Port Operations Senior Manager

A leading organisation in the maritime sector is seeking a Senior Manager for Port Operations Senior Manager to join their team at a major port facility in Greater Ho Chi Minh City.

This pivotal role offers you the opportunity to make a significant impact on site safety, operational reliability, and risk management within a high-hazard environment. You will be empowered to provide independent leadership, assurance, and coaching to prevent serious incidents, strengthen accountability, and enable smooth port operations. The organisation values your expertise in both English and Vietnamese communication, and offers an inclusive workplace where your knowledge of compliance, incident investigation, and operational risk will be highly regarded. Flexible working opportunities are available, along with generous training support to help you grow your career in a supportive network.

• Take ownership of site-based safety leadership at a prominent port facility in Greater Ho Chi Minh City, ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient operations across all marine interfaces.
• Enjoy access to ongoing training programmes that foster professional growth and development within a collaborative multinational environment.
• Leverage your extensive experience in maritime safety, operational risk management, and critical incident investigation to drive continuous improvement and strengthen management accountability throughout the organisation.

What you'll do:

As Port Operations Senior Manager based at the Greater Ho Chi Minh City port facility, you will play a central role in shaping the culture of safety across all aspects of port operations. Your day-to-day responsibilities will involve providing expert guidance on marine-interface risks while implementing robust operational risk governance frameworks. You will be entrusted with stop-work authority for activities posing imminent danger or uncontrolled risks—ensuring swift action whenever necessary. By mandating thorough documentation for non-routine tasks and independently verifying corrective actions post-incident or shutdowns, you will safeguard operational continuity. Your involvement in planning sessions for vessels, maintenance shutdowns, change-management processes, and capital projects will ensure that safety remains paramount during every phase of operation. Through collaboration with contractors, marine authorities, insurers, surveyors, OEMs, regulators—and by leveraging advanced audit tools—you will drive continuous improvement while maintaining compliance with local regulations. Success in this role requires proactive engagement with stakeholders at all levels; your ability to escalate risks promptly ensures that production pressures never compromise workplace safety.

• Serve as the principal adviser to the Management Team on port safety improvement initiatives, marine-interface risk mitigation strategies, critical equipment safety protocols, contractor control measures, and operational risk governance frameworks.
• Exercise stop-work authority for any activity presenting imminent danger or uncontrolled critical risk, ensuring immediate intervention when breaches of approved operating envelopes or absence of required permits or competencies are identified.
• Mandate documented method statements, comprehensive risk assessments, permits, and competent approvals before non-routine or safety-critical work proceeds within the port facility.
• Independently verify closure and effectiveness of corrective actions prior to recommending return to service or resumption of affected operations following incidents or shutdowns.
• Escalate material risks, repeated non-conformities, delayed actions, and conflicts between production pressure and safety requirements directly to executive sponsors and Group OHS for resolution.
• Participate actively in port planning sessions, vessel acceptance procedures, maintenance shutdowns, change-management processes, and capital-project decisions where safety or operational continuity may be impacted.
• Lead serious-incident investigations with a focus on root-cause analysis and critical-control programme implementation to prevent recurrence of high-risk events.
• Oversee contractor safety performance by conducting operational risk reviews and ensuring compliance with occupational maritime safety standards.
• Collaborate with marine authorities and external stakeholders to maintain adherence to Vietnamese occupational safety regulations and maritime compliance requirements.
• Utilise audit tools, risk registers, incident/action tracking systems, Microsoft Office applications, and management reporting platforms to monitor progress and communicate outcomes effectively.

What you bring:

The ideal candidate for Port Operations Senior Manager brings a wealth of proven experience from both shipboard operations and high-hazard industrial settings such as ports or terminals. Your academic background includes relevant degrees in maritime studies or engineering disciplines—postgraduate qualifications further enhance your profile. With over twelve years’ progressive experience (including five years at senior leadership level), you have demonstrated expertise in leading complex incident investigations using advanced root-cause analysis methods. Your practical understanding spans ship-shore interface operations—from cargo handling through mooring/crane/conveyor/hydraulic/lifting/LOTO/work-at-height/hot-work/confined-space/emergency management scenarios. You possess deep familiarity with Vietnamese occupational safety regulations plus maritime compliance requirements—enabling seamless collaboration with authorities & external partners. Your bilingual communication skills (English/Vietnamese) allow you to engage confidently across diverse stakeholder groups; advanced proficiency with digital tools supports effective monitoring/reporting throughout all phases of operation. Credentials such as Master Mariner status & internationally recognised certifications are highly valued; formal training in marine casualty investigation/process safety/human factors further distinguishes you as an outstanding candidate. Experience navigating multinational/shareholder-governed environments equips you to manage complex relationships—with insurers/surveyors/OEMs/regulators—while driving continuous improvement across all facets of port safety & operational excellence.

• Bachelor’s degree in Maritime Navigational Studies.
• Occupational Maritime Safety Certificate; postgraduate qualifications are advantageous.
• Minimum 12 years of progressive experience on board ocean-going vessels as well as within ports/terminals/marine/bulk-material handling/heavy industry or comparable high-hazard operations—including at least 5 years in senior safety or operational leadership roles.
• Demonstrated experience leading serious-incident investigations using root-cause analysis techniques alongside critical-control programme implementation for contractor safety performance.
• Strong practical knowledge of ship-shore interface operations including cargo handling procedures (mooring/cranes/unloaders/conveyors/hydraulics/lifting/LOTO/work at height/hot work/confined space/emergency management).
• Working knowledge of Vietnamese occupational safety regulations plus maritime compliance requirements; proven ability to collaborate effectively with marine authorities/external stakeholders.
• Professional proficiency in both English and Vietnamese communication; exceptional candidates with strong English skills plus an effective plan for Vietnamese operational communication may also be considered.
• Advanced skills in utilising risk registers/incident-action tracking/audit tools/Microsoft Office/management reporting systems for monitoring progress & communicating outcomes.
• Preference given to candidates holding Master Mariner credentials as well as NEBOSH International Diploma or equivalent recognised qualification.
• Formal training in marine casualty investigation/root-cause analysis/process safety/bow-tie/critical-control management/human factors is highly desirable.
• Experience working within multinational/shareholder-governed environments plus proven ability to communicate effectively with insurers/surveyors/OEMs/regulators.

What sets this company apart:

This organisation stands out as a leader within the maritime sector due to its unwavering commitment to workplace safety and operational reliability. Employees benefit from flexible working opportunities designed to support work-life balance while fostering personal growth through generous training programmes tailored for professional development. The company’s inclusive approach ensures that every team member feels valued—regardless of background—creating an environment where collaboration thrives across national boundaries. With access to cutting-edge technology platforms for monitoring progress & communicating outcomes plus ongoing support from knowledgeable colleagues throughout the network—you’ll find yourself empowered not only to excel but also contribute meaningfully towards shaping safer workplaces industry-wide. The organisation’s dedication extends beyond compliance: it actively invests in nurturing talent through structured learning pathways & mentorship initiatives so you can build lasting relationships while advancing your career within a supportive community committed to excellence.

What's next:

If you are ready to make a meaningful impact on port safety while advancing your career within a collaborative multinational environment—this is your opportunity!

Apply today by clicking on the link provided.

Due to the high volume of applications we are experiencing, our team will only be in touch with you if your application is shortlisted.