Senior Transformation Lead

APM Terminals; Den Haag; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

APM Terminals in the Netherlands is seeking a Senior Transformation Lead to drive strategic change across silos and deliver measurable outcomes. You will work with executives to orchestrate delivery, remove barriers, and ensure adoption while aligning business, IT/OT, and operations for rapid value realization.

The role emphasizes governance, resourcing, and accountability, with a mandate to shape transformation programs that accelerate performance and sustain improvements across the

Qualifications

• We are looking for a senior leader with a track record of delivering strategic change across large organizations.
• Experience collaborating with senior executives and operations teams in regulated or asset-heavy environments is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Drive strategic transformation projects across silos with a focus on outcomes.
• Translate strategic intent into clear milestones, decisions, and ownership.
• Ensure realistic scope, timelines, resourcing, and funding with transparent reporting.
• Maintain focus on adoption, governance, and measurable impact.
• Coordinate cross-functional delivery across business, IT/OT, BPM, finance, and operations.
• Lead change leadership and ensure enterprise-wide adoption across functions.
• Escalate unresolved blockers to executive management with clear options.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Change management

Executive communication

Lean / continuous improvement

Stakeholder management

Project governance

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or Engineering

Master’s degree in Strategy or Transformation

Tools

MS Office

PMO tooling

Job description

APM Terminals APM Terminals is part of Maersk, an integrated transport and logistics company and a global leader in container shipping and ports. The Maersk group employs around 100,000 employees across operations in 130 countries. We actively promote the growth of the communities around us, allowing local economies to flourish. APM Terminals operates one of the world's most comprehensive port networks. We’re uniquely positioned to help both shipping line and landside customers grow their business. At APMT Terminals, we foster a dynamic learning and training culture that empowers our employees to excel. Our commitment to improvement is driven by Lean principles, ensuring that every team member has the opportunity to develop their skills and advance their careers. Experience a diverse, multinational workplace where your operational insights directly influence how we work. At APM Terminals, a global leader in port and terminal operations, we enable global trade and drive sustainable growth. As part of the A.P. Moller - Maersk Group, we connect economies and communities worldwide. Our success is driven by a strong commitment to LEAN methodologies, embedding continuous improvement into every aspect of our operations. Join us and be part of a team that values excellence, collaboration, and innovation. We foster a dynamic learning and training culture that empowers our employees to excel. Our commitment to continuous improvement is driven by LEAN principles, ensuring that every team member can develop their skills and advance their careers. Join us to be part of an innovative environment where your growth is our priority and experience the numerous advantages of being a valued member of our team. For APM Terminals to succeed in the new global reality, we need to think, act and do things differently than we have before. We need to transform how we work; continue to develop our skillsets, processes and behaviours; and ensure every heart and brain is in the game and with us on this journey.

The APM Terminals Transformation Office has been established to enable strategy execution across the company. The Senior Transformation Lead ensures making strategic change happen – across silos, with quality, at speed. The Senior Transformation Lead is accountable for driving strategic projects to successful outcomes, ensuring that change is executed, adopted, and embedded across the organization. The role acts on behalf of executive leadership and supports the Business Owner to orchestrate delivery, remove barriers, and enforce accountability across business, technology, and operations – without permanently owning line responsibilities. This is a temporary, mandate-based role focused on outcomes, not operational performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Execution & Outcome Delivery Lead execution of one or more strategic transformation projects Translate strategic intent into clear outcomes, milestones, and decisions Ensure scope, timelines, resourcing, and funding are realistic and actively managed Maintain focus on outcomes and adoption, not activity
• Governance, Escalation & Decision Discipline Drive momentum and decision-making across complex, cross-functional landscapes Ensure decisions are made at the right level, at the right time Escalate unresolved blockers to executive leadership with clear options and consequences Maintain transparency on progress, risks, and trade-offs
• Cross-functional Collaboration Coordinate execution across: Business Owners IT / OT BPM Finance Operations / Change Receiving Organisation (CRO) Resolve dependencies and conflicts that cannot be solved locally Act as the single point of execution accountability for the initiative
• Change Leadership & Adoption Drive enterprise-wide change coordination across functions Ensure the Change Receiving Organization (CRO) is engaged, prepared, and accountable Challenge leaders on behaviours, role-modelling, and commitment Ensure change impacts are understood and actively managed Prevent a “central delivery, local resistance” failure mode
• Decision Rights & Authority Request decisions and commitments from senior stakeholders Escalate unresolved issues directly to Executive Management / CEO (via Transformation Office leadership) Recommend initiative re-shaping, pausing, or stopping

What This Role Is Not

Does not own line management Does not own benefits Does not replace Business Owners

Critical Qualifications

We are looking for:

• 10–15+ years leading complex, cross-functional transformations
• Proven track record delivering strategic change, not just projects
• Experience working with: Senior executives Business and operations Technology-led change Large-scale organizational impact
• Experience in regulated or asset-heavy environments is an advantage

Additional Qualifications

• Strong executive-level communication and presence
• Comfortable operating on a mandate rather than through formal line authority
• Resilient, pragmatic, and outcome-focused mindset
• Skilled at resolving conflict and driving alignment across silos, at pace
• Credibility with senior stakeholders, up to executive management/CEO level
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Engineering, Information Systems, Economics, or a related field
• Master’s degree (e.g. MSc, MBA, MPA) is an advantage, particularly with a focus on strategy, transformation, or organizational change

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 your website, apply for a position, or to perform a job, please contact us by emailing [e-mail].

At APM Terminals, we are a team of over 20,000 employees spread across more than 60 countries united by a passion to provide our expertise in port operations and container management services. By providing the expertise and port infrastructure essential to world trade, we actively support the advancement of the societies around us, enabling local economies to unlock their potential and build an even stronger global community. Working with a team of talented professionals you will get a chance to experience different cultures and make friends all over the world. You’ll find a culturally diverse, stimulating environment at any of our offices, terminals or depots. When you join APM Terminals, the world is your workplace.

APM Terminals is an independent business unit within the Danish Maersk Group – a Global Fortune 500 company with about 89,000 employees and offices in 130 countries with global growth opportunities in a range of fields from shipping and energy to our offshore and manufacturing industries - Join us to achieve even your most ambitious career goals!