Van Oord

THE POSITION

As Finance Director of the Ship Management Department (SMD), you will be a strategic partner to the SMD management team. SMD is a key contributor to Van Oord’s financial and operational success.

You will provide strong financial leadership in an asset-intensive, global shipping, maritime-project driven environment.

This role includes responsibility for finance, control, compliance, digital infrastructure (on board) and transformation projects, and sustainability-related reporting (e.g. CSRD) within SMD.

You will play a vital role in driving financial discipline, cost control, operational excellence and long-term value creation across our fleet operations, investments, and digital/maintenance programs

YOUR IMPACT

Strategic Finance & Business Partnering

• Act as senior financial business partner to the Director SMD and the SMD Management Team (MT)
• Translate Van Oord’s strategic ambitions into actionable financial direction for the Ship Management Department
• Lead financial scenario planning, forecasting and risk analysis for both vessel operations and investments
• Drive commercial acumen and decision support through data-driven insights with the internal stakeholders; Business Units (Offshore Energy and Dredging and Infra), Finance and Control (F&C) and Estimating and Engineering (E&E) departments Financial Control & Reporting
• Oversee all financial services for SMD including vessel’s Capex and Opex cost control, crew exploitation, and investment proposals, project control of Capex (new build – conversions)
• Ensure accurate, timely, and transparent financial reporting and tariff control of assets (Hire Rate Committee)
• Develop and maintain a robust financial governance framework for SMD, including tax, compliance, and cost allocations

Sustainability & CSRD Leadership

• Lead the SMD contribution to CSRD reporting and act as co-owner of the NZE (Net Zero Emissions) roadmap
• Embed sustainability metrics and controls into financial and operational processes
• Actively support preventive maintenance and energy transition investments

People & Team Leadership

• Lead and inspire a team of ±20 FTE across finance controllers, rental administration, budget controllers and IT-specialists
• Create a high-performance finance culture on a secure base basis, with a focus on continuous improvement, accountability and collaboration
• Contribute to building a strong SMD MT with clear financial and strategic direction

Digitalization & Systems

• Support and guide digital programs including keeping up to date the current on-board infrastructure and the replacement of the asset management system and the crew planning tool
• Manage the SMD stakeholder part within the company wide ERP implementation project Founding the Future
• Champion data-driven decision making and performance transparency across the department

ABOUT YOU

Van Oord is seeking a Ship Management Director who brings clarity, structure, and strategic oversight to the complex challenges of managing a technologically advanced and globally operating fleet. In this key role, you will coordinate cross-functional efforts across technical operations, crewing, compliance, and sustainability—ensuring our vessels operate safely, efficiently, and in alignment with Van Oord’s long-term maritime strategy. You understand the human and operational dynamics behind fleet transformation and are skilled at navigating ambiguity, fostering alignment, and driving execution across international teams. You are hands-on, resilient, and committed to delivering measurable impact through strategic initiatives that support:

• Fleet renewal and lifecycle optimisation, ensuring our vessels remain future-proof and competitive
• Digitalisation of ship management processes, enabling data-driven decision-making and operational excellence
• Energy transition and decarbonisation, contributing to Van Oord’s sustainability ambitions and compliance with evolving environmental regulations
• You excel at connecting people, processes, and priorities, ensuring that ship management programs are not only well-conceived but also effectively implemented across the organisation. You are skilled in stakeholder management, balancing long-term strategic goals with short-term operational realities. With a strong sense of ownership, you proactively identify opportunities for improvement and help the ship management leadership team stay focused, aligned, and accountable
• You thrive in bringing structure to complexity, translating strategy into action, and enabling cross-functional teams to deliver results
• You are comfortable operating in an international maritime context and engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, from fleet engineers and crewing managers to senior leadership and external partners

Organizational Context

This role is part of the senior leadership team within SMD and reports to both the CFO and Director SMD. The Finance Director is also a member of the Hire Rate Committee and Green Fuel Fund Committee and will have a key voice in shaping Van Oord’s future fleet, finance function, and sustainability agenda.

Your credentials

• Master’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or equivalent
• 15+ years of progressive experience in finance leadership roles, ideally in asset-heavy industries (e.g., shipping, oil & gas, maritime, capital intensive infrastructure)
• Proven track record in managing complex capex programs, sound project control, and proactive cost optimization
• Experience with ship operations, vessel finance, crew exploitation is a must on maritime logistics is a strong plus
• Familiarity with ESG and CSRD regulations and reporting is highly desirable
• Demonstrated ability to align finance with operational and commercial priorities

Competencies:

• Strong analytical and strategic mindset with a bias for execution
• Excellent communicator who can engage stakeholders from boardroom to vessel
• Visionary leader with operational pragmatism and a hands-on mentality
• High integrity, structured thinker, and result-oriented
• Resilient and adaptive to change; able to lead in a dynamic, global environment
• Fluent in English; Dutch is a plus

WE OFFER YOU

At Van Oord, you’ll contribute to our mission: building a better world for future generations. We offer:

• A key role within Van Oord’s HR team, with direct impact on our strategic direction. 
• Competitive salary based on experience and responsibilities. 
• Company Car. 
• 32 leave days per year. 
• Variable bonus. 
• Pension scheme. 
• Optional collective health insurance. 
• Flexible hybrid working policy (2 days/week from home). 
• Extensive learning and development opportunities, including GoodHabitz online courses.
• Access to communities like Young Van Oord, Van Oord Women, and the staff association.
• Participation in sports and social events (e.g. winter sports, sailing weekends, cycling tours).