Continuous Improvement and Operations Coordinator

The new Multipurpose Terminal in the Port of Trieste for Container, RoRo, General Cargo and Project Cargo. The terminal, located in the heart of the Adriatic, is to accommodate growing demand and to become the future interchange platform between sea and rail on the intersection of Baltic, Adriatic and Mediterranean railway.

Operations Director

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The Operations Director leads all operational activities of the terminal, ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective execution of Container, Ro-Ro, and General Cargo operations. The role acts as a key enabler of HHLA PLT’s strategic development, driving operational excellence, and cross-functional alignment while securing compliance with all legal, regulatory, and corporate governance requirements. The Operations Director ensures readiness of the terminal for current and future capacity demands, including expansions, new services, and infrastructure development.

Provide overall direction for day-to-day and strategic operations, ensuring full alignment with HHLA International standards and HHLA PLT development roadmap.

Lead, coach, and develop the operations team, reinforcing accountability, professional growth, and a high-performance culture.

Ensure continuous alignment between Planning, Execution, Engineering, IT, HSEQ, and Commercial functions to guarantee seamless operations.

Safety, Security & Compliance (expanded)

Ensure compliance with all applicable regulations and standards related to safety, security, environment, and health, including implementation of safety culture initiatives.

Oversee incident and near-miss investigation processes, ensuring timely corrective actions and embedding lessons learned across operations.

Guarantee enforcement of access control rules, traffic flow policies, and safe equipment handling procedures.

Drive process optimization initiatives leveraging Lean, digitalization, automation, and data-driven decision-making.

Monitor service quality delivered to shipping lines, trucking companies, rail operators, and logistic partners, ensuring service level achievement and proactive performance communication.

Planning & Coordination

Supervise the operational planning of vessels, yard, rail, and gate activities, ensuring optimal resource allocation and maximizing terminal productivity.

Digital Transformation & Systems

Actively collaborate on the implementation, improvement, and adoption of information systems supporting operations (TOS, PCS, OCR, Rail systems, dashboards).

Support integration of data analytics and performance dashboards for real-time operational monitoring.

Strategic Projects & Expansion

Manage the company’s strategic operational projects with focus on capacity increase, process redesign, and infrastructure expansion.

Collaborate with Finance & Control to define operational budget targets, monitor performance gaps, and implement corrective actions.

Contribute to cost optimization initiatives without compromising safety or service quality.

Human Resources & Industrial Relations

Cooperate with HR on workforce planning, talent acquisition, performance evaluation, and competency development.

Play an active role in managing industrial relations, ensuring constructive engagement with workers' representatives and unions.

Customer & Stakeholder Management

Support Commercial in customer communication, claims handling, operational feasibility checks, and service development.

Engage directly with customers when necessary to ensure transparency, issue resolution, and continuous improvement.

Safety KPIs (LTIFR / Near-miss reporting ratio / Compliance with safety procedures)

7+ years of experience in operations management in a port terminal or comparable complex logistics environment.

• Experience working with unions and industrial relations (highly desirable).
• Experience in digital transformation or TOS implementation is a plus.

Strong understanding of capacity planning, vessel planning, yard strategy, and rail/gate operations.

Knowledge of TOS, OCR, PCS systems and digital platforms supporting terminal operations.

Ability to analyze operational data and derive actionable insights.

Commitment to safety, integrity, and continuous improvement. Planning and organization

Language Requirements

Fluent spoken and written Italian

Fluent spoken and written English

If you would like to shape the future of HHLA PLT Italy together with us, we look forward to receiving your application - preferably online using our application form.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates’ data will be treated in accordance with General Data Protection Regulation 679/2016 (GDPR).

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