Maritime Operations Leader: Ports & Vessel Coordination

CORE Group; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

CORE Group is seeking an Operations Manager for Marine & Port Operations in Houston, TX. The role leads the operations team, coordinating with vessel masters, terminals, stevedores, and service providers to ensure safe, efficient vessel calls across North and Central America.

The ideal candidate has extensive maritime leadership experience, strong operational judgment, and the ability to manage complex port activities while maintaining commercial relationships.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of management experience in marine shipping or port operations.
• 10 years of experience in marine shipping, terminal/port operations, or shipboard operations.
• Bachelor’s degree required; strong leadership and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to coordinate multiple vessel calls and travel to vessels/ports as needed.
• Valid TWIC and US citizenship are required.

Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate vessel schedules, port calls, and operational activities.
• Appoint terminals and subagents for port calls with clear instructions.
• Provide voyage and port operation instructions to vessel masters.
• Coordinate with shipowners, terminals, and service providers to meet requirements.
• Review PDAs and approve or dispute vendor invoices with the Accounting Manager.
• Lead daily operations team activities and monitor KPIs.
• Develop improvements to processes, service quality, and cost efficiency.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Organizational skills

Decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

TWIC Credential

Job description

CORE Group is seeking an Operations Manager for Marine & Port Operations in Houston, TX. The role leads the operations team, coordinating with vessel masters, terminals, stevedores, and service providers to ensure safe, efficient vessel calls across North and Central America.

The ideal candidate has extensive maritime leadership experience, strong operational judgment, and the ability to manage complex port activities while maintaining commercial relationships.