Chief Operating Officer

About Southern Ports
Southern Ports is a Western Australian Government-owned port authority operating three gateway ports in Albany, Bunbury and Esperance, facilitating more than 30 million tonnes of trade each year. Guided by the vision of strong regional ports, strong regions, Southern Ports connects regional strengths to global opportunities.
 
The Opportunity
Southern Ports is at a pivotal point. The organisation is redesigning its Executive Leadership Team and regional leadership model to drive sustainable growth and capture emerging trade opportunities across regional Western Australia. This evolution is underpinned by a $100 million-plus capital program and ongoing investment in digital and operational technology.

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the Chief Operating Officer provides strategic leadership across trade, customer outcomes and port operations. In a significant evolution of the portfolio, you will integrate trade and business development with port operations, creating a single point of executive accountability for customer outcomes and driving sustainable growth, asset utilisation and commercial performance. You will lead enterprise operations through Regional General Managers who hold accountability for day-to-day port operations, aligning market demand and customer commitments with safe, efficient and reliable delivery.
 
About You
This is an exceptional opportunity to lead operations across three diverse and growing regional ports at a pivotal point of organisational evolution.

You are an enterprise leader with senior executive experience in ports, logistics, infrastructure or related industries. You have integrated commercial strategy with operational delivery, with a track record of driving growth, customer outcomes and financial performance. You bring strong commercial acumen, experience leading complex, multi-site operations through senior leadership teams, and deep understanding of operational risk, safety, marine and regulatory environments. You demonstrate resilience and judgement in high-pressure environments, navigating ambiguity and competing priorities, and use commodity market and supply chain insight to inform decision-making.

The following will be highly regarded:

• Experience in commodity markets and supply chain dynamics
• Experience in organisational transformation or operating model redesign
• Understanding of regional Western Australia and community drivers
• Track record of fostering collaboration and enterprise-first thinking across regions
• Postgraduate qualifications in business or a related discipline

 
Location
This role can be based in Albany, Bunbury, Esperance or Perth and will require regular travel across all port locations. Each location offers distinctive regional lifestyle opportunities with strong community connections, excellent schools and healthcare, and proximity to pristine natural environments.

To Apply
Please click on the "Additional Information" button to download a copy of the Candidate Information Pack. For more information, please contact email  Lindsay Woods at lwoods@derwentsearch.com.au quoting reference number 34335. To apply: Please lodge your application via the link in this advertisement. Applications close COB Friday 22nd May 2026.