Marine Director - Bulk Carrier

Client of Direct Search Asia; Dubai; On-site; AED 440,690 - 587,587; Full time

Job summary

Client of Direct Search Asia is seeking an experienced Marine Director in Dubai to lead all marine operations for a fleet of Bulk Carriers. The role involves driving safety, operational excellence, and ensuring regulatory compliance across the fleet while supporting long-term strategic objectives.

The ideal candidate will have a Master Mariner Class1 Certificate and extensive shore-based experience in Bulk Carrier operations, along with proven leadership skills. Responsibilities include managing team performance and liaising with external stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of shore-based experience within Bulk Carrier operations.
• At least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Experience managing marine operations in a ship management environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead marine operations across the Bulk Carrier fleet.
• Ensure vessels comply with international regulations.
• Develop departmental budgets and manpower plans.

Skills

Leadership in marine operations

Safety culture promotion

Stakeholder management

IS Code understanding

Regulatory compliance

Education

Master Mariner Class1 Certificate of Competency

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Marine Director to lead the marine and nautical functions for a fleet of Bulk Carriers under an in‑house ship management setup. The successful candidate will be responsible for driving safety, operational excellence, navigational standards and regulatory compliance across the fleet while supporting the company's long‑term strategic objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for all marine operations across the Bulk Carrier fleet.
• Ensure vessels operate in compliance with international regulations, flag‑state requirements, charterer expectations and company standards.
• Lead and develop the Marine team, fostering a strong safety culture and continuous‑improvement mindset.
• Provide guidance and support to Masters on navigational, cargo and operational matters.
• Monitor fleet performance and establish KPIs to drive operational excellence and reduce incidents.
• Lead investigations into incidents, accidents, near‑misses and navigational deficiencies, implementing corrective and preventive actions.
• Oversee RightShip inspections, PSC inspections, flag‑state inspections, internal audits and external vetting requirements to maintain fleet quality and reputation.
• Ensure compliance with ISM Code, SOLAS, MARPOL, MLC and other applicable international regulations.
• Collaborate closely with Technical, HSSEQ, Crewing, Commercial and Chartering teams to optimize vessel performance and operational efficiency.
• Maintain strong relationships with owners, charterers, classification societies, P&I Clubs, flag administrations and other external stakeholders.
• Support vessel acquisitions, new‑building projects, fleet expansion initiatives and operational due diligence when required.
• Participate in emergency response and crisis management activities.
• Develop departmental budgets, manpower plans and succession‑planning strategies.
• Represent the company at industry events, customer meetings and regulatory engagements.

Qualifications

• Master Mariner Class1 Certificate of Competency.
• Minimum 10 years of shore‑based experience within Bulk Carrier operations, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Strong experience managing marine operations for a Bulk Carrier fleet under a shipowner or ship management environment.
• In‑depth knowledge of Bulk Carrier operations, cargo handling, RightShip requirements, PSC inspections and international maritime regulations.
• Strong understanding of ISM Code, SOLAS, MARPOL and industry best practices.
• Proven leadership experience managing Marine Superintendents and shore‑based marine teams.
• Experience dealing with charterers, classification societies, flag administrations and P&I Clubs.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management and decision‑making skills.
• Commercial awareness with the ability to balance safety, operational performance and business objectives.