Head of Equipment

OverviewThe Head of Equipment & Maintenance is accountable for the end‑to‑end governance, availability, safety, lifecycle optimisation, and cost efficiency of all terminal equipment and technical assets at HHLA PLT Italy. The role provides strategic and operational leadership over engineering, maintenance, and technical projects, ensuring alignment with HHLA Group standards, local regulatory requirements, and terminal operational objectives. The position acts as the single point of accountability for equipment reliability, CAPEX planning, outsourced maintenance performance, and technical risk management, reporting directly to the COO.ResponsibilitiesEquipment Strategy & Asset Lifecycle Management – Define and implement the terminal equipment strategy, covering acquisition, utilisation, maintenance, refurbishment, and end‑of‑life. Own and continuously update the Asset Roadmap, ensuring alignment with volume growth, service mix, and LG expansion.Maintenance Governance & Reliability – Establish and enforce preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance frameworks, approve and monitor annual maintenance plans, and ensure equipment availability targets are met. Enforce strict governance of outsourced maintenance providers, including KPIs, SLAs, cost control, and contractual compliance.Safety, Compliance & Risk Management – Ensure full compliance with HSSE regulations, HHLA safety standards, and applicable ISO frameworks (9001, 14001, 45001). Own technical risk assessments related to equipment and approve deviations to risk assessments and SOPs.Digitalisation & Performance Management – Ensure correct and consistent use of asset and maintenance management systems (e.g. CMMS / MMS). Drive data‑driven equipment performance management through availability, MTBF, MTTR, cost, and safety KPIs; dashboards and reporting to HHLA PLT Management and HHLA International Management; support integration with terminal systems (TOS, planning, HSSE tools).Strategic Projects & Expansion – Lead and govern technical and equipment‑related projects, including new equipment introduction, infrastructure interfaces, modernisation, automation, and sustainability initiatives. Coordinate closely with the LG expansion project, ensuring technical readiness and operational integration; ensure smooth handover of projects into operational maintenance.Financial Accountability – Own CAPEX and OPEX related to equipment and maintenance; prepare and justify investment proposals, lifecycle cost analyses, and replacement strategies; monitor budget performance, identify variances, and implement corrective actions; drive cost optimisation without compromising safety, compliance, or service quality.Stakeholder & Group Coordination – Act as primary interface with the COO, HHLA PLT Management, HHLA International/HIG technical functions, OEMs, service providers, and regulatory bodies; contribute to Group‑wide technical initiatives, benchmarking, and standardisation.People Management & Industrial Relations – Develop technical leadership capability within the team; ensure competency development, succession planning, and performance management; cooperate with HR on workforce planning and training strategies; support management of industrial relations where maintenance activities interface with unions and contractors.Key Performance MeasuresEquipment availability and reliabilityMaintenance cost vs budgetSafety incidents and near‑miss trends (technical scope)CAPEX execution vs planVendor performance and SLA complianceAsset lifecycle cost performanceQualificationsBachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering (Master’s preferred).Minimum 10 years’ experience in port, logistics, or heavy industrial maintenance environments.At least 5 years in senior leadership roles managing multidisciplinary technical teams and outsourced service providers.Strong expertise in terminal equipment (Ro‑Ro, container, yard, rail).Proven experience in asset lifecycle management and CAPEX planning.Knowledge of ISO management systems and regulatory compliance.Strong understanding of maintenance digitalisation and performance systems.Fluent in Italian (spoken and written) and English (spoken and written).BenefitsHHLA PLT Italy is part of HHLA Group, with over 6,400 employees worldwide. Success is defined individually; we strive to create an inclusive environment that supports every employee to achieve professional development and corporate goals.Application ProcessWe look forward to receiving your application – preferably online using our application form.Disclaimer: This job description may not be inclusive of all assigned duties, responsibilities, or aspects of the job described and may be amended at any time at the sole discretion of the Employer.HHLA‑PLT is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates’ data will be treated in accordance with General Data Protection Regulation 679/2016 (GDPR).J‑18808‑Ljbffr#J-18808-Ljbffr