Job Description

Job Purpose:

The Vice President, Operations & Systems, is responsible for defining and executing the P&T operational systems vision, architecture, and roadmap for all operational systems across the P&T Pillar. This executive role ensures that operational technology platforms, software applications, integrations, and digital solutions align with business objectives, operational excellence goals, and long-term growth strategies.

The VP leads the development of system strategies, functional and technical specifications, roadmaps, and implementation plans while working closely with business leaders, operations teams, technology teams, vendors, and executive leadership. The role is accountable for maximizing business value through technology innovation, standardization, automation, and scalable digital solutions.

• Develop and maintain the P&T strategy for operational systems and software platforms.
• Define the long-term vision, target architecture, and digital transformation roadmap for operational technologies.
• Align technology initiatives with corporate strategy, operational objectives, customer requirements, and industry trends.
• Act as the executive sponsor for major operational technology and software transformation programs.
• Provide thought leadership on emerging technologies, automation, AI, analytics, IoT, and digital operations.
• Establish governance frameworks for operational systems, software selection, architecture standards, and lifecycle management.
• Ensure consistency, scalability, interoperability, and standardization across operational platforms.
• Define system ownership models, decision-making processes, and performance measurement frameworks.

• Provide guidance to Business Units, Regional offices and HO with regards to all in-house P&T Systems (Zodiac, CCS, Rostering, Oracle, Maximo, Smart Solutions, Business Analytics) and other related technology across Ports and Terminals.

• Implement guidelines, processes, procedures for Terminal Operating Systems smart applications, system utilisation and fine tuning, quality and productivity, over the entire portfolio of terminals.

• Promote collaboration and best practice sharing amongst Business units, setting up TOS user groups and form a centralized TOS knowledge base for system implementation, testing and system migration. Assist the Business Units in selecting and implementing the right systems and related periphery technologies.

• Ensure accurate data collection from each P&T business across the DP World Portfolio.

• Oversee successful integration globally of all in-house P&T Systems.

• Ultimately responsible for successful and customer service issue free go-live of P&T systems.Managing and ensuring fluid movement between ideation and project delivery stage, delivering a committed portfolio of Innovation projects and programs that add value.

• Deliver solutions to DP World Group challenges in all disciplines.

Key Accountabilities:

• Develop and maintain multi-year operational systems roadmaps aligned with strategic business priorities, capability gaps, modernization opportunities, and future technology requirements.
• Prioritize initiatives based on business value, risk reduction, operational efficiency, and return on investment, while monitoring technology trends and recommending strategic investments.
• Define and oversee implementation strategies for new systems, upgrades, integrations, and digital transformation initiatives, ensuring successful program execution and a smooth transition into operational support and continuous improvement.
• Lead organizational change, stakeholder engagement, training, adoption, and user readiness strategies to support successful implementation and sustained value realization.
• Establish enterprise architecture principles and technology standards for operational systems, including cloud, hybrid, and on-premises solutions where appropriate.
• Ensure seamless integration between operational systems, ERP platforms, customer-facing applications, data platforms, and third-party solutions, promoting data consistency, interoperability, scalability, and real-time information sharing.
• Partner with business stakeholders to understand operational needs and translate them into business cases, functional specifications, technical requirements, and solution designs.
• Ensure operational systems and solution designs support current and future business processes while meeting security, compliance, reliability, performance, and design integrity requirements.
• Lead evaluation, selection, and management of software vendors and technology partners for Ports & Terminals, including negotiation of strategic agreements, monitoring of performance and innovation roadmaps, and management of contractual obligations.
• Govern the commercial and contractual relationship between business units and internal/external system providers.
• Ensure operational systems comply with cybersecurity, regulatory, privacy, and industry standards, and identify, assess, and mitigate technology-related operational risks.
• Establish business continuity and disaster recovery strategies for critical operational systems.
• Standardize processes and align key performance indicators to reduce customization across system implementations and improve consistency across disciplines.
• Support comparison, selection, and implementation of operational systems and technologies across the Ports & Terminals portfolio.
• Assess TOS utilization effectiveness across business units and strengthen adoption through training recommendations in collaboration with DP World Hub and relevant learning tools.
• Direct the development roadmap of the internal TOS, Zodiac, in alignment with the global TOS strategy.
• Manage TOS and peripheral technology vendor relationships from a central head office perspective, including regular user groups to build alignment, knowledge sharing, and operational adoption.
• Advise senior management on AFE for P&T Systems.
• Act as liaison and quality control point for collecting business requirements for operational system implementations and system enhancements.
• Maintain relationships with all third-party service providers and vendors supporting operational systems and technology.
• Direct and improve the Group’s Innovation portfolio, strengthening innovation maturity across all pillars, including Ports & Terminals, Logistics, Digital Solutions, and Marine.
• Champion an innovation culture across DP World by encouraging idea generation, experimentation, knowledge sharing, and adoption of new solutions across all pillars.
• Measure the impact of innovation outcomes on DP World’s business, including value creation, cost savings, customer satisfaction, and human safety and wellbeing.
• Direct the groupwide Innovation Platform (INNOGATE) development roadmap and ensure innovative projects and solutions are integrated into commercial, marketing, supply chain, and operational processes.
• Manage geographically dispersed and functionally diverse internal and external teams to maintain a single view of the innovation portfolio and ensure effective delivery.
• Stay abreast of industry and technology trends and market developments, and make recommendations to DP World accordingly.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Logistics, Technology Management, Computer Science or related field. Master's degree (MBA, Technology Management, Logistics, Engineering, or equivalent) preferred.

