Terminal Yard Planner

The Gloucester Marine Terminal is operated by Gloucester Terminals LLC and offers stevedoring and break bulk services. The terminal, located in the Port of Philadelphia has direct access to highways as well as three rail lines that transit across the United States and Canada, providing unrivaled turnaround times for our partners.

Department: Containers

The role of the Terminal Yard Planner is to plan, coordinate, and optimize all night shift container yard operations through effective use of the NAVIS N4 Terminal Operating System (TOS). This position is responsible for ensuring safe, efficient, and highly organized cargo movement by driving yard execution through system-based planning, accurate inventory control, and real-time operational adjustments.

The Terminal Yard Planner serves as the central decision-maker for yard strategy, balancing vessel discharge requirements, yard capacity, and warehouse production needs. This role ensures that all container moves are intentional, traceable, and aligned with operational priorities, minimizing rehandles, congestion, and inefficiencies.

This role requires a proactive, forward-looking approach - anticipating constraints, managing yard inventory through NAVIS N4, and positioning the operation for sustained throughput and accuracy across shifts.

Core Responsibilities

• Plan and manage all night shift yard activity through NAVIS N4, ensuring all container moves are system-driven, optimized, and accurately executed.
• Develop and maintain a structured yard plan that supports vessel discharge, container stripping operations, and overall terminal throughput.
• Coordinate vessel discharge operations by pre-planning container placement, block utilization, and equipment flow to minimize rehandles and maximize efficiency.
• Ensure the operation supports key production targets, including Sunday night Del Monte volume and daily stripping goals, by proactively staging containers and aligning yard strategy with warehouse demand.
• Maintain full ownership of yard inventory accuracy within NAVIS N4, ensuring all container locations are correct, updated in real-time, and aligned with physical yard conditions.
• Monitor and manage yard congestion through system visibility, adjusting plans as needed to maintain fluid container movement between vessel, yard, and warehouse operations.
• Drive reduction of unproductive moves ("digging") by enforcing disciplined container placement strategies and block management within the TOS.
• Utilize NAVIS N4 tools to sequence moves, prioritize work queues, and optimize equipment utilization across the yard.
• Provide clear operational direction to supervisors based on the yard plan, ensuring execution aligns with system priorities and planned workflows.
• Ensure equipment is positioned and utilized in alignment with the yard plan, maximizing uptime and minimizing idle or inefficient movement.
• Maintain accountability for operational technology (iPads, radios, and system access), ensuring proper use of NAVIS N4 and accurate data input by all users.
• Enforce strict compliance with system usage, ensuring all moves are captured in NAVIS N4 and eliminating off-system activity.
• Conduct continuous yard assessments to validate alignment between system data and physical container locations, correcting discrepancies immediately.
• Identify operational bottlenecks through both system data and field observation, implementing real-time adjustments to maintain production flow.
• Maintain strong coordination with vessel operations, warehouse teams, and other terminal divisions to ensure alignment between planning and execution.
• Establish and monitor performance expectations (e.g., moves per hour) using both operational observation and system data, driving continuous improvement.
• Maintain a visible leadership presence while operating as the central planner, ensuring both field execution and system control remain aligned.
• Address performance, safety, and operational issues promptly, reinforcing accountability across all levels of the operation.
• Communicate detailed operational updates, system performance, and yard status to day shift leadership, including a comprehensive nightly recap driven by NAVIS N4 data and key metrics.
• Support terminal leadership in building a data-driven, system-reliant culture focused on safety, accountability, accuracy, and operational excellence.
• Identify and implement process improvements related to yard planning, system utilization, and equipment efficiency to enhance overall terminal performance.

Required Skills / Experience

• Strong understanding of container terminal operations with emphasis on yard planning and flow optimization.
• Experience working with Terminal Operating Systems, preferably NAVIS N4, including planning, inventory control, and move execution.
• Proven ability to manage operations through system-based decision making rather than reactive field control.
• Experience supervising multiple layers of leadership (supervisors and equipment operators) in a high-tempo environment.
• Deep understanding of yard inventory management, container tracking, and location accuracy.
• Ability to analyze and act on operational data to drive efficiency and reduce rehandles.
• Ability to maintain discipline in both operational execution and system compliance.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to adjust plans in real time.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate planning strategy into clear field direction.
• Ability to coordinate across vessel, yard, and warehouse operations effectively.
• Forward-thinking mindset with a focus on planning, anticipation, and continuous improvement.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail in both system data and yard execution.
• Ability to lead the transition to a system-driven, data-centric yard operation.

What We Offer:

We believe that taking care of our team is just as important as the work we do. Here’s what you can expect when you join us:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage – Medical, dental, and vision plans for you and your family
• Life Insurance – basic life insurance provided by the company plus voluntary life insurance available for purchase
• Flexible Spending – Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending available plus Transit and Parking options
• Paid Time Off –PTO, vacation days, holidays and extended sick leave
• Retirement Plans – 401(k) with company match to help you plan for the future
• Professional Development – Access to training, conferences, and learning resources
• Wellness Support – Mental health resources, company wellness events, financial incentives for wellness programs
• Team Culture – Inclusive, collaborative environment with regular team events and recognition programs

We’re committed to creating a workplace where you can thrive - personally and professionally.