Chief Operating Officer

Alcott Global is working with a leading global ports and terminals organisation to search for a Chief Operating Officer, based in the Middle East.

Role Purpose

The Chief Operating Officer will lead the end-to-end operational performance of a strategically important gateway container terminal. Reporting to the CEO / Managing Director and forming part of the senior management team, the role will have responsibility for driving safe, reliable and efficient terminal operations while leading a large frontline workforce and managing a complex stakeholder environment. The position requires a hands-on operations leader who can combine operational excellence with strong people leadership, sound judgement and the ability to operate effectively within a culturally nuanced environment.

Key Responsibilities

1. Terminal Operations & Performance

• Lead the overall operational performance of the terminal, ensuring high standards across safety, service, productivity, quality and cost.

• Drive operational efficiency, reliability and continuous improvement across terminal activities.

• Ensure the terminal is able to respond effectively to changing volumes, customer requirements and operational priorities.

• Champion a strong continuous improvement mindset, leveraging Lean and operational excellence principles where relevant.

2. Frontline Leadership & Employee Relations

• Provide visible and hands-on leadership to a large frontline workforce.

• Build strong engagement across operational teams and reinforce a culture of safety, accountability and performance.

• Manage complex labour and employee relations, including engagement with unions / collective bargaining arrangements.

• Build trusted relationships while maintaining appropriate independence, fairness and sound judgement within a closely connected local environment.

3. Stakeholder & External Relations

• Build effective relationships with government authorities, port stakeholders, customers and other external partners.

• Navigate the requirements of a gateway terminal with significant national and stakeholder visibility.

• Work closely with senior leadership and other functions to ensure operational priorities are aligned with the wider business.

4. Operational Transformation & Digitisation

• Identify opportunities to improve processes, productivity and overall terminal performance.

• Support the continued integration of technology, digitisation and IT-enabled solutions into terminal operations.

• Drive sustainable operational improvements and build organisational capability for the future.

Desired Candidate Profile 

• Senior operations leader with significant experience in ports and terminals, ideally within container terminal / gateway operations.

• Strong track record leading complex, high-volume operations and large frontline workforces.

• Fluent Arabic and English language capability is essential, given the level of interaction with employees, authorities and local stakeholders. 

• Proven experience managing complex labour relations, unions and/or collective bargaining environments. 

• Strong stakeholder-management skills, with experience engaging government authorities and other external stakeholders.

• Exposure to continuous improvement / Lean / operational excellence, with a strong performance-improvement mindset. 

• Good understanding of technology and digitisation within an operational environment. 

• Culturally agile, resilient and comfortable operating in a highly relationship-driven environment.

• Strategic yet hands-on, with strong judgement and the ability to lead effectively in a demanding, high-visibility operation.

• Willingness to relocate to the Middle East is required.