Chief of Staff (APL)

CMA; Virginia; On-site; USD 96,000 - 122,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-based bonuses

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Tuition repayment

Paid time off

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

American President Lines (APL), part of the CMA CGM Group, seeks a Chief of Staff to support the head of APL, LLC in aligning operations with strategy. The role involves KPI reporting, budgeting, and leading cross‑functional projects across the US and Marseille.

You will collaborate with senior leadership to drive performance, analytics, and governance, ensuring timely, high‑quality decision support.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business management, finance, or MIS.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 5–10 years of general experience in commercial or operations.

Responsibilities

• Support head of APL, LLC in prioritizing goals and time management.
• Assist with commercial and governmental strategy to meet revenue targets.
• Develop relationships across US and Marseille to align objectives.
• Build market intelligence and monitor opportunities and threats.
• Prepare and report KPIs from all departments to the head of APL, LLC.
• Develop budgets for costs and staffing; analyze variances with finance and HR.
• Create corporate presentations and market studies with required teams.
• Ensure tracking of strategic projects and assign tasks to leaders.

Skills

Office 365

PowerPoint

Project management

Data analytics

Excel advanced

Budgeting

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business management, finance, MIS

Master’s degree

Tools

Power BI

Statistics software

CRM systems

Job description

Chief of Staff (APL)

Req ID: 594535 Posting Start Date: 05/11/2026 Arlington, USA General Management Permanent contract Full Time

American President Lines (APL), part of the CMA CGM Group, is the premier U.S.-flag carrier on the Transpacific proudly serving the American soldier and the U.S. Government for over 175 years. APL operates a network covering the United States, Asia, and the Middle East and provides global container transportation through our extensive international shipping network. With the combination of high-quality intermodal operations and advanced technology, equipment, and e-commerce, APL delivers world class logistics solutions. With proven knowledge and expertise, we help our customers navigate complexity and seize opportunities in the dynamic global marketplace.

As the U.S. maritime industry enters a new era of innovation and revitalization, APL is leading the way with bold investments designed to strengthen domestic capabilities and shape the future of American shipping.

Position Summary
The Chief of Staff (CoS) acts as the primary support and advisor to the head of APL, LLC and oversees ensuring that the operational efficiency, performance and programs of the North America’s organization are successfully aligned with the strategic direction set by the head of APL, LLC. The Chief of Staff (CoS), by working closely with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), will support all activities that will allow the management team to successfully identify business needs, develop tactical action plans, measure, and track results in line with the corporate strategy. On occasion, the Chief of Staff (CoS) may be assigned to support and/or run special projects related to, but not limited to, risks & process control, data analytics, market studies and any other strategic related projects that are in the top management agenda.

Functions & Duties

• Supports the head of APL, LLC in prioritizing their agendas, short, medium, and long-term goals and by proposing ways to improve their time management.


• Assists with the creation and implementation of commercial and governmental strategies in order to meet and surpass revenue and volume targets.


• Develops close relationships with the management team both in the U.S. and in Marseille to successfully align objectives and outcomes on strategic subjects.


• Helps to build market intelligence and is actively monitoring both internal and external sources of information for opportunities and threats.


• Build, collect, report and track key management KPIs from all departments to the head of APL, LLC on a regular basis. Develops and maintains reporting procedures and governance around KPIs.


• Prepares and distributes reports related to functions and project activities


• Works with head of APL LLC in developing budgets for costs, staffing levels and works with finance and HR in analyzing variances to budgeted numbers and headcount.


• Develops corporate presentations and market studies working closely with all APL departments as well as CCA and HO team members as required.


• Ensures that all key strategic projects that the head of APL, LLC needs to track are correctly collected, tracked, and achieved by the various leaders reporting to the head of APL, LLC.


• Supports APL management meetings as well as meetings with senior management staff by developing high-quality management presentations, managing notes and reports portfolio, successfully organizing calendars and key dates and transmitting agreed tasks to all relevant parties


• Performs tasks as required by APL senior management within the specified timeframe and meeting all quality standards.


• Prepares basic reporting, follow up and correspondence for the CCA/APL government affairs lead.


• Assists with specific tasks for head of APL Maritime (AML/AMS/Osprey) as requested.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Excellent proficiency in all software of Microsoft Office 365.


• Outstanding written and verbal communication and presentation skills (advanced PowerPoint skills needed).


• Understanding of program and project management principles and practices.


• Strong analytical and synthesis skills, including ability to absorb and process large amounts of data into actionable information.


• Comfortable with numbers and data analytics principles & tools including data management, statistics models, data visualization.


• Advanced Excel proficiency skills including use of formulas and functions to perform calculations on data.


• Understand basic organizational and market research concepts


• International and multi-cultural experience is a plus.

Qualifications

Required Bachelor’s Degree Business management, finance, management information systems

Preferred Master’s Degree

Work Experience

General Experience 5-10 years Previous management role in commercial or operations.

Industry Experience 3-5 years Shipping, Logistics, or similar industry.

General Experience 3-5 years Transformation, change management and/or project management experience

License

Preferred PMP, Six Sigma Certification or any other similar certification

At American President Lines, we are committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The expected salary range for this position is $95,922 - $122,284 per year. The actual salary offered will be based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s qualifications, skills, experience, and location.

Benefits

• Performance-based bonuses


• Comprehensive benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, tuition repayment and paid time off


• Professional development opportunities

We believe in transparency and equity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply.

The Company is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. Discrimination or harassment based upon any protected characteristics as defined by state or federal law is wholly inconsistent with our company values and will not be tolerated. Alternative application methods are available for individuals who are unable to use or access our online application system. For assistance, please contact us at [e-mail].

Information at a Glance

Rise in motion with CMA CGM Group: where ambition meets opportunity.

Join a global team of nearly 200 nationalities, shaping the future of global trade, moving essential goods, forging newpaths, and pushing boundaries to serve an ever-changing world.

The pace is fast, the challenges are real, but the rewards are greater: growth, purpose, and thechance to make a meaningful impact. Thisis more than a job. It’s a journey on which you rise.

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