Director of Operations

Long Beach, CA, United States

Job Type

Full-time

Description

Summary

The Director of Operations is responsible for hiring, directing, and supervising the work and activities of union steady workers and casual laborers (on terminal or ship) engaged in loading, discharging or moving of ship's cargoes and materials requiring special handling. In addition, this dual role is responsible for coordinating and maintaining the priorities of the terminal in line with management and customer expectations; supervises, plans, and implements the day-to-day activities of the terminal, facilitating effective terminal traffic and moving of cargo at the dock; ensures scheduled arrivals and departures are properly executed and labor usage is appropriate.

This position acts as a liaison and communicates relevant issues to agents, brokers, railroads and truckers; supervises terminal staff and issues discipline and grievances through the Foreman, as necessary; implements safety policies and procedures, including root cause analysis and investigations. The Director of Operations ensures customer requirements are met, including requests for work methods and procedures; ensures staff operates in a productive, safe and healthy manner ensuring that cargo is loaded on time, in a specified sequence, in accordance with shipping instructions and industry standards, and in compliance with federal, state and local safety rules and regulations; and participates in pre-shift meetings and helps to formulate employer policies and processes.

Primary Responsibilities (Vessel and Rail)

Vessel Operations.

Review ship list ETA.

Coordinate vessel operations with terminal.

Independently adjust daily work plan on a shift by shift basis.

In conjunction with the customer, provide vessel agent with projected work schedule.

Independently administer discipline and recognition.

Make hiring decisions for steady unionized employees.

Independently instruct foreman on transfers, rewards, replacements or firings.

Order labor and implement changes for labor requests.

Communicate with union personnel, vessel agents, mechanics, foremen and shop steward, etc.

Order equipment and gear.

Supervise staff and schedules workloads.

Supervise unionized personnel, including the following responsibilities:

o Make personnel changes (i.e., operations manager can independently return any foreman or marine clerk to the hall, or direct a foreman to return any longshoreperson to the hall for performance issues).

o In conjunction with the customer or customer's representative, authorize and directs the foremen and clerks to extend shift to finish hatch or vessel.

o Depending on the location, in conjunction with customer's representative, authorize and direct unionized workforce to relieve a hatch.

o Approve overtime for unionized personnel.

o Verify and approve timecards.

o Supervise multiple collective bargaining agreements.

o Testify for company on grievances associated with labor relations.

Depending on location, calculate manpower for next shift by forecasting number of gangs, shifts required and utilization of manpower and verifies accuracy of comeback sheets.

Analyze day-to-day operations of ship and cargo while in port and makes recommendations for work as needed.

Communicate with and update ship's Captain, ship personnel, and ship officers.

Inspect gear certifications and dates.

Make physical inspection of vessel and equipment.

Monitor discharging or loading activities.

Review previous shift's documents for loading or discharging according to plans.

Review and sign safety checklist.

Board ships to supervise foreman and assure load plans are followed.

Follow-up on changes made from hatch to hatch.

Direct the foreman on loading or discharging the ship and rail operations.

Direct supercargoes and clerks; verify accuracy of paperwork and sign off on Supercargo Daily Reports.

Communicate with the shipper and the ship's chief officer.

Execute the Declaration of Security with the Vessel Security Officer upon vessel arrival.

Relate changes from shipper.

Review previous shift's load out plan.

Review stowage plans.

Perform and document environmental inspections and observations to ensure compliance with air/water quality regulations and permit requirements, as applicable, dependent upon individual location requirements.

Confirm rail yards are locked out prior to rail operations and operations are performed in compliance with the terminal Rail Safety Plans, as applicable, dependent upon individual location requirements and operational processes.

Implement the Injury and Illness Prevention Plan (IIPP) to ensure a safe workplace at Metropolitan Stevedore Company. Important safety duties include, but are not limited to:

o Assure the safety of the general longshore work force and steady Metropolitan Stevedore Company employees.

o Know, implement, enforce and monitor the IIPP, and take necessary and appropriate loss prevention and loss control measures regarding injuries to persons and damage to property and equipment. (The IIPP outlines in detail the safety duties and responsibilities of a superintendent; those duties and responsibilities, including future updates and revisions, are incorporated by reference into this position description).

o Conduct root cause analysis following an incident or near miss at the terminal and provide a fundamental, underlying, system-related reason why the incident occurred and identify one or more correctable system failures.

Remain in constant communication with railroad to determine cargo location.

Work closely with location Director of Terminal Operations to:

o Review daily priorities and projects.

o Implement changes for labor requests.

o Communicate with dispatch to order labor.

o Oversees scheduling for arrival & departure of ships.

o Prepares daily schedules.

