Operational Excellence Lead in Liverpool

Operational Excellence Lead in Liverpool

Liverpool Full-Time 60000 - 80000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
APM Terminals

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead cross-functional initiatives to optimise business processes and drive transformation.
  • Company: Join Maersk, a leader in operational excellence and innovation.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, diverse workplace, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Embrace a culture of diversity and inclusion while advancing your career.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by driving efficiency and quality improvements across the organisation.
  • Qualifications: Bachelor's degree and experience in operational excellence or business transformation.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.

Overview

Senior Operational Excellence practitioner responsible for driving the maturity and consistency of the Maersk Way of Working (TMW) while leading complex cross‑functional business optimisation and transformation initiatives across the area.

Applies advanced Operational Excellence expertise to diagnose business challenges, shape practical improvement approaches, and deliver high‑value outcomes in line with direction set by Area Op Ex leadership.

Key Responsibilities

  • Maersk Way Support
  • Support area‑wide deployment and maturity of TMW, ensuring alignment to standards, methodologies, and behaviours.
  • Provide senior guidance on structured problem‑solving, diagnostics, and process improvement approaches including Lean, Kaizen, the TMW A3 problem‑solving approach, and root cause analysis.
  • Act as a train‑the‑trainer resource for TMW tools and methodologies, building practitioner capability and consistency of application across the area.
  • Apply methods to complex or ambiguous issues requiring deeper analysis, facilitation, and stakeholder alignment.
  • Serve as a trusted advisor on complex operational and transformation issues while supporting sustainment of Operational Excellence practices.
  • Business Optimisation & Implementation
  • Lead complex business optimisation initiatives aligned to area priorities and measurable improvement opportunities.
  • Take ownership for business framing, design guidance, implementation leadership, and value realisation on higher‑complexity cross‑functional transformation efforts.
  • Drive end‑to‑end process and operating model optimisation, including simplification, role clarity, control effectiveness, and scalability.
  • Provide senior problem‑solving support, challenge, and direction on initiatives requiring deeper expertise, judgement, and stakeholder management.
  • Work closely with initiative owners and business stakeholders to translate problems into practical solutions and implementation actions.
  • Partner with project and programme management support to enable effective implementation, governance, and benefit realisation.
  • Capability Building, Guidance & Change Leadership
  • Build Operational Excellence capability across the area by setting expectations for methods, quality, and practical application.
  • Coach practitioners, initiative leads, and business partners in problem solving, facilitation, initiative design, and change execution.
  • Serve as a train‑the‑trainer for TMW tools and methodologies, including the TMW A3 problem‑solving approach.
  • Facilitate senior workshops and alignment forums to strengthen sponsorship, ownership, and adoption of major transformation efforts.
  • Digitalisation, Innovation & Analytics (Enablement via Partnership)
  • Define and prioritise digitalisation, automation, and analytics opportunities linked to business problems and transformation goals.
  • Translate business needs into clear requirements and partner with Digitalisation, Automation, and Data teams on roadmap and implementation decisions.
  • Ensure digital‑enabled improvements are scalable, standardised, and embedded into day‑to‑day operations.
  • Stakeholder Interfaces

Area leadership and senior stakeholders across Operations, CX, SCM, Finance, Product, and Technology; Operational Excellence specialists, project and programme management support, and business initiative owners involved in transformation delivery; Digitalisation, Automation, and Data teams responsible for solution realisation and capability support; Cross‑functional governance bodies, transformation forums, and decision‑making groups used to align direction and implementation choices.

Qualifications & Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, Logistics, or related discipline; advanced qualifications are advantageous.
  • Significant experience in operational excellence, continuous improvement, business transformation, or related operational environments.
  • Strong track record in leading complex cross‑functional initiatives, building capability, and delivering measurable business impact.
  • Deep practical knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, the TMW A3 problem‑solving approach, Kaizen, DMAIC, root cause analysis, and value stream mapping, with experience influencing senior stakeholders in matrix environments.
  • Core Competencies
  • Advanced expertise in TMW, Operational Excellence methods, end‑to‑end process optimisation, and delivery of complex transformation initiatives.
  • Strong stakeholder influencing, facilitation, coaching, and train‑the‑trainer capability in complex cross‑functional environments.
  • Ability to translate direction into practical execution and sustainable business outcomes.
  • Strong coaching capability with focus on standardisation, consistency, and uplift of Operational Excellence practice.
  • Performance Measures
  • Maturity and consistency of TMW deployment across the area.
  • Delivery of business optimisation and transformation outcomes with measurable impact on efficiency, quality, and customer results.
  • Scalability and sustainability of solutions delivered across teams and functions.
  • Effectiveness of stakeholder alignment, initiative execution, and capability uplift across the area.
  • Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Maersk is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we embrace different styles of thinking.

Maersk is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants without regard to race, colour, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy or parental leave, veteran status, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with all legal requirements.

We are happy to support your need for any adjustments during the application and hiring process.

If you need special assistance or an accommodation to use our website, apply for a position, or to perform a job, please contact us by emailing accommodationrequests@maersk. com.

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Operational Excellence Lead in Liverpool employer: APM Terminals

Maersk is an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence, making it an ideal place for professionals looking to make a significant impact. With a strong commitment to employee development, you will have access to extensive training opportunities and the chance to lead transformative initiatives in a collaborative environment. Located in a dynamic industry, Maersk offers unique advantages such as a diverse workforce and a focus on innovation, ensuring that your contributions are valued and recognised.

APM Terminals

Contact Details:

APM Terminals Recruitment Team

We think you need these skills to ace Operational Excellence Lead in Liverpool

Operational Excellence
Lean
Kaizen
TMW A3 Problem-Solving Approach
Root Cause Analysis
Business Transformation
Stakeholder Management