Product Specialist - Straddle Carrier Automation

About the role

APM Terminals is looking for a Product Specialist for Straddle Carrier Automation to join its global Equipment Automation team within Operations Technology. The role acts as an end-to-end product owner, ensuring automation products are designed, deployed and evolved in line with Lean principles, driving continuous improvement, standardization and measurable operational value across terminals. The positions are based in Algeciras (Spain), Tangier (Morocco) or The Hague (Netherlands).

Key responsibilities

• Deliver technical product design for Straddle Carrier Automation solutions, aligned with Lean, safety-first and operational excellence principles.
• Translate business needs and operational pain points into automation use cases that reduce waste, improve flow and increase reliability.
• Define value propositions, product maturity models and KPIs linked to Lean performance drivers (safety, productivity, stability and cost).
• Drive business cases and investment proposals focused on standardization, scalability and continuous improvement.
• Promote automation and digitization as enablers of Lean operations, improved safety and operational discipline.
• Drive product roadmaps for repeatable, standardized solutions and establish feedback loops with terminals (e.g. NPS, operational insights) to fuel Kaizen cycles.
• Ensure effective change management and product adoption with Operations, supporting a Lean mindset at terminal level.

Required profile

• Minimum 7 years' experience in product, program or project management in technology and/or operations.
• Proven exposure to automation in real-time operating or industrial environments (ports, logistics, transportation, manufacturing).
• Experience working within or alongside Lean, Operational Excellence or Continuous Improvement frameworks.
• Strong understanding of port equipment, automated systems and industrial architectures.
• Experience building business cases and managing financial and contractual aspects.

Required skills

• Strong stakeholder influence, including with OEMs and cross-functional internal teams.
• Excellent communication skills in English.
• Structured, disciplined and improvement-driven mindset, with high quality and safety awareness.
• Ability to drive results in multicultural, matrix organizations.