At Maersk, we’re transforming global supply chains through end-to-end integrated logistics. As a global leader in connecting and simplifying trade, we help businesses move goods seamlessly across ocean, air, landside transportation, and warehousing, all supported by cutting edge technology and an extensive global network.
We’re committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, heard, and able to be themselves. Our team members come from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, and we value the unique strengths each person contributes. With over 100,000 employees across 130 countries, we work together to shape the future of global trade and logistics.
About the role
The Client Program Director is the senior programme leader for the The client account, responsible for connecting customer strategy, operational execution, performance governance and growth. The role partners across The client and Maersk leadership, Commercial, Product, Operations, Technology and Finance to build and execute a joint programme roadmap.
The successful candidate will act as a trusted advisor, translate automotive supply chain priorities into actionable plans and lead cross-functional teams through influence. This includes protecting service continuity, strengthening end-to-end visibility, improving customer and internal stakeholder satisfaction, delivering measurable value creation and ensuring a disciplined approach to risk, compliance and programme governance.
Experience supporting an automotive OEM, Tier 1 supplier or manufacturing-driven supply chain is strongly preferred. The role requires the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced environment where supplier performance, production continuity, milestone visibility and timely exception management are business-critical.
What We Offer
This is an exciting career opportunity to work in a truly international company that makes global trade happen. You will be interacting daily with passionate colleagues around the world, giving you the opportunity to develop your professional skills in a global environment. Through the training and support we provide and learning on the job, you will have the chance to truly take your career all the way.
Key Responsibilities
Customer Strategy, Partnership and Growth
- Partner with Client Leadership, the Key Client Director, Commercial and Product teams to develop and deliver the strategic growth plan, programme roadmap and joint customer priorities.
- Build trusted relationships across the Client and Maersk, engaging confidently with customer service, supply chain, logistics, procurement, manufacturing, project management, technology, finance and senior leadership stakeholders.
- Understand the customer’s business strategy, manufacturing priorities, supply chain requirements and emerging trends, and translate them into clear programme actions and integrated logistics recommendations.
- Support Commercial and Product teams with enquiries, customer insight and expertise related to new business opportunities, solution development and additional value creation.
- Evaluate Maersk products against the customer’s end-to-end supply chain and recommend improvement opportunities and relevant integrated solutions.
- Ensure the account perspective is communicated to the global Maersk community and that global policies can be implemented appropriately within the customer solution.
Operational Governance and Performance
- Establish, own and improve customer and operational KPIs that align with agreed expectations, manufacturing requirements, supplier performance and end-to-end supply chain visibility.
- Ensure performance is maintained in a trusted global data set and reported with clear definitions, calculation logic, ownership and corrective actions.
- Lead regular operational governance calls with regional and global teams, focusing on performance, root causes, risks, decisions and closure of actions.
- Proactively identify and manage production-critical logistics risks, supplier escalations, inventory concerns, transport disruptions and service failures with potential customer or manufacturing impact.
- Drive structured exception management, root-cause analysis, corrective action planning and continuous improvement across the global operating model.
- Maintain and improve customer satisfaction through Voice of the Customer and internal stakeholder satisfaction through Voice of Key Stakeholders.
- Review global operational processes, identify productivity opportunities and drive improvements while protecting agreed service levels.
Programme and Project Leadership
- Own customer-initiated and internal projects, ensuring that scope, governance, resources, risks, dependencies, milestones and delivery timelines are clear and actively managed.
- Compile and maintain the programme plan, project pipeline and executive-level reporting for the account.
- Serve as the primary programme contact during implementation of new business, ensuring effective transition from solution design and implementation into stable operations.
- Lead at least one high-impact project each year with defined outcomes, measurable benefits and sustained adoption.
- Maintain a programme management pipeline and succession plan to support continuity and capability development.
Process, Billing and Documentation Control
- Ensure Standard Operating Procedures are current, controlled, understood and followed, with gaps corrected as a priority.
- Ensure billing processes are accurate, timely and supported by clear process ownership; maintain the relevant Implementation and Operating Procedures and share requirements with Operations.
