Area Head of Operational Excellence

Job Description

About the role:

We are seeking a seasoned Head of Operations Excellence to lead the deployment of The Maersk Way (TMW) . This is a strategic leadership role responsible for driving consistent operational excellence standards, building strong organizational capabilities, and delivering continuous performance improvement aligned with the global TMW framework. As the central integrator at Area level, you will translate global direction into locally relevant execution- driving adoption, embedding sustainable practices, and ensuring measurable business impact. You will champion structured routines, performance discipline, and data-driven decision-making to enable the business to achieve its strategic priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Drive Deployment of TMW Framework

• Partner with Area MD & Leadership Team to define, execute, and track business priorities through TMW and Operational Excellence practices

• Drive adoption of core TMW tools and behaviours (e.g., problem-solving, visual management) based on Area maturity and needs

• Translate global standards into effective local implementation plans

• Challenge existing practices where standardization does not improve efficiency or customer outcomes

• Lead change management strategies to ensure successful implementation and sustained adoption

Lead Operational Excellence Capability Building

• Build, lead, and develop the Area OpEx community (including CI, SMEs, FinOps)

• Drive capability development, succession planning, and engagement within the OpEx function

• Coach senior leaders and teams on OpEx principles, performance management, and cultural behaviours

• Foster a strong continuous improvement culture across frontline and leadership teams

Drive Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives aligned with business priorities

• Establish governance frameworks to monitor and improve key performance indicators (KPIs)

• Enable data-driven insights to support decision-making and performance tracking

• Collaborate with global and GSC teams to sustain improvement initiatives

Accountabilities

• Deployment of TMW tools, standards, and behaviours in line with global priorities

• Maturing Operational Excellence and Continuous Improvement capabilities across the Area

• Delivering measurable improvements in business KPIs, operational efficiency, and customer outcomes

• Influencing and holding senior stakeholders accountable for performance and execution

Stakeholder Engagement: You will be a key advisor and collaborator on:

• Area strategy and business priorities

• Operating model design and optimization

• Performance target setting and alignment

• Identification of capability gaps, blockers, and enablers

• Localization of global frameworks while maintaining standardization

What We’re Looking For

Experience & Expertise

• 15+ years of overall professional experience, with a strong focus on Operational Excellence, Continuous Improvement, or related fields

• Minimum 7+ years in leadership roles, managing high-performing teams and driving transformation

• Proven experience in Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies within complex, matrixed organizations

• Strong track record of leading large-scale transformation and capability-building initiatives

• Expertise in performance management, process optimization, and KPI governance

• Ability to translate strategy into structured execution with measurable outcomes

• Experience working within global operating models; familiarity with frameworks like TMW is an advantage

Leadership & Behavioral Competencies

• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence and challenge senior stakeholders

• Excellent communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to simplify complex concepts

• Strategic mindset with a strong bias for execution

• High resilience, adaptability, and ownership in dynamic environments

• Passion for continuous improvement and building high-performing teams

Why This Role Matters: This role is critical in shaping how Operational Excellence is embedded across the Area, driving consistency, capability and performance at scale while aligning closely with global standards.

Maersk is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we embrace different styles of thinking. Maersk is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants without regard to race, colour, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy or parental leave, veteran status, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with all legal requirements.

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