Director Process Excellence

Hapag-Lloyd AG; Dubai; Hybrid; AED 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work setup

Travel opportunities

Job summary

Hapag-Lloyd AG in Dubai seeks a Director Regional Process Excellence to lead cross-functional strategic initiatives across the region, coordinating with HQ, QSC, GCC, and Global Competence Center to harmonize processes.

You will own the PEX framework, manage the RPX portfolio and major rollouts such as SAP S/4HANA, drive data-informed improvements, and mentor a high-performing team in a hybrid work setup with occasional travel.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in operations, business analysis, or project management with process excellence focus.
• Strong understanding of process management and improvement methodologies (Six Sigma, bundling, offshoring).
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management across organizational levels.

Responsibilities

• Lead RPX Process and Product teams regionally to align with global objectives.
• Own the PEX framework and regional process landscape.
• Develop and implement a regional RPX strategy addressing local needs.
• Steer the regional initiative pipeline including automation projects.
• Coordinate cross-functional initiatives across GQ-PEX, product owners, and regional functions.
• Oversee RPX product portfolio and major rollouts (e.g., SAP S/4HANA).
• Drive end-to-end process harmonization for efficiency and scalability.
• Plan and execute high-visibility projects with milestones and governance.
• Prepare performance reports and strategic recommendations for leadership.
• Extract insights from Salesforce Analytics, QlikView, and Compass to drive opportunities.
• Lead and mentor a high-performing team in a hybrid travel-friendly setup.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Process improvement

Data analysis

Project management

Communication

Team leadership

Education

Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt

PMP Certification

ITIL Certification

Tools

QlikSense

QlikView

Celonis

ARIS BPMN 2.0

RPA

Alteryx

SAP S/4HANA

Oracle

Job description

Role Overview The Director Regional Process Excellence is responsible for leading the planning, execution, and governance of high-impact, cross‑functional strategic initiatives. Acting as a central coordination point, the Director ensures effective collaboration between headquarters, regional functional teams, Quality Service Center and Global competence Center. This role plays a key part in driving process harmonization, enforcing process improvements, project delivery, and enabling consistent, value‑driven delivery across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Lead the RPX Process and Product teams across [Region], ensuring alignment with global objectives, regional priorities, and governance standards while driving strategic execution of key initiatives.
• Process Excellence Ownership: Own the PEX framework and mindset in the region, overseeing process landscape management, project and performance methodologies, and fostering a culture of continuous process improvement.
• Regional Process Excellence Strategy: Develop and implement a regional Process Excellence strategy that aligns with global directives while addressing local business needs, optimizing efficiency and scalability.
• Portfolio & Initiative Management: Steer the regional RPX initiative pipeline, including process optimization, product‑related topics, automation projects, and offshoring opportunities, ensuring prioritization and successful delivery.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Lead, coordinate, and represent cross‑functional process initiatives at both regional and global levels, acting as the key liaison between GQ‑PEX, product owners, regional functions, and other stakeholders.
• Product Leadership & Governance: Oversee the RPX product portfolio, manage resource allocation, major rollouts (e.g., FIS3, SAP S/4Hana), and provide operational support while ensuring adoption, compliance, and product quality.
• Process Harmonization & Optimization: Drive alignment of end‑to‑end processes to enhance efficiency, scalability, and customer‑centric outcomes while managing strategic interventions to meet business objectives.
• Project Planning & Execution: Lead high‑visibility projects, ensuring delivery on time, within scope and budget; develop integrated project plans, track milestones, and coordinate gap analysis and process mapping.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Reporting: Collaborate with senior stakeholders across regional management, QSC, GCC, and satellite teams; prepare and present performance reports, updates, and strategic recommendations.
• Standards, Quality & Methodology: Define and implement project management and governance standards, conduct regular audits, and establish feedback loops to ensure continuous improvement and adherence to best practices.
• Business Analysis & Insight Generation: Extract, analyze, and interpret data from platforms such as Salesforce Analytics, QlikView, and Compass to drive actionable insights, monitor trends, and identify opportunities for innovation.
• Team Leadership & Development: Build and mentor a high‑performing team, fostering a culture of collaboration, customer focus, problem‑solving, and continuous learning; provide coaching, feedback, and growth opportunities.

Requirements & Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in operations, commercial, business analysis, project/product management, with a proven track record in Process Excellence, including improvement, transformation, and performance management
• Mandatory understanding of process management principles and improvement methodologies (e.g., Six Sigma lifecycle, bundling, offshoring)
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage across all organizational levels and build global networks and collaborations
• Strong presentation skills, able to synthesize complex information into clear storylines and present confidently to senior management
• Proven experience in leading and motivating project teams to drive change and achieve regional goals, while managing multiple projects and balancing competing priorities
• Knowledge & proficiency with process improvement tools and technologies, including: Data analytics & visualization (e.g., QlikSense) / Process mining (e.g., Celonis) / Process mapping (e.g., ARIS, BPMN 2.0) / Process automation (e.g., RPA, Alteryx, Macros)
• Knowledge of product governance, rollouts, and operational support for systems such as SAP S/4HANA, Oracle, FIS3, ODM; HL system experience and maritime/shipping/terminal industry knowledge are a plus
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Teams, PowerPoint, and Excel
• Fluent in English (spoken and written)
• Willingness to travel occasionally; hybrid work setup available

Licenses / Certifications

• Lean Six Sigma Green or Black belt
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• ITIL certification (IT Service Management)