HSSE Assistant Manager

APM Terminals; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

APM Terminals Elizabeth is seeking a senior HSSE professional to lead safety performance at a major port terminal. You will drive regulatory compliance, risk management, and continuous improvement in daily operations.

You will coach leaders, develop teams, and collaborate with stakeholders to strengthen safety culture while meeting company HSSE standards. A TWIC and Port Access Card are preferred where required.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3–5 years of senior-level health and safety experience.
• Experience leading and developing teams; influence without authority.
• Strong HSSE management and regulatory compliance expertise.
• IOSH membership or chartered status preferred.
• Excellent coaching and stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain HSSE programs.
• Embed HSSE priorities into planning and resources.
• Coach and develop managers to strengthen safety leadership.
• Lead risk assessments, incident investigations, root cause analysis.
• Ensure contractor compliance with HSSE standards.

Skills

Continuous improvement

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Coaching

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Health and Safety

IOSH membership

Tools

HSSE management systems

Regulatory compliance tools

Job description

APM Terminals Step into the engine room of global commerce.

At APM Terminals Elizabeth, you’ll be at the center of one of the busiest port complexes in North America. Every container you touch keeps freight moving through the Port of New York C New Jersey, supporting critical supply chains across the East Coast and beyond. This is a place where speed, scale, and precision come together. You’ll collaborate with high-performing teams in a fast-paced, high-volume environment where safety and operational excellence are the top priorities. Here, your impact is immediate—and global.

Why you’ll love it here

• Be part of a major gateway on the U.S. East Coast
• Experience high-volume, complex terminal operations
• Work with driven teams in a fast-moving environment
• Continuous improvement mindset – where curiosity is encouraged, root-cause problem solving is valued, and making things better every day is part of how we win

At APM Terminals, a global leader in port and terminal operations, we enable global trade and drive sustainable growth. What drives us forward is a mindset of always improving — observing how work happens, identifying what creates value, and removing what gets in the way. We constantly look for smarter, simpler, and safer ways of operating. If you thrive in environments where people value learning and are committed to continuously improve daily operations, join us and be a part of our journey.

What We Can Offer

At APM Terminals, we foster a dynamic learning and training culture that empowers our employees to excel. Our commitment to improvement means every team member has the opportunity to develop their skills and advance their careers by continuously refining how we work. Experience a diverse, multinational workplace where your operational insights directly influence how we work. Play a strategic role influencing HSSE performance across a major port and terminal operation. Work closely with leaders, operational teams, contractors, regulators, and union stakeholders to drive a strong safety culture. Gain opportunities to lead training, coaching, mentoring, and continuous improvement initiatives. Contribute to corporate HSSE projects while helping embed best-practice management systems and operational excellence.

HSSE Business Partner of Safety

At APM Terminals Elizabeth, safety is fundamental to how we operate. As the HSSE Business Partner of Safety, you will act as a trusted advisor and internal consultant, partnering with leaders and teams to strengthen Health, Safety, Security, and Environment performance across the terminal. You will help embed the HSSE Operating System, influence safe decision-making, and support the development of a proactive safety culture that protects people, ensures regulatory compliance, and drives continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the development, implementation, and maintenance of regulatory-compliant HSSE programs, strategies, policies, procedures, and emergency plans.
• Partner with leaders and cross-functional stakeholders to embed HSSE priorities into operational planning, resource allocation, and business decision-making.
• Coach managers, supervisors, and employees to strengthen safety leadership capabilities and promote best practices across the organization.
• Lead and support risk identification, risk assessments, incident investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action implementation.
• Monitor contractor, vendor, and supplier compliance with applicable legislation and APM Terminals HSSE standards.
• Support the delivery of HSSE training, competency development, coaching, mentoring, and capability-building initiatives.
• Drive continuous improvement by identifying operational risks, strengthening controls, monitoring performance, and supporting HSSE management systems.

What We Are Looking For

Continuous improvement mindset: we are looking for someone who brings a thoughtful improvement mindset—curious about how work gets done and motivated to make meaningful, sustainable improvements over time. Leadership expectation: We are looking for people who consistently put customers first, lead by example with respect for people, deliver results with integrity, and drive continuous improvement by solving problems at the root, developing people, and raising standards every day.

Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Geology, or a related discipline; advanced HSSE qualifications are preferred.

Minimum 3–5 years of senior-level health and safety experience with a proven track record of delivering business objectives. Experience leading and developing teams, while effectively influencing stakeholders without direct authority.

Strong expertise in HSSE management systems, regulatory compliance, risk management, incident investigation, and corrective action processes. Professional membership with IOSH or a related institution, with chartered status achieved or in progress preferred.

Excellent coaching, communication, relationship-building, and stakeholder engagement skills across operational and leadership levels. Ability to obtain and maintain a TWIC card and Port Access Card.

Salary: $90K - $120K

Location: Elizabeth, NJ

Notice to applicants applying to positions in the United States Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.

APM Terminals is committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities who are applying for positions in the U.S. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

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.

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!