Ship Manager

Holland America Line Inc; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Ship Manager to oversee ISM compliance and operational support for allocated ships. This pivotal role involves working closely with onboard teams to prioritize repairs, maintenance, and upgrades, ensuring the highest standards of safety and efficiency are met. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in marine engineering, excellent leadership skills, and the ability to manage complex maritime operations. With a flexible working environment that balances remote and office-based collaboration, this is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the success of a leading cruise line while enjoying a range of employee benefits and development opportunities.

Benefits

Annual bonus

Employee Discounted Cruising

Private medical and dental insurance

Life Assurance

Minimum 25 days leave

Employee Assistance and Wellbeing programmes

Recognition scheme with prizes

Contributory Pension scheme

Electric Car and Cycle to Work schemes

Onsite restaurant with healthy meals

Qualifications

• B.S. degree in relevant engineering field or equivalent experience.
• Proven experience in maritime operations and team leadership.
• Understanding of compliance with maritime regulations.

Responsibilities

• Act as first point of contact for allocated ships and provide operational support.
• Manage maintenance budgets and ensure compliance with regulations.
• Support strategic objectives and improve business performance.

Skills

Maritime Compliance

Operational Leadership

Technical Risk Management

Budget Management

Team Management

Maintenance Strategy

Project Management

Marine Equipment Management

IT Literacy

Education

B.S. in Mechanical, Electrical or Marine Engineering

COC Class 1 with cruise ship sailing experience

Degree in a suitable marine discipline

Tools

Computer-based maintenance databases

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Access

Job description

We recognise the value in having people with a variety of backgrounds, experience and skills in our business. That means the role requirements here should be seen as a guide, not a checklist. If you have more, less or different experiences, but really relevant skills, we’d love to hear from you.

We work flexibly and will help you to find a healthy balance of remote working and time in our fantastic Southampton office, collaborating, taking part in events and getting to know people that makes working with us so rewarding. We welcome the opportunity to discuss reduced hours and job share arrangements.

The Role

Reporting to the Senior Fleet Manager, the Ship Manager is fully accountable for ISM Compliance and the material state of allocated ships. You will be the principle technical risk owner and the single point of contact for allocated ships for integrated maritime technical support, working closely with ships staff to ensure operational risks, repairs, maintenance and upgrades are prioritised to meet the overall asset management strategy of the business.

The position is also responsible for the Operational Leadership of On Board Maritime Maintenance Managers.

Responsibilities include:

• Act as first point of contact for allocated ships and provide operational support to the onboard teams.
• Liaising with Flag Administration and Classification Society, to ensure full compliance with the respective regulations.
• Supporting the delivery of an effective and efficient Ship Management strategy for the vessels comprising the Carnival UK brands of Cunard and P&O Cruises, securing engagement and confidence with key stakeholders.
• Being accountable for the maintenance budget and ensure budgets are managed accordingly, including planning, control and regular forecasting.
• Supporting Maritime and Carnival UK leadership teams to ensure the achievement of strategic and tactical operating objectives.
• Follow up and closure of incidents, audit items, ship management report findings, non-conformances and marine casualty reports related to their allocated ships, ensuring root causes are identified and lessons are translated into appropriate systems and policies.
• Engaging externally with the wider Carnival Corporation and other operating Companies as appropriate, initiating productive relationships and ensuring collaboration at all times.
• Support Fleet Leadership Team in identifying and delivering efficient and effective strategies to deliver business and vessel performance as required against targets and KPIs ensuring risk management at all times.
• Planning, preparation of specification and project management for ship refits and wet docks for their assigned ships.
• Supporting leadership of Maritime Operations and wider teams through transformational change to improve business operations, risk management and business performance.
• Driving performance from within Maritime teams to ensure that strategic goals are met and the business is compliant.
• Supporting the delivery of an effective and efficient maintenance/repair strategy for the fleet.

Our role categories range from CUK15 (entry level) to CUK1 (Brand President) so you can clearly see internal development opportunities. This role is a CUK07 and is offered on a full time, permanent basis, with at least two days based in our Southampton office.

About You

Fresh ideas and different perspectives are what excite us most and help us to succeed. Alongside bringing these to the role, you’ll also need:

• B.S degree in Mechanical, Electrical or Marine Engineering, Naval Architecture or equivalent or,
• COC Class 1 with cruise ship sailing experience.
• Previous experience of identifying efficiencies, implementing change and influencing across a complex business in order to deliver Maritime agenda.
• Understanding of good maintenance practice and the application of such on cruise vessels operating a strict worldwide itinerary.
• Demonstrable experience in the management and operation of a wide and diverse range of marine equipment.
• Basic understanding of the structure and implications of Flag State, USCG and IMO rules and regulations.
• Proven experience of leading and managing teams/SMEs, building capability, profile and approach.
• A degree or equivalent in a suitable marine discipline would be advantageous.
• Demonstrable experience of challenging and influencing at all levels.
• IT literate (Word, Excel, Access, email and purchasing systems).
• Ability to use computer-based maintenance databases.

Being part of our team has its advantages…

We’re a holiday company so we know there’s more to life than work. Our comprehensive range of benefits are designed to help your personal and financial health and wellbeing.

• A friendly welcome with help settling in.
• Home (UK based) and office-based hybrid working (minimum two office days in Southampton).
• Regular office events including live entertainment, lifestyle events and charity partner fundraisers.
• Extensive learning and development opportunities.
• Annual bonus.
• 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.
• Employee Discounted Cruising plus Friends and Family offers.
• 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 a range of healthy cooked and grab-and-go meals.
• Discounted retail and leisure via discounts portal.

Please note: Being able to create unforgettable holiday happiness is a brilliant opportunity so we often receive high volumes of applications for our roles. In these cases we may close our job adverts early and aren’t able to consider applications once this happens.

#LI-Hybrid

Jess Truman - #LI-JT1