General Manager

wilhelmsen; Mumbai; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 7,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Wilhelmsen Ship Management in India seeks a seasoned General Manager to lead its Marine Personnel business, driving performance, governance and growth while ensuring compliance and service excellence. You will report to the Global Head of Marine Personnel and shape strategy, manage seafarer recruitment and deployment, and build strong relationships with clients, authorities and industry bodies.

This leadership role demands deep maritime experience, proven people management, and a passion for

Qualifications

• Must have maritime leadership experience and proven management capability within crewing or marine personnel.
• Experience in seagoing operations and handling client relationships is essential.
• Strong governance, quality compliance, and risk management abilities required.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all Marine Personnel operations in India.
• Develop and execute business strategies, procedures, and systems to support objectives.
• Drive profitable growth through client engagement and business development.
• Build relationships with clients, government authorities, industry bodies, and unions.
• Oversee planning, budgeting, and financial performance for Marine Personnel India.
• Ensure quality management system compliance and audit readiness.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Commercial acumen

Team collaboration

Strategic thinking

Change leadership

Professionalism & integrity

Quality & compliance orientation

Education

Master Mariner

Class I (Steam/Motor) Certificate of Competency

Master's degree in Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering

Job description

Join our global team for a career filled with opportunities to solve challenges both small and large, local and global, simple and complex.

Lead the Future of Marine Personnel Management

Wilhelmsen Ship Management is seeking an experienced and dynamic General Manager to lead it's Marine Personnel business operations in India. This is a strategic leadership role with full responsibility for business performance, client relationships, seafarer workforce management, operational excellence, quality compliance, and sustainable growth.

Reporting directly to the Global Head of Marine Personnel, you will play a critical role in shaping the future of our crewing and marine personnel operations while ensuring the highest standards of service delivery, compliance, and customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

Business Leadership & Strategy

• Lead and manage all Marine Personnel operations in India.
• Develop and execute business strategies, operational procedures, and systems to support organizational objectives.
• Drive profitable growth through business development and customer engagement initiatives.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, government authorities, industry bodies, and unions.
• Represent Wilhelmsen at industry events, conferences, and stakeholder forums.
• Prepare and execute Annual Operating Plans (AOP) and strategic business initiatives.

Financial & Commercial Management

• Assume full Profit & Loss (P&L) responsibility for Marine Personnel India.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, cash flow planning, and financial performance.
• Ensure effective cost control and efficient resource management.
• Negotiate commercial contracts and support client budgeting processes.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities to expand market presence and profitability.

Quality, Compliance & Governance

• Ensure implementation and continuous improvement of the WSM Quality Management System in accordance with GIMS and ISO 9001:2015 standards.
• Monitor customer satisfaction and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead internal and external audit preparedness and compliance activities.
• Develop contingency plans and risk mitigation strategies.
• Promote ethical conduct, governance, and adherence to company policies.

People Leadership - Office Personnel

• Build and develop a high-performing management team.
• Ensure staffing with qualified and competent personnel.
• Lead performance management, succession planning, employee development, and talent retention initiatives.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performance work culture.
• Drive employee engagement and leadership development across the organization.

Marine Personnel & Seafarer Management

• Oversee recruitment and deployment of qualified seafarers in line with client requirements.
• Develop and maintain a sustainable pool of marine talent.
• Ensure seafarer welfare, engagement, and morale.
• Manage disputes, grievances, and industrial relations matters.
• Oversee training, certification, and compliance requirements for seafarers.
• Support and expand Cadet and Junior Engineer development programs to build future officer pipelines.

What Success Looks Like

You will be accountable for:

• Achievement of Annual Manning KPIs and Global AOP objectives.
• Strong financial performance and budget compliance.
• Exceptional customer satisfaction levels.
• Effective implementation and maintenance of quality and compliance systems.
• Sustainable growth of the Marine Personnel business in India.

Qualifications & Experience

Mandatory Requirements

• You should meet one of the following requirements:
• Master Mariner with a minimum of one year of experience as Master on a seagoing vessel; OR
• Class I (Steam/Motor) Certificate of Competency with a minimum of one year experience as Chief Engineer on a seagoing vessel; OR
• Minimum four years of seagoing experience as an officer with proven management capability and at least one year of superintendent training/experience; OR
• Master's degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (or equivalent maritime qualification) with proven management capability and at least one year of superintendent training/experience.
• Additionally:
• Senior officer experience or equivalent managerial experience within the crewing or marine personnel industry.
• Strong leadership, business management, and stakeholder management capabilities.

Preferred Experience

• Minimum two years' experience in a managerial position within Wilhelmsen or a similar maritime organization.
• Proven ability to handle complex operational, personnel, and maritime matters both ashore and at sea.
• Experience leading large teams and managing client relationships in a marine personnel environment.

Key Competencies

• Customer Focus
• People Leadership & Talent Development
• Commercial Acumen
• Team Commitment & Collaboration
• Change Leadership
• Strategic Thinking
• Professionalism & Integrity
• Quality & Compliance Orientation
• Stakeholder Management

Why Join Wilhelmsen?

At Wilhelmsen, you will join a global maritime organizat