Kai van der Mandele

Project Manager at SPIE Nederland

Rotterdam and The Hague

About

Maritime Operational Excellence Manager | Passionate about driving innovation and fresh perspectives to solve complex challenges in maritime and technical environments. I thrive in situations that demand out-of-the-box thinking and a strategic mindset. A natural motivator, I bring enthusiasm and energy to every challenge, inspiring teams to push boundaries and achieve excellence. Committed to mentoring and empowering others, I take pride in fostering growth and continuous improvement. With a goal-oriented mindset, I leverage the Continuous Improvement (CI) toolbox to optimize operations, enhance efficiency, and deliver impactful results. Always ready to go the extra mile to ensure success.

Experience

  • Project Manager at SPIE Nederland
    Feb 2026 - Present · 6 mos

  • Stolt Tankers (Full-time · 14 yrs 2 mos)
    • Project Manager
      Apr 2022 - Feb 2026 · 3 yrs 11 mos

      - Program management CI@Sea - Develop and run the Continuous Improvement Mindset program across 100 seagoing chemical tankers. Develop structure and standards. Develop CI training material and provide training. Coach ship superintendents and crew on the use of CI tooling. Establish an innovation engine (including digital tooling) which can promote an improvement idea from a single ship to fleetwide implementation. - Program management / PMO Operational excellence - Manage the governance and track progress of the company operational excellence program which delivers >$10mln annualized value. Coach PM’s, analysts and project leads. - PMO strategy deployment - Facilitate and organize the Steering Committee meetings of the company strategic transformation programs. - Lead Think Tank – Facilitate and participate in an internal think tank to develop strategies around market developments. - Coach - Assist various (green belt) initiative teams in project management and the use of CI tooling. Facilitation – Workshops / meetings / team events

    • PMO officer
      Nov 2020 - Apr 2022 · 1 yr 6 mos

    • Vetting Superintendent
      Jan 2012 - Nov 2020 · 8 yrs 11 mos

      Supervise the industry vetting process for a group of allocated ships (approx 20) in order to maintain all assigned vessels ‘acceptable’ status in accordance with the company’s policy to fully and consistently meet all customer’s quality requirements.

  • Chief officer at NSTM
    Sep 2010 - Aug 2011 · 1 yr

    on board chemical tankers: Global Sea and Global Earth My main responsibilities were all cargo related planning/operations and all maintenance on deck, In order to complete all associated duties, I led a team of up to ten professionals. Furthermore, I was responsible for all cargo related documents.

  • Second officer at Chemical Tankers Europe
    Apr 2010 - Sep 2010 · 6 mos

    on board chemical tanker: Nena K My main responsibilities were passage planning, cargo/navigational watch-keeping and to get familiarized with the chemical trade

  • Marin ship management (5 yrs)
    • Chief officer
      Mar 2008 - Apr 2010 · 2 yrs 2 mos

      on board oil/chem tankers: Bro Agnes and Bro Alma My main responsibilities were all cargo related planning/operations and all maintenance on deck, In order to complete all associated duties, I led a team of up to ten professionals. Furthermore, I was responsible for all cargo related documents. I participated in the new building of both vessels

    • Chief officer
      Feb 2007 - Mar 2008 · 1 yr 2 mos

      on board oil/chem tanker: Bro Genius My main responsibilities were all cargo related planning/operations and all maintenance on deck, In order to complete all associated duties, I led a team of up to six professionals. Furthermore, I was responsible for all cargo related documents

    • Second officer
      May 2005 - Feb 2007 · 1 yr 10 mos

      on board oil/chem tanker: Bro Genius My main responsibilities were passage planning and cargo/navigational watch-keeping