Operations Planner at Lekki Freeport Terminal

Lekki Freeport Terminal (LFT) operates as the container terminal at Lekki Deep Sea Port, which is Nigeria's first true deep-sea port and one of the most advanced maritime gateways in West Africa. Strategically positioned within the Lagos Free Zone in Ibeju-Lekki, LFT is dedicated to connecting global trade to Nigeria in a sustainable manner, utilising robust automation, digitisation, and innovation from the moment vessels board to the delivery of cargo while adhering to international safety standards.

The terminal takes advantage of deep water, with a draft of up to 16.5 m, and modern ship-to-shore capabilities, enabling it to accommodate large vessels and handle significant cargo volumes. This is part of a port complex designed to scale for millions of TEUs annually. The depth and infrastructure of the terminal contribute to reducing logistics costs and alleviating congestion along the Lagos corridor, establishing LFT as a key driver of regional trade growth. As Nigeria’s latest maritime gateway, LFT provides world-class port operations, integrating cutting-edge equipment, data-driven processes, and a culture of innovation to ensure faster, safer, and more reliable cargo flows for both shippers and shipping lines.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Operations Planner

Location: Ibeju Lekki, Lagos
Employment Type: Full-time
Department: Operations
Reporting to: Assistant Manager - Planning
Indirect Reporting to: Operations Planning Manager

Job Purpose
Project Phase:

• As a support to the superuser team, engage in project implementation activities ensuring planning and operations department are built, designed and ready for the operational go live.

Operational Phase:

• Responsible for maintaining proper and efficient Operations planning in consideration of port regulations and rules, vessel particulars, optimum yard stacking and utilization, safety, cost control and productivity as main aspects to drive the development of the work, and with proper usage of TOS and other related systems and applications.
• At the same time, also having proper communication with internal and external customers.

Major Job Responsibilities
Project Phase:

• Actively follow and promote the LFT Safety and Security policies and ensure that fellow employees and visitors are doing the same.
• Support LFT operations superusers on preparation and revision of standard procedures for operations department.
• Support LFT operations superusers on preparation and revision of training manuals for internal training programs.
• Support LFT operations superusers on execution of additional end user training on overall departmental processes and terminal applications (i.e TOS).
• Support LFT operations superusers on setting & configuration of different system`s modules.
• Be involved on several lab & live equipment tests demand during TOS (and other system`s) implementation and interfaces as supportive role to LFT operations superusers
• Report to LFT operations superusers issues and results of executed tests and follow up solutions.
• Involve in implementation of best practices.

Operational Phase:

• Actively follow and promote the LFT Safety and Security policies and ensure that fellow employees and visitors are doing the same.
• Work closely with other departments to ensure smooth process flow.
• Report all issues not described in the SOP to your supervisor in writing immediately.
• Ensure efficient handover every shift change.
• Prepare and share set of reports as required by management.
• Undertake all and any related planning duties within the capabilities as required.

Vessel/Barge Planning:

• Liaise with the lines in having the discharge BAPLIE and MOVINS received within the deadlines as stipulated.
• Create all vessel profiles and structure in Ship Editor when needed and/or save/rename the files received from Vessel Operators (i.e NSD) following the SOP.
• Prepare, execute, and monitor working cranes sequence in accordance with company`s needs and targets, focusing on the optimal equipment deployment and utilization.
• Prepare the discharge and load sequence in accordance with the SOP and in attempt to achieve best productivity possible looking also to the safety and cost aspect.
• Ensure utilization of optimum planning approach during workload (i.e crane density calculation, dual cycle, and twin lift planning)
• Prepare the required set of documents and hand over to execution.
• Ensure to get Vessel`s command approval of pre stow plan prior operations without delays and as well on post completion departure Edi.
• Coordinate with the lines for any major changes requested by the vessel.
• Provide pre stow plan to Vessel Operator as soon as Vessel`s command approves the pre stow and final departure plan upon completion of operation.
• Ensure with the assistance of dispatchers that operations are running as per planning and proceed with changes in the planning every time it`s required. Advise peers of any required adjustments to crane sequence, crane allocations, ETC in accordance with the changing work priorities, etc.
• Participate in close teamwork with peers to ensure an effective overall terminal planning is maintained to high standards internally and externally.
• In charge of sharing and maintaining set of live reports internally and to customers, related to operations progress and performance as per SOP.
• Ensure correct data capture to prevent flaws that affect berth, vessel, and yard operations productivity.
• Upon completion of vessel operation, in charge to get through the Agent and Port Control the pilot to sail the vessel in time to receive next vessel.
• Ensure shorter vessel interchange between vessels by monitoring vessel operations and smooth communication with Port Control and Vessel Operators/Agent.

Yard Planning:

• Act as focal point for any yard planning operations related matter.
• Lead and mentor “Dispatchers” to ensure they are properly executing their tasks and using TOS functionalities appropriately.
• Constantly monitoring of dispatcher`s workload and assist on their task every time needed.
• Effectively plan yard layouts of all container categories according to segregation requirement within the yard, using set of parameters and based on yard strategy.
• Check container stacks to have proper preparation for the vessel’s operation.
• Monitoring of the export stacks while receiving exports, ensuring they are stacked as per allocation.
• Close monitoring of the import stacks for longstanding containers and sending out reminders to the lines to arrange clearance as the earliest.
• Monitoring the empty damaged unit’s evacuation from yard to avoid longstanding, communicating with the internal staff and Lines.
• Responsible to maintain yard integrity and taking necessary action when required.
• Monitor the ICD’s declared for the respective vessels and check if are cleared within the allocated time frame, alternatively convert same to the local imports and information passed on to the lines.
• Close monitoring of Special container (IMO, Reefers, OOG) segregation in yard, taking necessary actions when required.
• Control, check and avoid on daily bases Chimney stacks in the yard.
• Plan and lead the daily yard activities involving all required staff and recourses making sure all planned moves are executed and updated properly in the yard.

Critical Success Factors
Project Phase:

• Achieve and maintain all terminal KPIs.
• Project milestones related to operations are achieved and having no delays

Operational Phase:

• Vessel Planning:
  • Achieve and maintain all terminal KPIs.
  • Vessel Crane Splits and loading sequence are finalized before vessel`s berthing.
  • Keep evidence of all correspondences with Agents, Vessel Operators and Shipping Lines on vessel operations instructions.
  • All updates in N4 are executed by written instructions from operation.
  • Zero discrepancies between planning and execution.
  • No delay in mail and correspondent handling.
  • All reports assigned by the management are executed without delay and fault.
  • Seamless handover between shifts.
• Yard Planning:
  • Achieve and maintain all terminal KPIs.
  • All import containers in yard are planned and stacked correctly by size, type, category, status and group always.
  • Export and transshipment containers all located and grouped stacked according to vessel, port of discharge, type and weight grades before vessel berthing.
  • No event of container loss. If containers are missing, to be identified, and closely investigated and followed up.
  • Yard Strategy is respected.
  • Closely follow up on longstanding and damaged containers` evacuation.
  • Proper set of allocations and in properly use.
  • 100%-yard Integrity.
  • Closely follow up on the daily yard activities.
  • All yard reports assigned by the management are executed without delay and fault

Qualifications & Experiences

Major Competencies

Job Dimension

Application Closing Date
3rd June, 2026.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online