Head of Operational Excellence - North America

Job Description

Lead operational excellence across a continent. Power Maersk’s transformation.



At Maersk, we’re transforming into the global integrator of logistics. This journey requires bold leadership, consistent execution, and a culture of continuous improvement. The Maersk Way (TMW) – our global operating system – is the foundation for how we deliver consistent value, performance, and service across our operations.

Head of Operational Excellence – North America

Lead operational excellence across a continent. Power Maersk’s transformation.

At Maersk, we’re transforming into the global integrator of logistics. This journey requires bold leadership, consistent execution, and a culture of continuous improvement. The Maersk Way (TMW) – our global operating system – is the foundation for how we deliver consistent value, performance, and service across our operations.

We are now hiring a Head of Operational Excellence – North America to lead the regional deployment of TMW. This Director-level role is critical to embedding operational excellence standards, accelerating performance, and enabling sustainable capability building across our frontline and leadership teams in the region.

The Role

As the Head of Operational Excellence for North America, you will:

• Translate global TMW frameworks into regional action plans that reflect business maturity and operational context.
• Drive deployment of core OpEx tools and behaviours such as visual management, problem-solving, and daily management systems.
• Facilitate integrated planning, goal-setting, and performance governance with regional leaders.
• Act as a coach and thought partner to senior leaders, enabling cultural role-modelling and leadership alignment.
• Lead a network of regional OpEx resources and ambassadors, ensuring high-impact delivery and continuous improvement.
• Monitor operational maturity and performance KPIs, identifying risks and enabling structured issue resolution.
• Build learning environments that sustain behaviour change and promote capability development.
• Serve as the bridge between global strategy and local execution, ensuring TMW evolves with real-world feedback and adoption.

What You’ll Be Accountable For

• Successful regional deployment of TMW tools, standards, and routines in alignment with global priorities.
• Development of OpEx capabilities across both frontline and leadership levels.
• Improvement in critical operational KPIs including customer experience, cost, reliability, and safety.
• Engagement and alignment of senior regional leadership with the operational excellence agenda.
• Sustained adoption of TMW principles across teams, sites, and functions.

What We’re Looking For

• Significant experience in Lean, Six Sigma, or CI environments within large, complex operations.
• Strong ability to translate strategic direction into local execution and measurable impact.
• Expertise in influencing across senior leadership and frontline in matrixed organizations.
• Proven ability to coach others, build capability, and drive lasting behavioural change.
• Skilled in performance storytelling, KPI analysis, and structured problem-solving.
• Comfortable operating in dynamic environments and driving transformation at scale.

Why Maersk?

Maersk is reshaping the logistics industry through end-to-end integration, technology, and a relentless focus on the customer. At the centre of this transformation is The Maersk Way—a blueprint for how we work and win together.

As Head of Operational Excellence for North America, you will play a key role in how that vision becomes reality—ensuring consistency, excellence, and continuous improvement from the frontline to the boardroom.

If you're energized by building capability, simplifying complexity, and delivering lasting impact at scale — we invite you to join us.

#LI-Hybrid #LI-BL01

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.