Shift Manager Job at Lekki Freeport Terminal (LFT)

Lekki Freeport Terminal (LFT) is the container terminal operator at Lekki Deep Sea Port—the first true deep-sea port in Nigeria and one of West Africa’s most advanced maritime gateways. Strategically located within the Lagos Free Zone at Ibeju-Lekki, LFT’s mission is to connect global trade to Nigeria sustainably through robust automation, digitisation and innovation from vessel berthing to cargo delivery, while upholding international safety standards.

The terminal leverages deep water (up to 16.5 m draft) and modern ship-to-shore capabilities to handle large vessels and significant volumes. This depth and infrastructure help reduce logistics costs and relieve congestion across the Lagos corridor, positioning LFT as a catalyst for regional trade growth.

As Nigeria’s newest gateway, LFT brings world-class port operations to the country, marrying cutting-edge equipment, data-driven processes, and an innovation-led culture to deliver faster, safer, and more reliable cargo flows for shippers and shipping lines alike.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Position: Shift Manager

Employee Job ID: HRM/OPS/PL/09/25/001A
Job Location: Ibeju Lekki, Lagos
Employment Type: Full-time
Department: Operations
Reporting to: Terminal Manager
Indirect Reporting to: Chief Operations Officer

Description

• Lekki Freeport Terminal, the first automated Container Terminal in Nigeria, is looking for a Shift Manager to join our growing operations team.
• This role is key to ensuring the smooth running of terminal operations, maintaining safety standards, and leading teams effectively during shifts.

Job Purpose

• This position is in charge of the day-to-day operations in the terminal which includes the supervision of vessel, yard, gate operation and CFS (container freight station) operation.
• The shift manager will report to the Terminal Manager and coordinate all concerned parties in a professional manner to successfully achieve the goals and objectives established by senior management as well as to satisfy the expectation of clients

Major Job Responsibilities

• Manage, motivate, and instruct all execution team members. Structure tasks and goals, establish efficient courses of action, set priorities, organize information, and efficiently execute daily tasks with considerations to high productivity and efficient utilization of equipment and labor resource.
• Execute strategies for the planning department, in line with & contributing to the company vision & strategy, within the borders of business plan & budget. Manage the daily Container Terminal overall operations according to the agreed operating principles of the business & relationships with customers.
• Participate in selection, negotiation & finalizing agreements with suppliers, customers, and authorities. Where appropriate, be responsible for execution & maintenance of service levels as agreed.
• Liaise closely with shipping lines, agents, trucking companies, customs, port authorities, and other statutory authorities to ensure that their requirements are met.
• Perform periodical scheduled performance review with direct reports.
• To effectively manage and control overall terminal operations productivity at its world class level.
• To productively conduct and lead Operations meetings of the Team and make sense out of that activity by resolving issues and making sure that all operations problems are resolved to the satisfaction of the port users.
• To function harmoniously with all the port users/clients such as the Shipping Lines, Forwarder, Transporter, Customs, NPA and other Governmental agencies, thereby establishing solid customer retention base, without necessarily relinquishing even a small percentage of the market share to the competitor.
• To continuously motivate, support and harness the entire Operations Team towards the goals and objectives of the Terminal as echoed in the Company’s Vision.
• To sustain good relationships/linkages with the business counterparts, at large.
• To systematically train the entire Operations Team with regards to the technical and nontechnical aspects of their work, expose those high potential Operations Team players to special projects and work out the succession planning by way of effective training on the job.
• To make certain that all Terminal activities are always conducted in a professional and safe manner.
• To fully control and coordinate the daily allocation of manpower and equipment, making sure that these requirements are sufficient to serve the activities in all the areas in the Terminal, Also, to properly pay attention to the condition and maintenance of all equipment and handling gears.
• To routinely observe on-going operations in all areas, to ascertain that established productivity and performance benchmarks are met and even exceeded, and to initiate appropriate action when standards are not met.
• To responsibly safeguard sensitive information in some critical areas in the Terminal.
• To closely look into the Cost Control measures making sure that those measures are implemented and in line with the approved budget.
• To systematically manage all reports needed by the clients by generating such reports promptly, as required by the Port Procedure.
• To effectively coordinate with all concerned with regards to Terminal Operation System and Billing systems, ensuring that all data requirements by Billing and Finance are provided by Operations within the prescribed time.
• Other duties as assigned.

Critical Success Factors

• Team Building.
• Strict implementation of Operations SOPs.
• Ensure high productivity with safety and with cost efficiency.
• Lead all the sections working under operations and maintain efficient relations with rest of the supporting departments.
• Understand the importance of reporting and keep update management team with all developments as per set protocol.
• Prepare all shift reports.
• In case of any exceptional situation, take the charge and lead the team in all aspect.
• In case of incident, keep update all relevant people and prepare incident report before leaving the shift.

Qualifications & Experiences
Education:

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in a Logistics / Operations field.
• Master’s degree is preferable.

Experience & Knowledge:

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in container terminal operations environment in managerial role.
• Experience in greenfield or brownfield project implementation is an advantage.
• Experience with NAVIS N4 and participation of its implementation is an advantage.
• In deep knowledge of the shipping industry and port business.
• In deep knowledge of man management, coordination with stack holder and leading the team.
• Requires knowledge in all functions of container terminal / port.

Skills:

• Ability to sustain high level of activity and energy with a business-like approach to daily challenges.
• Effective negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to provide leadership, obtain cooperation and assistance to meet objectives.
• Strong drive to deliver results
• Sensitive to cultural diversity and experience in a multicultural environment, in regard to employees, local authorities and other stakeholders.
• Ability to work under pressure environment with constant change of priorities.
• Good communication skills with the ability to communicate outside and across the organization.
• Ability to communicate in English (Speaking/Reading).
• Ability to work on weekends, night, holidays and for long period of time.

Major Competencies:

• Analysis: Locating or extracting relevant information that is critical to problem solving.
• Coaching: Guiding and motivating others in maximizing job performance.
• Conflict Management: Facilitating problem resolution while maintaining working relationships.
• Decisiveness: Evaluating information or situations, assuming the risks, and making judgements.
• Integrity: Adhering to a code of standards or values.
• Leadership: Envisioning organizational excellence and motivating others to aspire to that state.
• Planning: Strategizing for both the short and the long term.

Job Dimension
Working Areas:

• Indoor / Outdoor: Indoor & Outdoor
• Hours of Work: 12 hours Shifts (Day / Night)
• On Call: Yes

Does the job involve travel?

• Local - Lagos: Limited
• Contact after Hours: Yes.