Party Chief

AVENTA; Occitanie; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

AVENTA is seeking a Party Chief to lead survey operations on offshore and marine projects in France and Spain. You will prepare, acquire, and process high-precision hydrographic and geophysical data, reporting deviations to project teams and clients.

You will act as the on-site focal point for survey matters, driving safe, high-quality, cost-efficient execution while guiding junior crew and coordinating with management. Fluency in English is required; other languages a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Surveying/Geomatics/Hydrography/Oceanography or equivalent.
• 7+ years as Party Chief in marine, dredging or offshore environments.
• Deep knowledge of hydrographic survey techniques and equipment.
• Experience with USBL/LBL and MBES systems.
• Offshore safety certifications and medical clearance required.
• Eligible to work in France and Spain with valid visa/work permit.
• Fluent English; Dutch a plus.

Responsibilities

• Determine, install and configure hydrographic and geophysical measurement equipment for each project.
• Oversee calibration and verification of onboard positioning, sensor and survey systems.
• Measure, collect and process survey data before, during and after project execution.
• Conduct field checks and quality control against specifications and standards.
• Verify data accuracy, interpret results and maintain project survey databases.
• Prepare survey reports and present results to management and clients.
• Act as technical onsite focal point for survey questions and progress.
• Monitor equipment function and organise maintenance.
• Troubleshoot operational issues in real time to minimize downtime.

Skills

Hydrographic survey techniques

Sensor calibration

Offshore navigation systems

MBES USBL LBL

Leadership & client liaison

Fluent English

Rigour & attention to detail

Dutch language a plus

Education

Bachelor's degree in Surveying, Geomatics, Hydrography or Oceanography

GWO, BOSIET/HUET, CA-EBS, VCA

NEBOSH or equivalent QHSE

Offshore medical

Passport/visa eligibility for France/Spain

Job description

For one of our clients, a world-leading marine contractor active in dredging, offshore energy and infra marine works, we are looking for a Party Chief to lead survey operations on their offshore and marine projects in France and Spain. You will prepare, acquire and process high-precision hydrographic and geophysical survey data, and report results and any deviations to Project Management and client representatives, in line with contractual agreements and technical specifications. As the on-site focal point for all survey matters, you will contribute directly to safe, high-quality and cost-efficient project execution.

What you will do

Determine, select and install the hydrographic and geophysical measurement equipment required for each project

Oversee the calibration, configuration and verification of onboard positioning, sensor and survey systems before operations

Measure, collect and process survey data before, during and after project execution

Carry out field checks and quality control against project specifications and contractual standards

Verify accuracy, interpret data, identify deviations and build and maintain structured project survey databases

Compile survey reports and deliverables, and present and explain the results to Project Management and client representatives

Act as the key technical focal point on site for survey questions and operational progress

Monitor the functioning and accuracy of measurement equipment and organise routine and preventivemaintenance

Troubleshoot operational and sensor issues in real time to keep project downtime to a minimum

What you bring

Bachelor's degree in Surveying, Geomatics, Hydrography, Oceanography or equivalent, or equivalent proven experience

7+ years of experience as a Party Chief in marine, dredging or offshore construction environments

In-depth knowledge of hydrographic survey techniques, sensor calibration and marine measurement equipment

Extensive hands-on experience with offshore navigation and surface positioning systems

Proven experience with subsea acoustic positioning (USBL / LBL) and multibeam echo sounders (MBES)

Full GWO, BOSIET / HUET with CA-EBS, VCA (or equivalent) and NEBOSH (or equivalent QHSE

qualification)

Valid offshore medical (Fit for Offshore), Chester Step Test and shoulder measurement

Eligible to work in France and Spain, with a valid passport and any required visa or work permit

Fluent English, written and spoken; Dutch or other languages are a plus

Rigour, attention to detail and a constructive, client-facing leadership style

What we offer

A long-term assignment with a world-leading marine contractor on offshore and marine projects in France and Spain, working on rotation from January to July 2027 as the survey lead on site. Start date: ASAP.