Senior Director Operations

Role overview

We are looking for a Senior Director to lead port and terminal operations, strengthen relationships with government authorities and industry partners, and represent the company on operational matters. The ideal candidate brings substantial hands-on experience in port or terminal operations and can turn strategic priorities into safe, efficient day-to-day performance.

Key responsibilities

• Lead operational planning and performance across port and terminal activities, with a focus on safety, service quality, efficiency, and cost control.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with government authorities, regulators, port stakeholders, customers, and strategic partners.
• Represent the company in operational meetings, industry discussions, and matters involving external authorities.
• Ensure operations comply with applicable regulations, permits, safety standards, and company policies.
• Identify operational risks, resolve escalated issues, and coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to maintain service continuity.
• Develop operational plans, budgets, performance measures, and improvement initiatives.
• Lead and develop operations teams, setting clear expectations and holding leaders accountable for results.
• Support commercial and strategic initiatives by assessing operational feasibility and building partnerships that enable growth.

Requirements

• UAE National.
• Significant leadership experience in port, marine terminal, cargo terminal, or a closely related logistics operation.
• Proven experience managing complex operations, large teams, budgets, and external stakeholders.
• Established ability to work with government authorities and regulatory bodies in the UAE.
• Strong knowledge of operational safety, compliance, and performance management.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills in Arabic and English.
• Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Maritime Studies, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field; a master's degree is an advantage.