Port Operations and Contract Manager (London)

CLdN is a leading provider of integrated quay-to-quay and door-to-door logistics solutions. Founded in 1929, CLdN ensures reliable, cost-effective transport that links the major economic areas of Europe. With 30 ships and more than 240 sailings a week, CLdN provides shortsea connections between the European continent, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Iberia and Scandinavia and offers the lowest CO₂ footprint of all Western European RoRo operators. CLdN’s cargo and multimodal services have a Europe-wide reach using CLdN’s extensive network of ships, terminals and equipment. CLdN’s 3,000 employees ensure that it fulfils its mission: to excel as an integrated provider of maritime links.

Willing to join a dynamic international shipping company where you can shape and support port operations and contract management?

CLdN RoRo Ltd operates vessels on fixed RoRo and LoLo lines in Europe. Most of the parties delivering services to the company do so under a negotiated agreement. We are seeking for a Port Operations and Contract Manager to oversee the third-party terminals and managers.

Your role

As a Port Operations and Contract Manager you will be responsible for keeping a close contact with stakeholders and evaluating the operational performance of the third-party terminals and stevedores in adherence to the made agreements.

Within this challenging role, your main responsibilities will be:

·         Port Contract Negotiations & Administration

• Manage agreements with port operators, terminals, stevedores, agents, tugboat services and others.

• Ensure compliance with berthing, loading/unloading services, and port tariffs.

• Compare similar tariffs over the network and aim for operational and economical improvements.

• Negotiate the existing and new contracts.

• Keep an overview of all contracts and content.

• Coordinate with the invoicing team when necessary, making sure CLdN is correctly invoiced.

• Dispute resolution: Work with operational, legal and finance teams to resolve contractual disputes/claims.

·         Communication

• Keep close contact with external stakeholders and meet regularly.

• Be the link between external port stakeholders and internal stakeholders where necessary.

·         Operational Performance Evaluation & Benchmarking

• Conduct regular performance audits of the terminals and stevedores, analyzing KPIs such as:

-       Berth Productivity (loading/unloading speed per hour)

-       Turnaround Time (vessel port stay duration and delays)

-       Cargo Damage Rates (vehicle and rolling cargo handling efficiency)

-       Resource Utilisation (labour,equipment, space)

o    Benchmark performance against industry standards and contractual SLAs.

o    Identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies in loading/unloading processes, vehicle stowage, and yard management.

·         Kaizen & Lean Process Improvement

• Kaizen principles (continuous improvement) to optimize RoRo terminal and stevedoring operations.

• Conduct root cause analysis (RCA) for operational delays and develop corrective action plans.

• Lead Gemba Walks at terminals to identify process inefficiencies and improvement opportunities.

• Lean Six Sigma tools (5S, Value Stream Mapping, PDCA) to streamline cargo handling workflows.

• Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for cargo handling, stowage planning, and berth scheduling.

• Organise workshops and training sessions if need be to drive a culture of continuous improvement among third-parties.

·         Data Analysis & Reporting

• Develop and use performance dashboards to monitor real-time operational efficiency with the Power BI data team.

• Provide monthly and quarterly reports on terminal and stevedore performance, highlighting improvement areas.

• Present findings and recommendations to senior management and operational teams.

·         Contract Compliance & Cost Optimisation

• Ensure third-party service providers adhere to contractual KPIs and SLAs.

• Identify opportunities for cost reduction and efficiency gains in terminal and stevedoring operations.

Your profile                                                                         

·         You hold minimum a Bachelor’s degree in related fields such as; Maritime Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering etc.

·         You must have Maritime Logistics experience, preferably in RoRo Shipping or terminal operations.

·         You must have experience in and hold a Lean Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt) or Kaizen. Any other process improvement methodologies and certifications are beneficial.

·         You must have excellent administration skills.

·         You have an analytical and data-driven mindset

·         You will have the ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive operational change.

·         You have strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills.

·         You will have a valid passport to travel to other ports regularly.

·         Optional – Maritime contract law and shipping finance.

Our offer

CLdN offers a long-term position within a dynamic international maritime company, where you will take on a key operational role with real impact on port operations, contract management and continuous improvement

Contact

Are you interested in learning more about this position or do you want to apply?

Do not hesitate to send your CV with a cover letter to recruitment.pft@cldn.com with reference “Port Operations and Contract Manager”.