National Operations Manager at Pacific International Lines (PTE) Ltd

• Pacific International Lines (PIL) is seeking a visionary and results-oriented National Operations Manager to manage vessel and landslide operations and cost ownership in Nigeria. This pivotal role engages with third party service providers (terminal, depots, haulers etc.) and government regulatory authorities (NPA, NIMASA, NSC, etc.) on service deliverables.

Key Responsibilities
Vessel (Marine) Operations

• Own and drive schedule reliability and operational productivity at ports of call in Nigeria.
• Proactively interact and coordinate with vessels, terminals, and regional headquarters to drive day-to-day performance and optimization of vessel and terminal operations
• Coordinate and drive vessel contingencies with regional headquarters and local organization (where required).
• Drive and enforce contract compliance and performance management at all terminals.
• Develop, monitor, improve, and benchmark operations processes through process improvement.
• Drive down operational costs with a continuous improvement mindset for processes.
• Align daily operations execution to the company’s overall operational strategies.
• Develop and build an effective team with mixed competencies capable of delivering on operational goals.

Equipment (Container) Management

• Full visibility of all PIL containers within Nigeria.
• Build equipment flow strategy based on import and export flow analysis.
• Deliver improvements to key processes geared towards reducing container dwell and turn times in Nigeria.
• Own and drive empty container flow as well as reduction in laden long stay containers through active follow up with commercial teams, depots and vessel capacity teams.
• Empty repositioning: develop and execute cost savings plans in line with procurement logic to deliver a consistently deflationary cost profile while maintaining excellent standards of safety and reliability, including efficient planning for repositioning of empty units from depots (holding bays) to the ports.
• Build strong and collaborative relationships with vendors and 3rd party suppliers. Monitor performance for delivering high quality service.

Logistics (Depot / Barge / Truck / Rail) Management

• Identify and build strategic relationship with inland container depots geared towards driving cost reduction (transport and storage costs) and optimizing operational productivity.
• Ensure empty stock levels at depots are aligned with regional stock targets for export purposes.
• Develop processes that would optimize equipment flow at minimum cost. e.g. triangulation, depot optimization, etc.
• Develop effective model for stemming through partnership with cost effective and operationally efficient depots. Ensure depots comply with agreed charter related to ease of doing business for customers with shipments stemmed to their facility.
• Follow up with depots or transport [rail, barge and trucking] vendors in order to ensure smooth end-to-end equipment flow and execution in the depot and ports.
• Establish and monitor service level performance indicators for depots and transport providers.

Must Have

• Solid knowledge of Vessel (Marine) operations, Equipment (Container) and Logistics management (at least 10 years’ proven industry experience; preferably in Nigeria)
• Minimum of B.SC or HND in any discipline from a recognised tertiary institution
• Possession of MBA will be an added advantage
• International experience with proven application of global best practices will be an added advantage
• A thoughtful leader and a confident decision maker
• Self-motivated with the ability to lead, groom and grow others
• Good communications skills
• Excellent stakeholder management skills
• Excellent negotiation and conflict management skills
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Strong work ethics.