Assistant Procurement Manager

About APM Terminals

A.P. Moller - Maersk is an integrated container logistics company working to connect and simplify its customer's supply chains. As the global leader in shipping services, the company operates in 130 countries and employs roughly 100,000 people.

As part of A.P. Moller-Maersk, APM Terminals has been lifting standards for developing and operating advanced ports and container terminals for over half a century (as an independent division since January 2001). Now, with 60 strategically located ports and container terminals around the globe and several more in development APM Terminals is lifting the standard of efficiency, responsibility, connectivity, proactivity in our industry.

For more than a century, A.P. Moller-Maersk has had close ties with the Port of New York and New Jersey. We made our first vessel call in New York in 1915 and opened our first international office in Manhattan shortly after. In 1928, we started Maersk Line, and soon the piers in Brooklyn became home. By 1975, we had established our first dedicated container terminal at Pier 51 through our work with the Port of New York and New Jersey.

APM Terminals Elizabeth currently handles over 25% of the annual container throughput in the port complex, supported by more than 1,100 members of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA).

APM Terminals and the Port of New York and New Jersey recently reached an agreement on the lease extension for APM Terminals Elizabeth through 2062. This extension paves the way for major infrastructure investments which will enhance capacity and transport velocity, create jobs and strengthen the economy.

APM Terminals will invest significantly in Port Elizabeth over the coming years to enhance cargo-handling capacity at its 345-acre terminal. APM Terminals has also committed to the replacement and maintenance of all wharf and berth structures. This investment supports the Port Authority's Port Master Plan 2050, which anticipates cargo volumes doubling or tripling by mid-century.

Looking to the future, APM Terminals Elizabeth envisions a larger, more efficient container terminal. Planned upgrades include the optimization of the terminal layout, electrification of container handling equipment, and future-proofing container berths.

The Assistant Procurement Manager supports the procurement function of the terminal by assisting in execution of sourcing, contracting, supplier management and cost-control activities. The role is key to enabling efficient, compliant, and value-driven procurement operations in support of terminal operations and the broader network objectives of APM Terminals Elizabeth.

• Assist in managing end-to-end procurement activities (services, supplies, inventory, equipment) for the Elizabeth terminal, ensuring timely and cost-effective purchasing.

• Support the tendering process (RFIs, RFQs, RFPs), bid evaluations, vendor selection and contract negotiations in line with corporate and terminal procurement standards.

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders (Operations, Maintenance, Finance, HSSE, Supply Chain) to understand demand, forecast spend and align procurement strategies with terminal business plans.

• Develop and maintain data and analytics on spend by category, vendor, contract status and savings opportunities; support cost-savings initiatives and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) modelling.

• Support supplier relationship management: onboarding suppliers, monitoring supplier performance (quality, delivery, cost), and managing contract compliance.

• Ensure adherence to global procurement governance, corporate standards (e.g., Finance Control Manual, Responsible Procurement), ethical sourcing, and risk mitigation practices.

• Assist in the implementation of digital procurement tools, process improvements and best practices to enhance procurement efficiency and transparency.

• Act as a liaison between local terminal procurement activities and the regional/global procurement team to ensure alignment of policies, standards and strategic sourcing.

• Support the Head of Procurement in preparing procurement reports and presenting insights to senior management (e.g., savings achieved, spend trends, supplier risk) at the terminal.

• Provide back-up/oversight in case of absence or capacity demands for the Head or lead role in defined procurement categories/projects.

• Bachelor's degree in business, Supply Chain, Procurement, Engineering or related discipline.
• Proven experience (typically 3-5 years) in a procurement, sourcing or supply-chain role-ideally in logistics, industrial/terminal operations or a complex supply environment.
• Strong negotiation skills, contract management experience and vendor-management aptitude.
• Solid analytical capability. Comfortable with spend data, cost models, market/industry analysis and supplier benchmarking.
• Good stakeholder management, able to interact with operations, maintenance,…