Vessel Operations Specialist

CMA CGM; Fatih; On-site; TRY 450,000 - 650,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

40 hours per week

Birthday day off

Fruit Day

Happy hours

Yearly bonus

Transportation

Life insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

CMA CGM Group is hiring to lead the Global Business Support (GBS) Cargo Operations team in Istanbul. You will oversee daily cargo operations, coordinate vessel port calls, and act as the main liaison among shipping lines, vessel masters, terminals, and authorities. Strong leadership and problem-solving are essential.

The role requires managing priorities under pressure, driving process standardization, and delivering accurate operational reporting. A 40-hour work week, with benefits, is offered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Maritime Transportation, Shipping, International Trade, or related field.
• Experience in vessel or cargo operations, port agency, liner shipping, or terminal operations.
• Fluent English and strong stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Global Business Support Cargo Operations team for daily operational tasks.
• Coordinate vessel port calls from nomination to departure and ensure safe, compliant execution.
• Serve as primary contact between shipping lines, masters, terminals, port authorities, and internal stakeholders.
• Plan and monitor vessel and cargo operations including berth arrangements and call scheduling.
• Coach and develop team members while driving continuous improvement across operations.

Skills

Communication

Stakeholder management

Organizational skills

English fluency

MS Office

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Logistics/Maritime

Tools

Maritime systems

Job description

The CMA CGM Group is a global player in sea, land, air and logistics solutions, true to its corporate Purpose: We imagine better ways to serve a world in motion.

Present in 177 countries, it employs 160,000 people, including nearly 6,000 in Marseille, where its head office is located.

As the world’s third-largest shipping company, CMA CGM serves more than 420 ports across five continents with a fleet of over 700 vessels. In 2025, CMA CGM carried more than 24 million twenty-foot equivalent containers (TEUs). Its subsidiary, CEVA Logistics, one of the top five global players, operates 1,000 warehouses and handled 15 million shipments in 2025. The Group’s air division operates a fleet of cargo aircraft under the CMA CGM AIR CARGO and Air Belgium brands.

CMA Media, the third-largest private media group in France, brings together RMC-BFM and several national and regional press titles (La Tribune Dimanche, La Tribune, La Provence, and Corse Matin) as well as the social media platform Brut.

Committed to the energy transition, the CMA CGM Group aims for Net Zero Carbon by 2050.

The CMA CGM Foundation provides humanitarian aid in crisis situations and supports education and equal opportunities worldwide. To date, the Foundation has transported 120,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid to 106 countries and supported over 630 projects in France, Lebanon, and around the world.

Role & Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the Global Business Support (GBS) Cargo Operations team, ensuring efficient execution of daily operational tasks and operational excellence across cargo activities.


• Coordinate vessel port calls from nomination to departure, ensuring safe, compliant, and efficient execution of all operational activities.


• Serve as the primary point of contact between shipping lines, vessel masters, terminals, port authorities, harbor service providers, and internal stakeholders throughout the port call process.


• Coordinate and facilitate daily and weekly operational meetings, setting priorities, reviewing performance, and ensuring timely follow-up of action items.


• Plan, organize, and monitor vessel and cargo operations, including berth arrangements, call scheduling, port services, cargo execution, and operational follow-up.


• Act as the focal point for non-standard and complex cargo operations, providing guidance and leading cross-functional coordination to drive effective solutions.


• Coordinate cargo operations with terminals, vessel planners, cargo flow teams, and ship management to ensure optimal loading and discharge performance.


• Review and validate cargo documentation, including dangerous goods and special cargo requirements, ensuring compliance with local regulations and international maritime standards.


• Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders, regional teams, and external partners to ensure seamless operational execution and service delivery.


• Monitor vessel and terminal operations, proactively identifying operational risks, managing escalations, and implementing corrective and preventive actions.


• Drive process standardization, operational excellence, and continuous improvement initiatives across vessel and cargo operations.


• Provide timely and accurate operational reporting, including vessel schedules, cargo status, performance metrics, and significant operational events.


• Perform post-sailing activities, including cargo reconciliation, departure reporting, EDI transmissions, and operational performance analysis.


• Verify operational supplier invoices and support cost control processes to ensure accuracy and compliance with contractual agreements.


• Coach, develop, and motivate team members while fostering a collaborative, customer-focused, and high-performance culture.


• Conduct terminal visits, inspections, and authority-related follow-ups when required, contributing to operational performance reporting and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills & Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Maritime Transportation, Shipping, International Trade, Supply Chain, or a related field.


• Previous experience in vessel operations, cargo operations, port agency, liner shipping, or terminal operations.


• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.


• Strong organizational and time management capabilities.


• Knowledge of container shipping operations and cargo flow management.


• Familiarity with IMDG regulations and dangerous goods procedures.


• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities.


• Attention to detail and high level of accuracy.


• Risk identification and prevention mindset.


• Proficiency in MS Office and operational maritime systems.


• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities.


• Team-oriented, proactive, and customer-focused approach.


• Fluent in English, both written and spoken.

What we offer:

• Working in an agile, flexible, digital, and social culture


• Working 40 hours a week


• Birthday day off


• Fruit Day: every Wednesday


• Happy hours


• Yearly bonus


• Transportation


• Life insurance


• Employee Assistance Program

During the recruitment process, the personal data you provide in your CV is processed for purposes including contacting you, implementing human resources policies and procedures, managing candidate selection and placement processes, conducting reference checks, and ensuring security. For more detailed information about how your data is processed, please refer to our Employee Candidate Privacy Notice.

We have zero tolerance for inequality and are deeply committed to fostering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) at every level of our organization. As HR and business partners, we actively drive and support initiatives that build a more inclusive and equitable workplace for all.