Ship Manager

Carnival UK (P&O Cruises & Cunard); Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Discounts

Annual bonus

Learning & development

Pension scheme

Private medical insurance

Life Assurance

Parental leave

Job summary

Carnival UK (P&O Cruises & Cunard) seeks a Ship Manager to coordinate shore-side support across technical, nautical, safety, compliance, environmental and facilities areas for assigned vessels. You will connect ship leadership with shore teams to ensure safe, compliant operations.

You will lead the vessel delivery team, oversee ISM compliance, manage budgets and lifecycle plans, and guide refits and major interventions with governance and return-to-service focus.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in a maritime discipline.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams in operations.
• Strong knowledge of Flag State, USCG, IMO, class and statutory requirements.
• Solid financial, commercial and project management capability.

Responsibilities

• Lead vessel delivery team to provide maritime support and resolve complex issues.
• Oversee ISM compliance, maintenance priorities and regulatory relationships.
• Own long-term lifecycle plans and budgets for vessels including forecasting.
• Lead maritime scope during refits, dry docks and major interventions.

Skills

Lead multidisciplinary teams

Operational experience

Regulatory understanding (Flag State/​

Financial & project management

Education

Degree or equivalent maritime discipline

Job description

Job Description

In our pursuit of excellence within our maritime department, we're seeking individuals who bring a wealth of maritime operations, engineering and asset management expertise to the table for our Ship Manager position. At our core, we believe in the strength of a diverse and skilled team to drive our business forward. Your skills and qualifications are valuable to us.

Role Overview

Operating within the vessel delivery team, the Ship Manager coordinates shore-side support for assigned vessels across technical, nautical, safety, compliance, environmental and facilities requirements. The role is the principal connection between ship-based leadership and shore-side teams, bringing together multidisciplinary expertise to support safe, compliant and reliable operations.

Key accountabilities include:

• Lead and coordinate the vessel delivery team to provide effective maritime support and resolve complex operational and technical issues.
• Act as the primary point of contact for assigned ships, overseeing ISM compliance, material condition, maintenance priorities and relationships with Flag and Classification authorities.
• Own long‑term lifecycle plans and Technical Repair and Maintenance budgets for assigned vessels, including forecasting and strategic investment requirements.
• Lead the maritime technical scope during refits, dry docks and major interventions, coordinating governance and the vessel’s return to service.

Position Requirements

Our ideal candidates are those who possess not only the technical skills required for the maritime team, but also a passion for the industry and a keen eye for detail. Your professional certifications will be the foundation of your role within our team.

Required Qualifications And Skills

• A degree or equivalent higher education qualification in a suitable maritime discipline.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams within an operational environment and working with remote operational teams.
• Strong understanding of Flag State, USCG, IMO, class and statutory requirements and their application to cruise vessel operations.
• Strong financial, commercial, organisational and project management capability, with experience influencing across a complex business.

About You

You are someone who thrives in a collaborative environment yet is capable of working with a high degree of accuracy and accountability. Your qualifications in the maritime industry are just the beginning; we're looking for team members who are eager to learn, grow, and contribute to our collective success.

Personal Qualities

• A visible and decisive leader who can coordinate specialists around vessel priorities and galvanise teams without direct line authority.
• A confident communicator who builds effective relationships across ship, shore, regulatory and supplier communities.
• A strategic and analytical problem‑solver who can resolve complex, multidisciplinary operational issues.
• A commercially aware professional who balances safety, compliance, vessel availability, guest service, cost and long‑term asset performance.

Why Join Us?

Positioned within our internal structure from CUK15 (entry level) to CUK1 (Brand President), this role is classified as a CUK06, offered as a full‑time position, on a permanent basis, with hybrid working including up to two days from home. The role involves 25–50% travel, with shipboard travel likely.

Read our employee experience guide to learn more about life as a Carnival UK colleague here.

We offer a dynamic and inclusive workplace where your work makes a real impact. Beyond competitive salaries and benefits, here’s what we offer:

• Employee Discounted Cruising plus Friends and Family offers
• Annual bonus
• A friendly welcome with help settling in
• Regular office events including live entertainment, lifestyle events and charity partner fundraisers
• Extensive learning and development opportunities
• Minimum 25 days leave, bank holiday allowance and holiday trading scheme
• Employee-led networks
• Employee Assistance and Wellbeing programmes
• Recognition scheme with prizes and awards
• Contributory Defined Contribution Pension scheme
• Company paid private medical and dental insurance and health assessment
• In‑house Occupational Health help and access to digital GP
• Life Assurance
• Parental and adoption leave
• Employee Shares Plan
• Electric Car and Cycle to Work schemes
• Onsite restaurant offering range of healthy cooked and grab and go meals
• Discounted retail and leisure via discounts portal

Recruitment Journey

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