Regional Head of Standardization & Ops Excellence IMEA

Role Overview

Regional Head of Standardization & Operations Excellence IMEA at Maersk. This senior regional role is responsible for shaping, driving, and embedding a consistent, measurable approach to continuous improvement across multiple facilities and product families.

Role Purpose

Ensure continuous improvement is delivered through a single, rigorous framework that produces provable, measurable outcomes and scalable standardization across sites. This leader represents IMEA in regional and global forums, translates global initiatives into locally feasible programs, equips on-site industrial engineering teams with the right tools and skills, and delivers large-scale process improvements through standardization and technology.

Key Responsibilities

Regional and Global Representation

• Represent IMEA in regional and global conversations on operations excellence initiatives.
• Advocate for local needs and operational nuances when new operations excellence initiatives are designed and approved.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Work with area, regional, and global stakeholders to review, refine, and adapt rollouts so initiatives are fit for purpose and feasible for local facilities.
• Lead change management efforts to secure buy-in, measure adoption, and remove barriers to sustained improvement.

Capability Building

• Design and deliver tools, training, and coaching to equip on-site industrial engineers with the methods and skill sets needed to execute continuous improvement effectively.
• Build capability through training, mentoring, and hands-on support.

Standard Framework and Governance

• Define, maintain, and enforce a standard continuous improvement framework that requires a clear problem statement, root-cause analysis, hypothesis testing, and measurable success criteria.
• Ensure industrial engineers and local teams apply the agreed standards; run audits, reviews, and governance checkpoints to maintain consistency and quality.

Standardization Implementation

• Partner with local operations to implement and sustain standardized processes, work instructions, and performance metrics across sites.

Technology and Process Improvement

• Identify and prioritize opportunities for large-scale process improvements leveraging automation and technology, including AI, robotics, and digital analytics.
• Evaluate and pilot automation and AI solutions that scale.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Mechanical Engineering, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent.
• Experience with continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Kaizen, DMAIC).
• Familiarity with automation, AI use cases, and digital transformation in operations.
• Proven track record influencing regional and global stakeholders and translating strategy into operational plans.

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic thinking: translate global strategy into practical, locally feasible initiatives.
• Coaching and development: build capability through training, mentoring, and hands-on support.
• Analytical rigor: use data to define problems, test hypotheses, and prove impact.
• Change leadership: drive adoption through clear communication, stakeholder engagement, and measurable milestones.
• Technical curiosity: evaluate and pilot automation and AI solutions that scale.
• Collaboration: work effectively across functions — operations, engineering, IT, HR, and procurement.
• Strong communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively across multiple functions.

Additional Information

• Willingness to travel regularly across the region.
• Success metrics include: number of continuous improvement projects completed to standard per quarter; percentage meeting defined success criteria; percentage of sites with implemented standard processes and documented work instructions; aggregate cost savings, throughput improvements, and quality gains attributable to continuous improvement and automation initiatives; training hours delivered; percentage of industrial engineers certified in the standard framework; audit scores for continuous improvement framework adherence; rate of sustained improvements at 3- and 6-month checkpoints; number of automation and AI pilots initiated and scaled.
• Maersk is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an equal opportunities employer. Maersk 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.
• Maersk will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with all legal requirements.
• Special accommodations for the application and hiring process are available; contact accommodationrequests@maersk.com.