Chief Strategy & Operations Officer

The Mission

The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMMCZCS) is a global leader in the transition towards sustainable and environmentally responsible shipping practices. Our mission is to drive the development and implementation of innovative solutions to achieve zero carbon shipping, protecting our planet's future while advancing the maritime industry. With a wide network of partners, we build confidence in new concepts and mature viable pathways to drive systemic change.

Established in 2020, the Center has expanded over its first five years to include more than 100 partner organizations across the maritime shipping ecosystem. Our unique partnership model involves secondees from our 20+ strategic partners, who come to work as part of the team based in Copenhagen. The team today consists of more than 150 people from 30 nations, including subject matter experts across energy and technology, maritime business and operations, and climate finance and regulation. The Center has established itself as an independent thought leader, driving a platform for eco-system collaboration. Together with our partners, we work to co-create visions and pathways as well as analyses, methodologies, concepts and standards to scale-up adoption across the industry. The Center is currently running more than thirty projects integrating technology, economy and regulation.

We have recently undergone an organizational redesign to operationalize our updated strategy through 2030. Our new structure consists of five units, three of which are called “Impact Hubs”: 

• Impact Hub Regulation & Policy
• Impact Hub Energy & Fuels
• Impact Hub Fleet Transition
• Data, Insights & Analytics
• Strategy & Operations

The Impact Hubs will be empowered to work with a high level of autonomy, in alignment with the Center strategy. All five units are working in collaboration towards one common goal: “To be an independent and significant driver of sustainable maritime decarbonization.”

The Opportunity

We are now looking for a Chief Strategy and Operations Officer (CSO), who will lead strategy development and the work with our strategic partners, while also ensuring operational excellence.

The role will be instrumental in further developing the Center strategy, driving key processes related to planning and resource allocation at Center level, and leading the Center’s critically important enabling functions: Strategy & Partnerships, Portfolio, People & Culture, Finance & IT, Legal, and Communications & Advocacy.  

Key Responsibilities

Lead the development and execution of the supporting and enabling functions as an integrated part of the Center. These functions need to be part of the strategizing and planning processes, while operating to ensure smooth, flawless execution. Issues related to IT, finance, and legal have been identified as the largest risks for the Center, making it imperative to maintain strong governance and operational excellence in these areas. The Chief Strategy & Operations Officer is responsible for upholding the Center’s high standards by leading the operational, enabling, and support functions that are critical to its development and day-to-day operations.

Lead the People & Culture function, ensuring an attractive and productive workplace. The mission and the operating model require special attention to people and culture, continually aiming to improve the workplace for people to grow and thrive, at the same time as impact is generated in a culture of e.g. care, collaboration and alignment towards our vision. 

• Lead the update of Center strategy and the continual update of the Center ‘theory of change’, i.e. the understanding of Center impact with due consideration to the macro-trends in the bigger picture, e.g. in regular updates of ‘Maritime Decarbonization Outlook’. 
• Drive the overall planning and resource allocation processes (e.g. portfolio meetings, Board of Directors meetings, Advisory Board meetings), where the Center portfolio is reviewed and adjusted, so that all activities of the Center are aligned across industry transition strategy, Center strategy, Hub plans and Center portfolio.
• Partner strategy and coordination: Ensure the partner portfolio is optimized across all partner categories, that the value proposition is maintained, and that efforts towards partners are coordinated in all aspects.
• Ensure that funding is secured where relevant to support the Center’s strategic initiatives and long-term impact. This includes identifying funding opportunities, engaging with philanthropic donors, industry partners, and other stakeholders, and ensuring that financial resources are effectively allocated to priority projects.
• Function as an active Key Engagement Manager for strategic partners, proactively securing a clear strategic and value-adding approach for both existing and new partners as well as more operational agreements with partners on secondees.  
• Inspire, influence, lead by example and act as a visible lighthouse for the culture of the Center across your own unit as well as the general organization.
• Drive a culture of systems thinking, including planning for impact with reference to the bigger picture
• Play an integral role in the Center leadership, contributing strategically and with a holistic perspective across all leadership agendas, as needed.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for an experienced strategist and leader who possesses a combination of interpersonal and strategy development skills, and is able to effectively convey information, build relationships, and contribute to the overall success of Strategy & Operations as well as the Center in general. To succeed in this role, you must combine a strategic mindset with a pragmatic, structured, and efficient approach. Ideally, you recognize yourself in the following description: 

• A strategic leader with strong interpersonal skills and leadership experience, with the ability to facilitate a top-level strategic dialogue with key-level stakeholders across the eco-system of industry, public sector and NGOs. 
• Able to facilitate, drive and establish Center strategy through an engaging personal leadership style and a leadership toolbox working from top strategic level to executional level. 
• Experience and credibility – preferably at senior leadership level with experience from shipping, energy, NGO – in combination or elements thereof.    
• Proven leadership in strategy, partnerships, portfolio management, and operations (including finance, IT, people & culture, legal, and communications functions)
• The ideal candidate has a management strategy background and toolbox, combined with senior leadership experience from operational responsibilities as well as a strong drive for doing well by doing good

What’s in it for you?

Work is more than a job to us. We are deeply motivated by the opportunity to drive a sustainable transition towards a greener future for shipping. You will join an ambitious team of engaged, skilled, and energized people working with great determination towards a tough, but highly meaningful goal. You will also be part of the leadership of a multicultural, dynamic, and mission-driven workplace.

You will work at the very front of the green transition, adding meaningful contributions to a more sustainable future not only for shipping, but for the planet. This is a unique opportunity to make your mark on the shipping industry while at the forefront of decarbonization. In addition to learning and development opportunities, the role will enable you to build an unparalleled network of relationships with key C-level stakeholders across the maritime world.

In this diverse workplace, you can expect:

• An international, talented team of mission-driven colleagues
• An innovative and collaborative workplace with room for growth and development
• A caring and social work environment that fosters collective success
• Opportunity to expand your knowledge base and take responsibility for innovation in the future of shipping

The position is full-time and based in our office in Nordhavn, Copenhagen.

We are supportive of the visa process and welcome international candidates who are willing to relocate. If your qualifications match the requirements for a specific role, we can assist with the work visa process. 

We value the diversity of our talent in all its forms, and we see diversity as a genuine source of strength for building high-performing teams. Any information sent to us will be treated with full confidentiality and in accordance with applicable data protection legislation.

The recruitment process

If you are passionate about leveraging your expertise/skills to drive positive change in the maritime industry and contribute to a more sustainable future, we would love to hear from you.

Please submit your CV and short motivational letter no later than the 30^th of April 2025.
We will conduct interviews with relevant candidates on an ongoing basis and complete the recruitment process when the right candidate is found.

We have teamed up with Amrop on this recruitment. If you have any questions, you are more than welcome to direct them to Consultant, Emil Nielsson at emil.nielsson@amrop.dk or T: + 45 21 20 83 76.