Terminal Supervisor

Portsmouth City Council; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Disability confident employer

Armed Forces Covenant gold standard

Job summary

Portsmouth City Council is looking for an experienced port operations supervisor to lead the 24/7 shift at Portsmouth International Port. You will oversee passenger, freight and security activities, manage staff and contracts, and ensure safe, compliant operations across the port.

We require a background in port operations, knowledge of ISPS/DGHAR, and a valid VHF licence along with a UK driving licence and IT skills. The role involves outdoor work and safety-critical duties in a busy port.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in port operations and safety-critical environments.
• Sound knowledge of DGHAR and ISPS Code.
• VHF licence, clean UK driving licence, strong IT skills.
• Willingness to work a 24-hour shift pattern in all weather.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily port operations and supervise staff and contractors.
• Ensure safety, security and environmental standards.
• Coordinate with shipping operators and regulatory bodies.
• Respond to emergencies and manage incident response.

Skills

Port operations

Safety-critical env

VHF licence

UK driving licence

ISPS Code

DGHAR

Leadership

IT skills

Job description

Are you an experienced port operations professional ready to take a leading role in keeping one of the UK's busiest international ports safe, secure and running efficiently 24 hours a day?

Your new role

As a Terminal Supervisor at Portsmouth International Port, you will play a key role in overseeing the safe, secure and efficient day-to-day running of port operations. Working as part of a shift-based supervisory team, you will lead and support passenger, freight and security activities across the port, ensuring excellent service delivery for customers, stakeholders and port users. From managing operational staff and contractors to responding to emergencies, maintaining compliance with statutory requirements and supporting major projects, this is a varied and hands‑on role at the heart of a busy international port. You will work closely with colleagues, shipping operators, contractors and regulatory agencies to ensure operations run smoothly while maintaining the highest standards of safety, security and environmental responsibility.

Who is the person summary:

We're looking for an experienced port operations professional with a strong understanding of port activities and safety‑critical environments, ideally gained in a supervisory capacity. You will have sound knowledge of DGHAR and the ISPS Code, excellent communication and customer service skills, and the confidence to make informed decisions in a fast‑paced operational setting. Comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions, you'll be resilient, adaptable and able to work both independently and as part of a wider team. The role requires a VHF licence, a clean UK driving licence, strong IT skills, and the ability to undertake safety‑critical duties, including working at height and operating within a high‑risk environment. Flexibility is essential, as you'll be working a 24‑hour shift pattern to support the demands of Portsmouth International Port.

For full details, please review 'who is the person' on the job profile below attached.

About Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.

We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people‑focused. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals. Learn more about our values and behaviours .

Additional Information

Please ensure that you read the job profile for full details on the post. This role works on a shift pattern averaging 44.63 hours per week including weekends and bank holidays, covering 24/7 operations.

We are not able to offer sponsorship for this position.

We are a disability confident employer and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard. More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal

You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.

Read more about working at Portsmouth City Council and our benefits on our career's portal homepage: Careers Portal - Find jobs with Portsmouth City Council

For Portsmouth International Port - All employees and third parties working at the Portsmouth International Port are subject to the Substance Misuse - Drug & Alcohol Testing Policy and the Port reserves the right to carry out with cause and random testing. In line with Home Office requirements, employees must also register their personal details on the government's central database, Access Pass Holder Information Distribution System (APHIDS), as without this registration employees will be denied entry to the Restricted Area (RA) of Portsmouth International Port.