Operations Technology (OT) Project Manager

About APM Terminals

APM Terminals is one of the world’s leading port and terminal operators, with a global network that plays a critical role in enabling international trade. As part of A.P. Moller – Maersk, we combine global expertise with strong local operations to build safer, smarter, and more efficient terminals.

In Bangladesh, APM Terminals is developing a new container terminal in Laldia, Chattogram. This is a significant greenfield development that will bring together infrastructure, equipment, technology, operational systems, and people to establish a modern terminal operation.

APM Terminals is looking for an experienced OT Project Manager to lead the deployment and integration of Operations Technology (OT) and automation solutions for the project.

The Opportunity

As OT Project Manager, you will take end-to-end ownership of the OT and automation deployment scope, from planning and design coordination through integration, testing, commissioning, go-live, and operational stabilisation.

This is a highly cross-functional role at the intersection of terminal operations, engineering, automation, technology, and project execution. You will translate global OT and automation product standards into a site-specific deployment that works effectively within the terminal’s operational environment.

You will lead a team of deployment and automation specialists and work closely with global product teams, project functions, terminal operations, engineering teams, technology specialists, equipment suppliers, system vendors, and contractors.

Success in this role will be measured by the safe and effective deployment of integrated OT solutions that are ready for live terminal operations, delivered within agreed scope, schedule, and budget, with minimal disruption during transition and go-live.

Key Responsibilities

Lead OT & Automation Project Delivery

• Own the end-to-end delivery of the project’s OT and automation scope, ensuring alignment with agreed business outcomes, technical requirements, schedule, and budget.
• Develop and maintain the Project Management Plan (PMP) covering scope, milestones, resources, dependencies, governance, risks, change management, testing, and deployment.
• Translate global OT and automation product standards and blueprints into practical site-specific deployment requirements.
• Drive the deployment lifecycle from roadmap and detailed planning through implementation, commissioning, go-live, and operational stabilisation.
• Ensure site-specific requirements are appropriately incorporated while protecting product integrity and global standards.
• Track project progress, budget, milestones, and key performance indicators and provide clear reporting to project leadership and senior stakeholders.

Systems Integration, Testing & Go-Live

• Lead the integration of OT and automation solutions across terminal systems, equipment, and technology platforms.
• Coordinate interfaces across systems such as Terminal Operating Systems (TOS), Equipment Control Systems (ECS), PLC/SCADA, middleware/APIs, OPC UA, industrial networks, 5G, and related OT infrastructure.
• Establish and oversee the deployment and integration testing strategy, including relevant testing, commissioning, and acceptance milestones.
• Ensure technical issues, integration gaps, and dependencies are identified early and resolved through structured cross-functional collaboration.
• Review and approve testing outcomes and readiness criteria before progression to subsequent deployment stages.
• Oversee first-line deployment support through go-live and remain actively involved until the solutions reach agreed operational stability.

Stakeholder & Supplier Management

• Act as the key coordination point between global OT/product teams, project functions, terminal operations, engineering teams, suppliers, contractors, and technology partners.
• Manage suppliers and deployment partners against agreed plans, technical requirements, milestones, and performance expectations.
• Drive alignment between multiple suppliers where their systems or products need to integrate within the terminal’s overall technology ecosystem.
• Provide regular demonstrations, progress updates, and decision points to senior stakeholders.
• Act as an escalation point for significant OT and automation deployment issues and ensure timely resolution.

Team Leadership

• Lead and coordinate a multidisciplinary team of automation and deployment specialists.
• Establish clear priorities, accountabilities, and performance expectations across the deployment team.
• Create an environment where technical experts can collaborate effectively across functions, cultures, and organisational boundaries.
• Manage internal resources, contractors, and third-party vendors required for successful deployment.

Risk, Safety & Governance

• Maintain active oversight of deployment risks, dependencies, and opportunities and ensure appropriate mitigation or escalation.
• Ensure OT deployment activities comply with applicable safety, cybersecurity, engineering, project governance, and regulatory requirements.
• Protect product and system integrity throughout configuration, integration, testing, and commissioning.
• Ensure changes to scope, configuration, or deployment approach are appropriately assessed, documented, and governed.

Operational Readiness & Continuous Improvement

• Partner closely with terminal teams to ensure operational readiness and smooth transition of deployed solutions into live operations.
• Support capability building, knowledge transfer, and training to ensure terminal teams can effectively operate and support the deployed solutions.
• Drive change management and stakeholder engagement to build adoption of new technologies and ways of working.
• Capture lessons learned and share deployment knowledge and best practices across the wider APM Terminals organisation.
• Collaborate with other OT and Automation Project Managers globally to continuously improve deployment standards, methodologies, and practices.

Essential Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Automation, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Project Management, Computer/Control Systems Engineering, or another relevant discipline.
• Master’s degree is an advantage.
• Significant experience leading complex OT, industrial automation, systems integration, or technology deployment projects.
• Proven project management experience within a complex industrial, infrastructure, logistics, manufacturing, maritime, or terminal environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing projects across the full lifecycle, including planning, design coordination, integration, testing, commissioning, go-live, and stabilisation.
• Strong understanding of industrial and operational technology environments, ideally including:
• Terminal Operating Systems (TOS)
• Equipment Control Systems (ECS)
• PLC and SCADA
• APIs and middleware
• OPC UA and industrial communication protocols
• Industrial networks / private 5G
• OT cybersecurity
• Experience developing and managing comprehensive project plans, budgets, schedules, risks, dependencies, and resources.
• Experience managing system integrators, technology suppliers, contractors, and other third-party delivery partners.
• Strong understanding of structured testing, commissioning, and operational readiness processes.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary technical teams in a complex project environment.
• Professional proficiency in English.

Preferred Experience

• Experience within container terminals, ports, maritime logistics, or automated material-handling environments.
• Exposure to terminal automation or terminal modernisation programmes.
• Experience delivering OT solutions within a greenfield or major brownfield infrastructure project.
• Experience integrating multiple systems, equipment platforms, and suppliers into a common operational environment.
• Project management certification such as PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent.

What Will Help You Succeed

• Take strong ownership and are comfortable being accountable for complex delivery outcomes.
• Can translate highly technical subjects into clear decisions and actions for different stakeholder groups.
• Are structured and analytical when solving complex technical and operational problems.
• Can balance immediate project priorities with longer-term operational and business requirements.
• Build credibility with engineers, operations teams, technology specialists, suppliers, and senior leaders.
• Are comfortable challenging assumptions and escalating risks when required.
• Can operate effectively in an environment where requirements and priorities evolve as the project progresses.
• Lead through influence as well as formal authority.
• Understand that successful automation is not only about technology but also requires operational readiness, capability building, and effective change management.