Area Head of Operational Excellence

Maersk is a global leader in integrated logistics and have been industry pioneers for over a century. Through innovation and transformation, we are redefining the boundaries of possibility, continuously setting new standards for efficiency, sustainability, and excellence. With a presence in more than 130 countries and a workforce of over 100,000 employees, we are committed to connecting and simplifying our customers’ supply chains.

About the Role
We are Maersk, and we are seeking an Area Head of Operational Excellence to lead the deployment of Operational Excellence capabilities across North America. This is a highly visible leadership role that partners directly with Area Leadership to drive business transformation, improve operational performance, and accelerate adoption of The Maersk Way (TMW).

As a strategic advisor and change leader, you will be responsible for driving a culture of continuous improvement across the Area, ensuring operational excellence initiatives translate into measurable business outcomes. You will lead a team of Operational Excellence professionals while partnering closely with senior leaders to identify opportunities, remove inefficiencies, and implement sustainable solutions that improve customer experience, productivity, and overall business performance.

This role is ideal for a leader who combines strong Operational Excellence expertise with executive presence, strategic thinking, and the ability to influence across a complex, matrixed organization. You will have the opportunity to shape how Operational Excellence is deployed across North America while helping define the future of the function within Maersk.

What We Offer

• A highly visible leadership position with direct exposure to Area and Regional executive leadership
• The opportunity to influence business strategy, transformation initiatives, and operational performance across North America
• A collaborative environment focused on continuous improvement, innovation, and capability building

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the deployment and adoption of The Maersk Way (TMW) and Operational Excellence frameworks across North America
• Partner with Area leadership to identify strategic priorities and translate them into actionable improvement initiatives
• Establish governance structures, performance routines, and KPI frameworks that drive accountability and business results
• Lead and develop a team of Operational Excellence professionals, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and problem-solving
• Drive Lean, Continuous Improvement, and transformation initiatives that improve productivity, quality, customer outcomes, and operational efficiency
• Coach leaders on Operational Excellence principles, performance management, and change leadership
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders across Customer Experience, Finance, People, Global Operational Excellence, and Service Centers to ensure alignment and successful execution
• Identify opportunities to standardize processes, eliminate waste, and improve end-to-end business performance across functional boundaries
• Drive sustainable implementation of improvement initiatives through strong stakeholder engagement and change management

Who We Are Looking For

• We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds who bring a passion for transformation, operational excellence, and people leadership
• Significant experience in Operational Excellence, Lean, Continuous Improvement, Business Transformation, or related disciplines
• Proven success leading large-scale process improvement and organizational change initiatives within complex organizations
• Strong understanding of Lean methodologies, continuous improvement frameworks, and performance management systems
• Demonstrated ability to influence and partner effectively with senior executives and cross-functional leadership teams
• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams while building organizational capability
• Ability to think strategically while connecting enterprise priorities to operational execution
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, facilitation, and coaching skills
• Lean certification (Green Belt, Black Belt, or equivalent) is highly desirable
• Experience operating successfully within matrixed, global organizations is preferred

Role Details

• Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
• Travel: Limited travel as required for business needs
• Salary Level: JL5
• Salary Range: $140,000 - $180,000 + 15% bonus

We are committed to equal employment opportunities and creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Compensation is determined based on experience, skills, qualifications, and market benchmarks.

If you are a strategic leader who thrives on driving transformation, developing people, and delivering measurable business results, we encourage you to apply and help shape the future of Operational Excellence at Maersk.

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.

We are happy to support your need for any adjustments during the application and hiring process. If you need special assistance or an accommodation to use our website, apply for a position, or to perform a job, please contact us by emailing accommodationrequests@maersk.com.