- Ensure Operations maintains all applicable operating procedures and that material shortfalls are corrected or escalated promptly.
- Collect, validate, consolidate, monitor and report significant customer requirements, expectations, changes and trends.
Executive Reporting and Strategic Reviews
- Prepare monthly executive summaries with the Key Client Director covering performance, projects, customer temperature, risks, value creation and team updates.
- Collaborate with the Key Client Director to prepare and lead Quarterly Business Reviews with a clear fact base, decisions and follow-through.
- Lead bi-annual strategy sessions with the customer to review business priorities, supply chain opportunities and creative One Maersk solutions that support the customer’s growth plan.
Value Creation, Risk and Compliance
- Identify, quantify, submit and monitor value creation initiatives that improve supply chain performance, network efficiency, cost, resilience and service outcomes.
- Support customer cost-reduction initiatives while ensuring that value is measurable, validated and connected to agreed business outcomes.
- Establish controls and procedures that minimise Maersk exposure to operational, commercial, compliance, trade-control and HSSE risks.
- Escalate material risks with a clear assessment of customer impact, ownership, mitigation and decision requirements.
People and Community Leadership
- Support onboarding for new team members and ensure they have the knowledge, access, stakeholder connections and operating context required for success.
- Contribute to objective setting and performance management for the global operational team, providing timely recognition, coaching and feedback.
- Work collaboratively across the Maersk Customer Experience organisation, sharing best practices and expertise through local, regional and global communities, workshops and training.
- Participate actively in the global programme management and subject-matter-expert community.
Who We Are Looking For
We recognize that experience comes in many forms. If you don’t meet every qualification, we still encourage you to apply.
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Engineering or a related field.
- 5+ years of relevant experience in logistics, supply chain management, programme management, customer operations or operational leadership, with a sustained record of delivery.
- Proven experience leading complex customer programmes, operational governance or cross-functional initiatives across multiple functions and geographies.
- Strong understanding of operational excellence, KPI governance, continuous improvement and value creation.
- Ability to work effectively in a matrix organisation, influence decision-makers and drive outcomes through others without relying on direct authority.
- Experience managing complex operational and commercial challenges, including risk identification, escalation and mitigation.
- Excellent relationship-building, communication, facilitation, negotiation and executive presentation skills.
- Ability to interface effectively with regional and global management teams and build strong internal and external networks.
- Working knowledge of business improvement and Lean methods.
Preferred Automotive / OEM Supply Chain Experience
- Experience supporting a global automotive OEM or Tier 1 supplier within a complex manufacturing supply chain environment.
- Understanding of automotive supply chain operating models, including Just-in-Time (JIT), Just-in-Sequence (JIS), supplier management, production planning and plant operations.
- Experience managing production-critical logistics, inventory risk, supplier escalations and operational disruptions with potential manufacturing impact.
- Knowledge of inbound, outbound, aftermarket and supplier logistics processes supporting manufacturing operations.
- Experience working across multi-tier supplier and carrier networks and coordinating logistics, procurement, manufacturing, planning, technology and customer operations.
- Experience driving supply chain visibility, milestone and exception management, operational KPI governance and performance improvement.
- Familiarity with automotive supply chain measures such as on-time delivery, ASN performance, supplier compliance, transit performance, inventory health and service reliability.
- Experience in a Lead Logistics, LLP/4PL, control tower or integrated supply chain management environment.
- Demonstrated success delivering measurable productivity, cost, service, resilience or supply chain optimisation outcomes.
Preferred Certifications
- Project Management Professional (PMP).
- APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) or Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution (CLTD).
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt.
Success in This Role
The successful Client Program Director will combine executive customer leadership with strong program discipline and practical automotive supply chain understanding. Success will be demonstrated through trusted stakeholder relationships, reliable operational performance, clear accountability, disciplined risk management, measurable value creation and effective execution of strategic account priorities.
Job Type: Full-time
Salary: $130,000 – $150,000*
*The stated pay range is the anticipated starting salary and may be adjusted based on market conditions, experience, and location. Final compensation will be discussed directly with the selected candidate(s) in compliance with all applicable laws.
Notice to applicants applying to positions in the United States: You must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.
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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.
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