Director of Engineering & Vessel Appearance

Careers On The Thames; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Careers On The Thames is seeking a Director of Engineering & Vessel Appearance to lead engineering across our fleet, ensuring safety, reliability, and compliance. You will manage large teams across two sites and drive a transformation and modernisation program with a focus on LEAN, value, and performance.

The role requires defining budgets, coordinating with external agencies, suppliers, and OEMs, and delivering high standards of vessel appearance and maintenance.

Qualifications

• Extensive technical knowledge with transport background.
• Experience in regulatory environments.
• Lead teams up to 100 across multi sites.
• Demonstrable supplier management and stakeholder engagement.
• Strong project definition and delivery on time and on budget.

Responsibilities

• Accountable for safety of EVA Teams and contractors on vessels, bases, and remote sites.
• Ensure all safety processes are developed and complied with per regulations and company policies.
• Define and implement training requirements for the department.
• Maintain fleet reliability, appearance, and regulatory compliance; vessels must be safe and ready for service.
• Drive technical development of new and existing vessels and supporting infrastructure.
• Oversee budgets and business cases to COO/Executive team as appropriate.
• Lead the EVA Team and foster continuous improvement, lean safety, and efficiency.
• Review and investigate technical incidents to identify root causes and preventive actions.

Skills

Technical knowledge

Regulatory experience

People leadership

Supplier management

Project delivery

Tools

Centrik PMS

Job description

Director of Engineering & Vessel Appearance

This exciting role is accountable for all aspects of our fleet (and associated infrastructure) engineering, including maintenance, development, projects and standards. You will prioritise safety of colleagues, customers, vessels and equipment while ensuring compliance with all relevant internal and external standards and legislation, delivering exceptional levels of reliability, comfort and cleanliness for our fleet. You are responsible for leading a large team, across 2 sites through a transformation and modernisation program, enshrining a robust continuous improvement and operational excellence culture to deliver exceptional results and standards, on budget. An integral part of the Operations Leadership Team, you will collaborate closely with internal departments and external agencies such as the Marine Coastguard Agency (MCA) and you will own relationships with all engineering suppliers and OEM’s.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Accountable for the Safety of the EVA Teams and contractors on the vessels and at the Home Port, Dry Dock Facility and any other remote and/or temporary places of work for the team.
• Ensuring all safety processes are fully developed and complied with (e.g. risk assessments etc.) and as a minimum demonstrably meet all Health and Safety regulations and safe working practice as required by current legislation and the Company’s Health and Safety Policy and practices.
• Accountable for defining and implementing training requirements for the department.
• Accountable for fleet reliability, maintenance, appearance and compliance with regulatory requirements and our own internal standards. Vessels must be safe, clean and fit for service before released to the operation.
• Accountable for the effective operation of our EVA Bases, including dry docking operations.
• To drive the technical development of new and existing vessels, supporting infrastructure and engineering supply chain requirements.
• To ensure all work carried out by the department is of the highest standard, with a strict adherence to the International Safety Management code and UBTC Safety Management Manual and Environmental Management Manual.
• Preparing, negotiating and on-going management of the department’s budgets and responsibility for submission of relevant business cases to the COO / Executive team as appropriate.
• To lead the EVA Team, motivating the team and creating a continuous improvement culture focussed on safety, technical excellence and efficiency, with a focus on LEAN principles.
• Ensure that all technical incidents and non-conformities are thoroughly reviewed and investigate to identify the root cause, ensure appropriate action, knowledge shared and preventative measures implemented while complying with the UBTC Maintenance policy.
• Liaise with the Operational Department Heads, Safety and Regulators as appropriate regarding any technical issues relating to the safety of the vessels, identifying clear proposals and mitigations to address issues.
• Provide high quality reporting to support business needs e.g. the Safety Department requirements to provide correct information to regulators.
• Accountable for approving all manuals, documents, plans, procedures and policies (prepared by the EVA Leadership team as appropriate) within the SMS and EMS to ensure they relate to all technical operations (including Vessel Appearance standards).
• Ensure that the planned maintenance and defect reporting system (PMS, currently Centrik) is continuously updated including managing the lifecycle of each vessel and components.
• Undertake weekly reviews to ensure quality information and compliance with our PMS procedures are being properly followed, prioritised accordingly and ready for audit by regulators at any time.
• Accountable for stores and stock management ensuring availability of spares and strategic high cost stock/equipment and tooling management
• Provide a weekly Engineering Risk report to the Director of Service Delivery, identifying any issues with critical spares, supply chains, swing engine/gearbox availability etc.
• Accountable for preparing and on-going management of the department’s budget and submission of business cases.
• To manage the relationship and performance manage contractors to ensure all deadlines and budgets are met during specific maintenance and docking periods.
• Ensure that there are robust, contracted, supplier performance management processes in place with EVA suppliers, working with Procurement to effectively source the market as required to deliver high quality, efficient and reliable supplier relationships.
• Alongside People & Culture, manage and have direct accountability for the engineering strategic workforce plan to meet the company growth plans in vessel fleet and ensure the training and skills meet the needs of emerging technology. Implement a strategy of succession planning within each department skillset alongside continuous investment in the Engineering Apprentice Program in partnership with our college partners.
• Responsible for collating and distributing monthly MI to the Senior Leadership Team and UBTC Board and any other required reporting.
• Assist in developing and maintaining effective team work within departments, ensuring that there is always a safety and customer centric focus embedded in all aspects of work.
• Ensure that all relevant information is communicated speedily and accurately in a way that ensures that the information is received and easily understood.
• Ensure that all materials and resources are effectively and efficiently utilised to minimise waste and reduce costs.
• Continuously seek ways to improve personal, team, business processes, environmental standards and overall business performance with a focus on safety and customer experience

Requirements
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Extensive technical knowledge, with a transport background.
• Experienced in regulatory environments
• Experienced People Leader of teams up to 100, preferably across multi sites.
• Expert & robust budget management experience (Circa £10 million p.a.)
• Demonstrable supplier management and stakeholder engagement experience.
• Strong Project definition and delivery, on time, on budget.