Head of Digital Operations - APM Terminals

Maersk, through its APM Terminals network, is looking for a Head of Digital Operations to shape the digital backbone behind some of the world’s busiest ports. The role sits in The Hague, onsite, and is built for someone who can blend operations know-how with product leadership to drive measurable value at scale. This isn’t a traditional tech leadership post; it’s about turning ambiguous operational challenges into clear product opportunities and real business outcomes.

APM Terminals moves a huge share of global cargo through its terminal network, and the company is advancing its digital and operational transformation. The candidate they’re after will manage a global product organisation focused on terminal operating systems, planning and forecasting tools, execution products, and customer-facing operational solutions, with a team of around 50 people. If you enjoy working at the crossroads of operations, technology, analytics and senior leadership, this could be a strong fit.

The role demands a hands-on leader who can align diverse viewpoints, quantify the value of changes, and drive investments that improve how terminals operate across the network. The position is based in The Hague with five days a week onsite, and it involves global travel as required.

Steering digital operations across a global terminal network

You will own the strategy, performance, development and lifecycle management of the digital products that support terminal operations across APM Terminals. The job sits at the intersection of operations, product management, technology, analytics, suppliers and executive leadership, ensuring that digital investments address real operational problems and deliver measurable value across the network.

Leadership is key here, balancing long-term strategy with the realities of daily operations. The successful candidate will guide a delivery model where engineering resources aren’t directly owned, and they’ll shepherd collaboration across a global, matrix-driven organisation to keep everyone aligned on priorities and outcomes. A core part of the role is maintaining a clear line between operational needs and technical execution while driving adoption of best practice product management and delivery approaches.

What you’ll bring to the role

Introduction to the must-have capabilities

• Proven experience leading product management or digital transformation efforts in complex settings such as logistics, manufacturing, energy or related sectors
• Track record of running sizeable product teams, often numbering tens or more
• Demonstrated ability to spot operational problems, prioritise them by impact, and deliver measurable value through technology and process change
• Strong experience managing suppliers, negotiating contracts and setting commercial terms with vendors
• Comfort operating in multi-stakeholder environments and matrix structures
• Ability to influence outcomes across teams even when not owning every delivery resource
• Credible in executive discussions while staying grounded in operational details
• Sharp commercial and analytical mindset focused on outcomes and value realisation
• Ability to learn and navigate complex operational environments quickly

Nice-to-have

• Familiarity with terminal operating systems or terminal operations is advantageous but not required

Where you’ll operate from and what the role requires

The position is based in The Hague, Netherlands, with an expectation of five days a week onsite and global travel as needed. The role sits within a major Maersk business unit and offers the chance to shape how digital tools support terminal operations across a global network.

Advice for applicants

Your resume should foreground the biggest leadership and product-building wins that align with this role, especially instances where you steered a global product team and delivered measurable value from digital investments. Put those experiences up front and quantify impact wherever possible.

When you describe your must-have capabilities, back them with concrete examples: show how you identified an operational problem, framed the business value, and delivered outcomes through technology or process improvements. Highlight any supplier management or contracting wins, including how you governed vendor performance and commercial terms.

In interviews, be ready to talk through a scenario where you balanced a long-term product strategy with day-to-day operational realities in a matrix setting. Explain how you worked with a two-in-a-box model combining Product and Technology, and share how you drove adoption of product-management best practices across a global team.

Ask a practical question about how success is measured after implementing digital investments across terminals. For example, inquire how value realisation is tracked, how adoption is monitored, and what metrics signal that a digital initiative has moved from plan to real impact across the network.