Record, update and communicate vessel (ETA) changes.

Communicate with agents, brokers or customers via telephones or fax concerning vessel operations or contractual needs.

Troubleshoot, research and resolve customer problems.

Uphold customer and union contractual requirements.

Supervise the priorities of all vessels with equal service.

Forecast and coordinate arrival of cargo for correct vessel discharge or loading.

Attend meetings with management or port officials.

Make arrangements with trucking companies to transport equipment of other special situations.

Supervisory Responsibilities

In accordance with applicable policies/procedures and federal/state laws, may perform the following supervisory responsibilities:

Manage direct reports in day-to-day operations at terminal location.

Assist in interviewing, hiring, and orienting new operations managers.

Coach and develop operations managers.

Plan, assign and direct work.

Appraise, manage, and reward performance.

Address complaints and resolve problems.

Compose performance evaluations on direct reports and discuss self-assessments and performance evaluations with operations managers.

Manage operation managers in day-to-day operations at terminal location.

Schedule operations managers and approve vacation.

Oversee terminal staff.

Additional Responsibilities

Regular, predictable and reliable attendance.

Answer telephone calls.

Keep cell phone on person for 24 hour "on call" duties.

Wear safety clothing.

Travel by automobile to various locations for business or training.

Travel to outlying ports as needed.

Supervise maintenance activities to assist maintenance managers or provide supervision in his/her absence.

Work with vendors providing environmental, electrical, mechanical and engineering support to the terminal.

Verify reports for accuracy.

Serve as backup for dispatcher when needed, communicate with ILWU dispatchers.

Upon request, cross-train for various types of cargo operations.

Work weekends and holidays, as necessary and appropriate.

Requirements

Equivalent of a Bachelor's Degree in a related field of study and 6-8+ years of progressively responsible, related experience pertaining to managerial safety.

Knowledge of state & federal OSHA, US Coast Guard regulations, PSMSC and other safety regulatory requirements for the maritime industry.

Experience in the maritime/stevedoring industry preferred.

Union labor relations experience preferred.

Working knowledge of Microsoft Office & related safety software/programs.

Director of Operations (Continued)

Skills/ Abilities Pertinent to This Position

Leadership

Problem-solving

Planning & organizing

Verbal communication

Written communication

Presentation

Quality/detail orientation

Relationship management

Process improvement

Employee development

Ability to interact at all levels

Ability to work as a team member

Flexibility/adaptability/multi-tasking

Independent judgement/discretion

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

In general, the following physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to allow differently-abled individuals to perform the essential functions of the job.

Must be able to see, hear, speak and write clearly in order to communicate with employees and/or other customers; manual dexterity required for occasional reaching and lifting of small objects, and operating office equipment. Travels as required to meet accountabilities.

Ability to enter and maneuver through all parts of multi-level ship and multi-level marine terminal, including all hatches, cargo spaces and decks, from sea level to levels several feet above sea level. This may include the ability to ascend and descend ladders, narrow stairways, steep stairways, use narrow walkways, ramps, elevated platforms, and catwalks in order to reach particular areas of the ship and terminals. Walking and standing on uneven surfaces or in water may be required. Duties may be performed at varying heights above ground or underground.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

In general, the following conditions of the work environment are representative of those that an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to allow differently-abled individuals to perform the essential functions of the job within the environment.

As a member of the Company's operations staff, an employee may be exposed to a great variety of environmental conditions. Some of the work will be indoors, some outdoors, and other aboard ships not owned by or chartered to the Company. Operations staff may work on property owned by the Company, leased to the Company, owned by ports and leased to others, or owned by, chartered by, or leased to our maritime customers. Employees may work around motorized vehicles and the various ships, appurtenances, equipment, and gear common to the industry. While an employee may work on a single maritime site for the majority of his/her work, special circumstances may require that employees work at a different site based upon the needs of the business. The Company serves as stevedore and/or terminal operator for a wide variety of maritime cargoes for export and import.

In all instances, the health and safety of all employees is the Company's #1 concern. The Company has a director of safety & environmental services. That person will assist employees in the identification of any unusual exposures so that the appropriate steps may be taken to ensure their health. This would include everyone's full compliance with the Company's hearing loss conservation program in those specific locations where it has been identified that one may be exposed to injurious noise levels. The Company complies with state labor and safety postings, and it encourages all employees to make themselves aware of those postings at the various work sites. Additionally, Safety Data Sheets are available at each work site requiring such documents.

Salary Description

Exempt

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