Senior Operations Manager

ZipRecruiter; Addlestone; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading travel group is seeking a Senior Operations Manager for Marine Onboarding based in Addlestone. This role involves leading a new team, managing complex onboarding operations across EMEA and APAC, and ensuring compliance with maritime regulations. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in crew management and a strong background in operations, with a focus on delivering exceptional service in a high-compliance environment.

Benefits

Pension

Healthcare

Free Holidays

Discounted Travel Opportunities

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in crew management or operations, preferably in maritime.
• Strong knowledge of maritime regulations (MLC, STCW).

Responsibilities

• Developing strategic direction for marine onboarding and leading a team.
• Overseeing end-to-end onboarding process for marine crew.
• Driving improvements in onboarding efficiency through data insights.

Skills

Leadership

Problem Solving

Communication

Analytical Skills

Job description

Job Description

Senior Operations Manager - Marine Onboarding

Addlestone - Hybrid

£80,000-£90,000 + bonus & excellent benefits

Are you an experienced Operations professional looking for a role where you can contribute to the build-out of a new team for the EMEA region supporting the rapid growth of an internationally recognized travel group?

We Do Group is supporting one of the world's largest travel businesses as they establish new EMEA operations teams based from their UK HQ near Addlestone.

This is a brand new role leading the maritime crew onboarding teams across EMEA and APAC for a complex global business.

Wish List

• 10+ years of experience in crew management, onboarding, or operations, preferably within the cruise or maritime industry
• Proven track record in leading global teams and managing complex, high-volume onboarding operations
• Strong knowledge of maritime regulations (MLC, STCW, flag state requirements) and their impact on crew onboarding and deployment
• Exceptional problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills, with a focus on improving operational efficiency and compliance
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across land-based and shipboard teams
• Ability to manage high-pressure, time-sensitive situations, such as last-minute crew changes, medical emergencies, or compliance escalations

The Role

The successful Senior Operations Manager - Marine Onboarding will be responsible for:

• Developing and leading the strategic direction for marine onboarding, ensuring alignment with operational KPIs.
• Leading and developing a team of marine onboarding specialists and documentation coordinators, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Overseeing the end-to-end onboarding process for marine crew, including documentation verification, medical clearances, visa/work permit processing, and compliance checks, ensuring adherence to international maritime regulations (e.g., MLC, STCW).
• Ensuring all crew documentation is processed accurately, efficiently, and in accordance with company policies, port state requirements, and flag state regulations.
• Collaborating with Marine Operations, Scheduling, Compliance, and HR teams to align crew movement, workforce planning, and operational needs for ship deployments.
• Driving improvements in onboarding efficiency through data insights, process optimization, and technology enhancements to streamline crew hiring and mobilization.
• Managing escalated cases requiring complex decision-making related to visa issues, medical evaluations, background checks, and last-minute crew changes to support ongoing ship operations.
• Standardizing marine onboarding policies and procedures across the fleet to ensure compliance with regulatory and corporate standards.
• Serving as a key liaison with flag states, port authorities, recruitment partners, and regulatory agencies to address compliance issues and industry best practices.

Your Profile

We seek an experienced, managerial-level operations professional who is a credible leader with high energy and emotional intelligence.

You should be passionate about delivering exceptional service to colleagues and stakeholders in a fast-paced, high-compliance environment.

Experience in the maritime industry is highly advantageous, but experience in similar fast-paced, people-critical industries with high certification and compliance requirements—such as oil & gas, aviation, hospitality, logistics, or distribution—would also be relevant.

Salary & Benefits

£80,000 - £90,000 per annum plus bonus and excellent benefits, including pension, healthcare, free holidays, and heavily discounted travel opportunities.

This role is initially in-office four days per week. The office is easily accessible by public transport and offers onsite parking.