Experience in managing the terminal business.

• 15+ years of experience in terminal operations, enterprise software, operational systems, digital transformation, or technology leadership roles.
• 8+ years in senior leadership positions managing large-scale technology portfolios and transformation programs.
• Proven experience defining technology strategy, roadmaps, architecture, and implementation plan for complex operational environments.
• Experience leading enterprise-wide software implementations and business transformation initiatives.
• Strong understanding of operational technology platforms, enterprise applications, integration architectures, cloud technologies, and data platforms.
• Experience in global container/non-container terminal industry with a keen interest in TOS planning, implementations, and optimization.
• Experience in terminal automation and the various modes of operation, ASC/RTG/RMG/SC
• Business leader with proven track record of change management. Is widely recognised and respected and well known to BU and regional leadership.
• Ability to influence the decision makers in executive management.
• Detailed process thinker and strategist.

Project Management:

• Strong negotiation and relationship management skills. Ability to work with program / project managers and teams from other areas.

• Previous project management experience within the container / non-container terminal industry

Subject Knowledge:

• Must have in-depth knowledge of terminal processes.

• Detailed knowledge of all terminal concepts and modes of operation ASC/RTG/RMG/SC/RS/AGV

• The desire to learn and take on-board business-related matters regarding business practices and assessments.

• Knowledge of Safety, Environmental and Security related matters and how they relate to terminal operations and company commitments.

• An ability to maintain current knowledge of developments related to business matters of interest to internal assessment particularly legislation changes and developments as they affect DP World operations.

Catalyst:

• An ability to be catalyst to new ideas and technologies

• Embrace new technologies and processes

Trade is the lifeblood of the global economy, creating opportunities and improving the quality of life for people around the world. DP World exists to make the world’s trade flow better, changing what’s possible for the customers and communities we serve globally.

With a dedicated, diverse and professional team of more than 115,000 employees from 160 nationalities, spanning 78 countries on six continents, DP World is pushing trade further and faster towards a seamless supply chain that’s fit for the future.

We’re rapidly transforming and integrating our businesses -- Ports and Terminals, Marine Services, Logistics and Technology – and uniting our global infrastructure with local expertise to create stronger, more efficient end-to-end supply chain solutions that can change the way the world trades.

What's more, we're reshaping the future by investing in innovation. From intelligent delivery systems to automated warehouse stacking, we’re at the cutting edge of disruptive technology, pushing the sector towards better ways to trade, minimizing disruptions from the factory floor to the customer’s door.

DP World is on a mission to transcend boundaries and bridge the gap between all nations and cultures – not just in what we do but also in how we behave.

We are dedicated to creating a culture where everyone feels respected, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential. We believe that embracing inclusion and diversity, drives innovation and growth and helps us connect people, businesses, and societies. Free minds and different perspectives are changing our world, and together we can change what’s possible.

WE MAKE TRADE FLOW

TO CHANGE WHAT'S POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.