Director Ocean Health Rotterdam • &deBlauw

You are a visionary leader with a passion for protecting our planet. With an entrepreneurial mindset and a strategic vision, you are ready to build impactful projects. As Van Oord’s new Director Ocean Health, you will lead the Ocean Health business line and shape the future of marine biodiversity.

In this role, you will spearhead the growth of the Ocean Health initiative, develop innovative business models, and drive the acquisition of strategic projects and clients. You will actively identify market opportunities, establish key partnerships, and set the M&A agenda for this pioneering sector.

Over the next three to five years, you will scale the business to a turnover of approximately €50 million, with the potential to reach €200 million beyond 2030. The portfolio includes a mix of consultancy assignments, project development, tenders and projects. Your network encompasses investors, NGOs, governmental bodies, technology institutes, competence centres, and other key stakeholders.

As a proven team leader and coach, you cultivate strong internal and external relationships while guiding your team of five employees to success. Your leadership enables you to expand the Ocean Health team, adding roles in engineering consultancy, development and contracting. Together with your team, you are in charge of building the company’s global reputation in the marine biodiversity and ecosystem market.

You have a direct reporting line to the Executive Committee and are responsible for P&L. 

Van Oord is a Dutch, family-owned company with over 150 years of experience as an international marine contractor specialising in dredging, engineering and offshore projects (oil, gas, and wind). The company is an innovative partner for their clients and has been helping to create the infrastructure for the world of tomorrow. Van Oord values open communication with clients and stakeholders. The company culture is one of entrepreneurship and engaged employees. The company thinks and acts with responsibility and focuses on the long term.

The growing world population needs more space and the demand for energy is rising constantly. Increasing world trade requires more and better port facilities and climate change is threatening coastal areas. Van Oord provides innovative solutions for these maritime challenges. In addition to two strong business units dedicated to climate adaptation (Dredging & Infra) and energy transition (Offshore Energy), Van Oord aims to accelerate and its efforts in marine biodiversity with the creation of the Ocean Health business line.

Van Oord is committed to making a positive impact. As the demand for more sustainable marine solutions increases, Van Oord’s Ocean Health mission will focus on enhancing biodiversity and restoring marine ecosystems at scale, drawing on the company’s extensive expertise in nature restoration. The company has defined five ecosystems on which its Ocean Health line will act; mangrove, coral, shellfish, seagrass and seaweed.