Party Chief (Cable Lay & Trenching) - UK/EU

Sulmara; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Sulmara is seeking a skilled Party Chief (Cable Lay & Trenching) to lead offshore survey operations across UK/EU waters. This remote/Glasgow based role involves coordinating crews, equipment, and client requirements on a rotation basis with up to six weeks offshore.

A January/February 2027 start is anticipated; you’ll drive safety, efficiency, and high standards on challenging marine construction projects. As part of the offshore marine survey team, you’ll mentor colleagues, deploy GPS/USBL

Qualifications

• Party Chief experience or Senior Surveyor in Marine Construction Survey (cable lay, trenching).
• Proven leadership of offshore survey operations and field personnel.
• Strong knowledge of marine survey equipment and software.
• Experience with GPS, navigation systems, USBL and scanning sonar.
• Excellent client communication and project management skills.
• Willing to travel offshore rotations up to 6 weeks and obtain offshore certifications.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day offshore survey operations with project managers and vessel crews.
• Coordinate personnel, equipment and project progress.
• Work directly with clients to understand requirements and deliver objectives.
• Mentor and develop junior surveyors.
• Operate marine survey systems, GPS and USBL equipment.
• Conduct JSAs, toolbox talks, risk assessments and briefings.
• Ensure assets are maintained and safety culture is upheld.
• Resolve operational challenges to ensure timely delivery.

Skills

Party Chief experience

Senior Surveyor

Offshore leadership

Client liaison

Safety culture

Tools

GPS

Navigation systems

USBL

Sonar (scanning)

Job description

Party Chief (Cable Lay & Trenching) - UK/EU

Sulmara

Location: Remote / Glasgow, UK
job type: Permanent / Full-time
Sector and subsector: Engineering | Energy / Sustainability
Salary: Competitive salary

Lead complex offshore survey operations. Work with experienced teams. Take ownership of high profile construction support survey projects. Get deployed on our construction support fleet a rotational basis. Opportunities for January/February 2027 start.

We’re looking for an experienced construction support Party Chief to join our offshore marine survey team in UK and take a leading role in the successful delivery of survey projects across a range of marine construction environments predominantly with EU waters.

This is a permanent staff opportunity for an existing Party Chief or experienced Senior Surveyor looking to step into a position with greater responsibility. You’ll lead offshore survey activities, coordinate personnel and equipment, work directly with clients, and ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and to a consistently high standard.

What You’ll Be Doing

As Party Chief, you’ll take ownership of day-to-day offshore survey operations, working closely with project managers, clients and vessel crews to keep projects progressing safely and effectively. You will work based on 155 offshore days guaranteed contract.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading and coordinating offshore survey activities in line with project requirements.
• Managing daily survey operations, personnel, equipment and project progress.
• Working directly with clients and project managers to understand requirements and deliver against project objectives.
• Supporting and mentoring offshore surveyors, helping to develop the capability and knowledge of the wider field team.
• Operating and overseeing a range of marine survey systems, including GPS, navigation software, USBL and scanning sonar.
• Preparing and conducting JSAs, toolbox talks, risk assessments and project briefings.
• Ensuring survey equipment and vessel assets are properly operated, maintained and cared for.
• Identifying and reporting unsafe conditions and promoting a strong safety culture offshore.
• Ensuring all work is completed in accordance with company procedures, project requirements and safe working practices.
• Taking responsibility for the successful delivery of delegated survey tasks and resolving operational challenges as they arise.

What You’ll Bring

We’re looking for an experienced marine survey professional who is confident taking the lead offshore and communicating effectively with clients and crew.

You’ll ideally have:

• Party Chief experience or significant experience working as a Senior Surveyor within the Marine Construction Survey sector (cable lay, trenching).
• Proven experience leading offshore survey operations and coordinating field personnel.
• Strong working knowledge of marine survey equipment, systems and software.
• Practical experience with GPS, navigation systems, USBL and scanning sonar.
• Good computer skills and the ability to learn and work with different survey software and equipment platforms.
• Strong communication and organisational skills, with the confidence to work directly with clients and project management teams.
• A proactive approach to safety, planning and problem-solving.
• The ability to mentor and support less experienced surveyors.
• All relevant offshore industry certifications, or the ability to obtain them.
• A valid passport and the ability to obtain visas where international travel is required including A1 certificate.
• This is a hands-on offshore role, so you’ll need to be comfortable working in a physically demanding marine environment with international travel and offshore rotations of up to 6 weeks.

Why This Role?

As Party Chief, you’ll have the opportunity to play a key role in the successful delivery of offshore survey projects while working alongside experienced marine survey professionals.

You’ll have the responsibility and autonomy to lead field operations, build strong client relationships and develop your leadership and technical expertise across a variety of offshore projects.

If you’re a Party Chief or an experienced Senior Surveyor ready to take the next step and lead offshore survey operations, we’d like to hear from you.

We don't believe in 'one size fits all' hiring. If you need any adjustment (at any stage of the recruitment) to make the process work for you, we are here for it. Big, small, or somewhere in between, just let us know - [e-mail] . No red tape, or awkwardness - just a commitment to making this work for everyone because we believe everyone deserves an equal opportunity to thrive during our hiring process.

At Sulmara, we believe great talent comes from all walks of life Talent has no labels here. If you're qualified, you're welcome-regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, identity, background, or coffee preference. Bring your difference. We're better for it.