Deserve to operate as a dockside worker (9)
I believe the answer is:
stevedore
'a dockside worker' is the definition.
(someone who works at a dock)
'deserve to operate' is the wordplay.
'operate' indicates anagramming the letters.
'deserve'+'to'='deserveto'
'deserveto' with letters rearranged gives 'STEVEDORE'.
'as' is the link.
(Other definitions for stevedore that I've seen before include "one working in docks" , "Hold worker" , "he'll have loads on board" , "Worker who loads and unloads ships" , "Dock-worker loads and unloads ships" .)