Lean Associate (Japanese Speaker)

Job Description

APM Terminals

Operations Lean Associate

Imagine a world of seamless operations, where a culture of high LEAN maturity and engaged colleagues come together with one goal: to transform the industry and become the world’s most collaborative terminal company. By fostering company-wide collaboration among frontline experts, we will boost efficiency and deliver greater value to our customers. To achieve this "Flow" , we will implement lean principles like pull and takt time, standardize processes, and tap into untapped resources. Through kaizen-driven improvements and increased visualization of progress, we’ll simplify and enhance our operations using in-house solutions.

Join our growing, diverse team, where we support one another, share a passion for transformation, and are driven to make a difference. We work hard, innovate, and have fun while shaping the future of our industry.

🤝🔍 What We Offer:

The Operations Lean Associate role offers a unique opportunity to grow with our improvement journey. You’ll support our Sensei Program by translating between Japanese and English for our Lean experts (Dojo Masters), gaining exposure to lean methodology and contributing to its adoption across our global terminal network.

The Sensei Program is aimed at enhancing lean thinking and behavior through on-the-job (hands-on) learning. Currently our Japanese Dojo Masters will need translation support to successfully implement this program. This role will also serve as a platform for deepening lean knowledge and preparing you for a future business or functional role within APM Terminals. We are looking for someone who is eager to travel across the globe exploring diverse cultures and places, to learning, contribute and become a lean professional within our organization.

The role can be based either at our terminals in Spain (Barcelona, Valencia, or Algeciras) or at the Headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands

Key Responsibilities:

Support Dojo Master with translation Japanese to English and vice versa.

Drive the adoption of the Lean practices with a focus on KAIZEN and coaching terminal management.

Under the guidance of Dojo Masters, provide specialized knowledge, guidance, and best practices for process development and optimization to global functions and terminals.

Improve awareness of process compliance.

Support problem-solving training sessions.

Assist terminals in adopting the Flow program through audits and coaching as guided by the Dojo Master.

Support the overall needs of the Dojo Master in delivering the program to terminals (schedules, visits, workshops, facilitation, etc.).

Most importantly – live and learn the lean journey and be passionate about it

We’re seeking someone eager to travel, explore diverse cultures, and grow into a lean professional within our organization.

Critical Qualifications/Skills/Experience:

• Industrial engineering background, degree or similar experience

• Fluency in English, Spanish and Japanese with the ability to interpret verbally and in writing. Spanish Language Knowledge Considered as a Big Plus.

• Strong communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally.

• Learning agility – willingness and ability to learn from experience and apply that learning into practice.

• Passion for being part of change and enabling it.

Things we can teach but is a benefit to have:

Lean practices

Developing and implementing global standards, policies, and processes in a cross-functional context.

Lean experience or understanding, such as TPM, 6 big losses, VMS, problem-solving.

🌟 We’re excited to hear from you!

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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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