s degree required or equivalent industry experience and training
– Necessary language and interpersonal skills to interact with stakeholders in the specific port(s) covered
– At least 5 years of experience in Husbanding and Vessel/Terminal Operations with analytical skills to influence a complex operational set-up.
– Strong negotiation and conflict management skills
– Self-driven and result oriented leader with a strong sense of urgency
– Able to work independently and remotely in a hectic environment
– Able to work various shift hours based on vessel schedules
– Willing to be on-call 24/7
– Availability for frequent travel (domestic or international)
– Must be able to obtain TWIC card to allow access to terminal and vessels.

Please click here to Apply Online