Regional Head of Operations & Procurement (OPPC) WARO
Ghana
DRIVING CONNECTIVITY
Chart your Course with PIL
With over 55 years of leadership in the global shipping industry, Pacific International Lines (PIL) is looking for proactive individuals to drive innovation and sustainable shipping solutions. If you’re fueled by pioneering ideas, enjoy challenging the status quo, and are determined to make a significant impact, PIL wants you as a part of our dynamic community of maritime professionals.
At PIL, we provide local experiences with a global reach. With our headquarters in Singapore, and services offered at over 500 locations in 90 countries, you will have ample opportunities to work with colleagues from different cultures and communities.
Get On Board for a Dynamic and Purposeful Career.
Are you an accomplished leader in marine operations with a passion for driving excellence across diverse locations? We are looking for a dynamic Regional Head of Operations & Procurement(OPPC) to join our regional team in Accra, Ghana, overseeing all vessel and portside activities throughout the West & South Africa Region (WARO). As a key member of our Regional Leadership Team, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective marine operations, championing operational KPIs, and fostering high-performing teams across multiple locations. This high-impact position offers the opportunity to shape the future of regional operations and make a significant difference within our organisation.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead and oversee vessel operations:
Spearhead all vessel operations across West and South Africa, ensuring schedules are executed reliably for both coastal and mainline routes in close collaboration with local agency teams, central vessel planning units, and the global marine operations desk to deliver best-in-class operational performance.
Oversee safe and compliant special cargo handling (e.g., project cargo, OOG) and ensure stowage planning meets IMDG and safety requirements.
Act as the senior escalation point for operational disruptions and vessel emergencies; coordinate with authorities and internal stakeholders to support rapid resolution
Drive a high-performance culture:
Cultivate a high-performance environment throughout the region, prioritising port productivity, efficient vessel turnarounds, minimisation of waste, and strict adherence to corporate operational KPIs and policies.
Lead and embed a continuous-improvement culture across regional liner operations; identify bottlenecks, drive reliability, and improve performance.
Manage strategic operational relationships:
Build and maintain strategic relationships with terminal operators, port authorities, pilotage and husbandry providers, and other key maritime stakeholders.
Work with terminals to optimize berthing plans, port productivity, and vessel turnaround time; drive Terminal Velocity improvements in order to ensure that vessel calls are conducted safely, efficiently, and in a cost-effective manner.
Drive cost leadership:
Monitor, control, and optimise terminal and marine costs, proactively identifying and minimising inefficiencies such as delays, restows, deviations, and non-productive time to enhance operational performance and reduce expenses.
Drive cost-efficiency initiatives across liner operations, marine, terminal, agency, and third-party feeder (3PF) activities, in partnership with Head Office Procurement.
Mobilize country business units to deliver efficiency targets.
Partner with vessel and network planning teams:
Work closely with central vessel planning and network teams (including headquarters) to manage berth window availability, vessel deployment, schedule integrity, and capacity utilisation across the region.
Lead contingency planning and execution:
Oversee regional contingency planning and execution, ensuring prompt and clear decision-making and communication on port omissions, inducements, delays, deviations, and other operational exceptions.
Partner with Head Office Liner Operations on vessel call planning, schedule integrity, and network adjustments to minimize delays.
Align actions with commercial and operational stakeholders to maintain service integrity.
Support HQ Procurement:
Assist HQ Procurement in terminal tenders, vendor selection, and performance management, providing regional operational insights to ensure outcomes are both commercially viable and operationally suitable.
Lead vendor performance management and support procurement activities (renewals, negotiations, benchmarking) for marine/terminal/3PF partners.
Ensure operational reporting and team development:
Own the delivery of OPPC related KPIs across agencies/branches, using disciplined monitoring, performance reviews, and timely corrective actions.
Provide functional leadership and operational oversight to country agencies to ensure consistent execution, timely system updates, and compliance with operating standards.
Lead, coach, and develop regional teams and supervisors to ensure consistent governance and high service quality across all operations.
MUST HAVE:
- Master Mariner with at least 10 years’ shore-based experience in transportation/logistics, specifically in container liner shipping and commercial operations; or
- Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in Shipping, Logistics, Supply Chain Management or an MBA (General Management), with at least 15 years’ experience in senior operations leadership within container liner shipping and commercial operations.
- Strong working knowledge of liner operations; broader logistics/supply chain exposure is an advantage
- Excellent written and spoken English; French proficiency is an advantage.
- Strong analytical and communication skills; comfortable using Excel/PowerPoint and presenting operational insights to senior management (Power BI/Tableau exposure is a plus)
- Ability to maintain high-level stakeholder engagement with terminals, marine vendors, and related partners.
- Must demonstrate experience in influencing and working cross functionally and in a matrix group with HQ.
- Strong leadership capabiliities with the ability to coach and develop teams across multiple geographies and drive cross-functional initiatives.
WE VALUE:
- Strategic and tactical leadership including process improvement, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
- Data-driven mindset with strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
- Cost control management experience.
- Exceptional stakeholder management skills across internal and external partners within the operations ecosystem.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills; ability to convey complex information clearly and concisely.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities effectively.
- Willingness and ability to travel internationally 20–40% of the time.
Why Join Us:
- Be part of a leading global carrier with a strong focus on sustainability and innovation.
- Work in a dynamic and collaborative environment.
- Opportunities for professional growth and development.
Application Process:
To apply for this exciting opportunity, please submit your resume outlining your qualifications and experience on PIL Career Website.
Eligibility to Apply:
This position is open to both Ghanaian and foreign nationals however for those who do not have the legal right to live and work in Ghana, any offers will be dependent on obtaining a work permit approval.
About Us
Incorporated in 1967, Pacific International Lines (PIL) is ranked 12th among the world’s top container shipping lines and is also the largest home-grown carrier in Southeast Asia. Based in Singapore, PIL is a global carrier with a focus on Asia, China, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, Oceania, and the Pacific Islands.
Together with its affiliated companies Mariana Express Lines (MELL) and Malaysia Shipping Corporation, PIL serves customers at over 500 locations in more than 90 countries worldwide with a fleet of 100 container and multi-purpose vessels.
Apart from the core liner shipping business, PIL also has several other business units such as container manufacturing, depot, and logistics services.
PIL strives to meet the needs of its customers by providing value-adding services such as intermodal, breakbulk, and reefer services delivered on innovative technological platforms. With its focus on “Driving Connectivity” and commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050, PIL aims to be an efficient, sustainable, and future-ready shipping line.
For more information, visit www.pilship.com
Pacific International Lines (PIL) is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.