Operational Excellence Lead

The Operational Excellence Lead is a senior individual contributor accountable for driving the localization, maturity, consistency and impact of The Maersk Way (TMW) Operating System (OS) and NDC TMW training program across the Nordics area (NDC).

The role combines deep operational expertise in logistics and services, with advanced understanding Operational Excellence methodologies to diagnose customer and business challenges, shape and implement pragmatic solutions, and deliver measurable, sustainable business outcomes.

The successful professional is expected to act as a trusted partner to Product, Operations, Finance CX, and the Area Leadership Team, driving complex cross-functional improvement initiatives while ensuring solutions are scalable, standardized, and embedded into frontline operations.

Leadership & Behavioural Skills

• Strong facilitation, coaching and stakeholder management skills.

• Inquisitive personality, with the ability to challenge constructively and drive accountability (this is a must)

• Structured and well organized.

• Can operate independently in an ambiguous environment, and can deliver results with minimal guidance, but will seek advice, guidance and receive support for more complex or non-routine items.

• Ability to influence, drive and embed change and get buy in from stakeholders across multiple organizational levels.

• Effective communicator.

• Proven ability to drive and embed change across multiple organizational levels.

• Hands-on, pragmatic, and execution-focused mindset

Key Responsibilities

1. TMW Deployment

• Design and implement the localization strategy for The Maersk Way (TMW) across the Nordics Area.

• Design, implement and sustain regular performance management systems (Cadences, SQC boards, KPI routines)

• Ensure standardization of operational processes and performance governance routines

• Provide advanced guidance on structured problem solving (A3, Kaizen, Lean, RCA) to the business.

2. Continuous Improvement

• Drive structured problem-solving exercises to address core customer/business challenges and performance gaps across the Nordics area.

• Facilitate Kaizen workshops, A3 problem solving workshops, and VSM/ Process mapping exercises.

• Lead cross-functional business/customer improvement initiatives.

• Ensure standardization of operational processes and governance routines across the Nordics.

• Identify and prioritize high-impact improvement opportunities based on performance, risk, customer impact, and strategic priorities.

• Run and lead business critical projects as defined by the Area Leadership Team (ALT).

3. Capability Building & Coaching

• Design, manage and keep up to date “The Maersk Way” training program in the Nordics.

• Coach frontline teams on TMW tools including (but not exclusive to): Problem Solving, Bowler Charts, Action Plans and future features to be deployed to the organization.

• Localize, deliver and manage the A3/Problem Solving training program.

• Support embedding of a continuous improvement culture in daily operations.

• Serve as coach and facilitator to the business and OPEX Specialist.

• Develop the NDC OPEX upskilling program with the purposes of maintaining the NDC OPEX team up to date and enhance overall performance.

4. KPI Governance & Performance Management

• Define and implement Area and Product KPI frameworks.

• Establish data-driven governance routines.

• Track and deliver measurable improvements tied to business outcomes.

• Act as a trusted advisor on performance gaps and corrective actions.

5. Business Value Enablement

• Translate real operational constraints and problems into data-driven improvement initiatives

• Apply end-to-end business thinking, understanding trade-offs and need for prioritization

• Ensure all improvements are anchored in operational reality and system capabilities

• Partner with Digital, Data and Automation teams

• Evaluate trade-offs between service, cost, and operational feasibility to prioritize the highest-impact initiatives.

• Ensure all improvements are anchored in operational reality and system capabilities

• Drive continuous improvement loops based on data insights

Scope & Focus

• Primary focus: Area related business units (Products, Sales, FIN, CX, PROC, etc).

• Secondary: Global Products and Ocean.

• Coverage: Cross-functional and gap-based support.

• Problem solving scope: From domain-level coaching to complex cross-functional transformation topics.

• Deputy if Area Head of OPEX is absent.

Success Measures

• Adoption and maturity of TMW and performance routines across the Nordics.

• Sustainable improvement of business performance via facilitated initiatives.

• Strengthened cross-functional collaboration and ownership.

Key Interfaces

• Area Head of Operational Excellence

• Area and Global Product Heads.

• Area Product Managers and teams

• Area Operations Managers and Teams

• CEN OPEX

• Regional Head of OPEX

• Lean Academy Coaches

• CX / Customer Service teams

• Finance / FinOps partners

• Sales

• Digitization and Data Teams

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, Logistics, or a related field; advanced study or certifications are an advantage.

• 7-10+ years functional experience in logistics and services.

• Demonstrated practical experience in Operational Excellence, Lean, or Continuous Improvement, including popular frameworks and tools like Kaizen, PDCA/ DMAIC, RCA, GEMBAs, RCA, A3, VSM, Daily Management and/or similar.

• Track record of delivering tangible operational improvements in complex/ambiguous logistics environments

• Proven experience in applying structured project management methodologies (IE: PMI, PRINCE2, etc), including change management and change behaviour during implementation.

• Ability to link data insights and contextual information with real-life operational behaviour.

• Good to haves: Experience with process mapping, policy definition and automation initiatives. Certified in CI and/or OPEX frameworks (IE: Green/Black Belt). AI/ Agentic Bot development.

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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