Chief Operations Officer (COO)

Position Summary

To lead, direct, and manage all operational activities of the company across Alexandria and El Dekhelia terminals, ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective operations of vessels, equipment, cranes, yards, and warehouses. The role focuses on achieving world-class performance standards in port operations while ensuring compliance with HSE and environmental regulations, implementing digital transformation initiatives, and maintaining elevated levels of customer satisfaction among shipping lines and strategic clients.

Key Responsibilities

Operations Management

Lead and supervise all day-to-day operational activities, including vessel operations, yard operations,

equipment and crane utilization, and warehouse activities.

Ensure operational plans are implemented to meet daily demand, while monitoring and analyzing

variances to take corrective actions.

Drive continuous improvement initiatives to maximize berth productivity, crane performance, and

container throughput (TEU).

Ensure timely and accurate reporting of operational performance to senior management.

Planning & Performance Optimization

Develop and propose strategic and tactical operating plans aligned with the companys business

objectives.

Establish and monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as berth productivity, crane

moves/hour, yard utilization, and vessel turnaround time.

Conduct root cause analysis for deviations in operational KPIs and propose corrective/preventive

measures.

Design and implement initiatives to reduce vessel waiting times and improve customer satisfaction.

Risk, Safety & Compliance

Ensure all operations comply with national and international HSE regulations, ISO standards (ISO

45001 & ISO 14001), and company policies.

Develop and implement operational risk mitigation plans to prevent incidents and ensure business

continuity.

Supervise investigations of operational incidents or damage caused by handling equipment/cranes

and provide recommendations to prevent recurrence.

Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement across all operational

teams.

Digital Transformation & Systems

Oversee the effective implementation and integration of Terminal Operating Systems (TOS) and

ensure optimal usage.

Lead digitalization and automation initiatives across terminals to enhance operational efficiency and

reduce manual dependency.

Supervise the development and execution of automation and IT enhancement projects in alignment

with global best practices.

Stakeholder Management & Communication

Act as the key liaison between the company and external stakeholders including port authorities,

customs, shipping lines, and contractors.

Review and analyze complaints and suggestions from shipping lines, ensuring appropriate solutions

are implemented.

Coordinate with the Commercial Sector to provide accurate operational data supporting tariff

negotiations, pricing strategies, and special incentive schemes for strategic clients.

Institutional Support & Development

Provide operational data, studies, and recommendations to the Corporate Transformation Office to

support institutional development and resource optimization.

Propose innovative methods for work improvement that align with customer requirements and

international port industry trends.

Support company initiatives to improve sustainability, resource efficiency, and revenue generation.

People Leadership

Lead, coach, and develop large multi-disciplinary teams across both terminals.

Build a performance-driven culture through effective leadership, goal setting, and employee

engagement.

Ensure succession planning and capability development in all operational divisions.

Sectors and Departments Reporting to the Position

Operations Sector Alexandria Terminal.

Operations Sector El Dekheila Terminal.

Engineering Sector.

Central Warehouse Department Alexandria.

Central Warehouse Department El Dekheila.

Qualifications & Experience

Bachelors degree in logistics management, Mechanical, Electrical, Civil Engineering, or related field.

Minimum of 15 years experience in port/maritime/container terminal operations, with at least 7 years

in a senior leadership role.

Strong knowledge of international port operating standards, best practices, and performance

optimization.

Solid understanding of Terminal Operating Systems (TOS) and digital transformation in ports.

Familiarity with ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety) and ISO 14001 (Environmental

Management).

Strong leadership, analytical, and decision-making skills with proven ability to lead large, diverse

teams.

Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Vessel turnaround time and berth productivity (moves/hour) / Crane productivity and equipment

utilization / Yard occupancy and container dwell time / Reduction in operational incidents and HSE

compliance rate / Level of digitalization and automation achieved in terminal operations / Customer

satisfaction rate (shipping lines and stakeholders) / Achievement of operational cost-efficiency

targets / Employee engagement and retention within operational divisions.