Marine Superintendent

NATO Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE); La Spezia; On-site; EUR 48,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE) seeks a Marine Superintendent within its Marine Operations Branch (MAROPS) to ensure safe, compliant operations of CMRE vessels and oversight of sea-going programmes. The role reports to the Head, MAROPS and requires hands-on leadership and autonomous judgment.

The incumbent will conduct onboard inspections, support regulatory interfaces with flag states and Classification Societies, and drive readiness and corrective actions in line with

Qualifications

• Relevant professional experience in marine operations, vessel operations, marine safety, statutory compliance, shipboard inspections or vessel supervision.
• Valid IMO STCW Certificate of Competency at Operational level or higher for marine operational responsibilities.
• Knowledge of IMO conventions and requirements including STCW, ISM, ISPS, SOLAS, MARPOL and flag state requirements.
• Experience with marine safety, compliance and operational readiness assessment, onboard inspections and incident management.

Responsibilities

• Monitor marine safety, statutory and regulatory compliance and the operational readiness of CMRE vessels.
• Provide professional marine advice on planning, risk mitigation, safety procedures and SMS implementation.
• Conduct regular onboard visits, audits, inspections, trials and assessments, reporting findings to MAROPS management.
• Provide professional guidance on navigation, bridge practices and onboard marine standards to Masters and crew.

Skills

Marine operations experience

Regulatory compliance

Decision making

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Nautical Science / Marine Operations

5 years experience (or equivalent) in marine operations

Job description

NATO Body: Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE)

Schedule: Full-time

Application Deadline: 12 November 2026

Salary (Pay Basis): 4,723.81 EUR (Monthly)

Grade NATO SSS Grade G12 (ABCL B5)

Clearance Level NS

Appointment will be subject to receipt of a NATO SECRET security clearance (provided by the national Authorities of the selected candidate) and approval of the candidate’s medical file by the CMRE Medical Adviser.

POST CONTEXT

This is a position within the Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE), an organization of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

CMRE is an established, world‑class scientific research and experimentation facility that organizes and conducts scientific research and technology development, centred on the maritime domain, delivering innovative and field tested Science & Technology (S&T) solutions to address defence and security needs of the Alliance.

The CMRE consists of four divisions: Research Division (RD), Experimentation and Rapid Adoption (ERA) Division, Engineering and IT Division (EITD) and Operational Support (OS) Division.

The post is located within the Operational Support Division and the Marine Operations Branch (MAROPS) and reports to the Head, MAROPS. The Marine Operations Branch provides safe, effective and compliant operations to CMRE research vessels and coordinates NATO and nations requirements for sea‑going programmes of work.

The Marine Superintendent provides professional marine expertise, assurance and operational support to the two NATO‑owned research vessels, with particular responsibility for marine safety, regulatory compliance, operational readiness and marine operational standards. The position is hands‑on and requires a high degree of professional autonomy, sound judgement and demonstrated ability to deliver practical results. The incumbent works closely with the Ship Operations Manager, Marine Technical Superintendent, Masters and crews.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES

The incumbent’s duties are:

Marine Safety, Compliance & Readiness

• Monitor marine safety, statutory and regulatory compliance and the operational readiness of CMRE vessels.
• Provide professional marine advice on operational planning, risk mitigation, safety procedures and SMS implementation.

Onboard Marine Assurance

• Conduct regular hands‑on onboard visits, audits, inspections, trials and operational readiness assessments, reporting findings and recommendations to MAROPS management.
• Monitor navigation, bridge practices and onboard marine standards, providing professional advice to Masters and crews.

Emergency Preparedness & Incident Follow‑up

• Review emergency preparedness, safety drills and exercises, and monitor relevant corrective actions.
• Contribute to the preparation and review of marine incident and near‑miss reports from the marine operational and safety perspective, and follow up agreed corrective and preventive actions. Technical investigations remain under the Marine Technical Superintendent.

Marine Regulatory & Stakeholder Interface

• Provide marine expertise and professional support to the Ship Operations Manager in dealings with Flag State, Classification Society, Port Authorities and other statutory and relevant maritime stakeholders.
• Provide professional advice on applicable marine regulations, statutory requirements and industry standards relevant to marine operations.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND ADDITIONAL DUTIES

Flexibility Clause

The incumbent may be required to perform other related duties as directed.

All other related duties should correspond with the required competencies for the job.

Deployment/Travel

The incumbent may be required to perform their duties onboard Centre or chartered vessels. The incumbent may be required to undertake TDY assignments within and outside NATO boundaries.

Certification

The incumbent needs to hold a fit for sea certificate in line with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Labour Organization (ILO) standards before taking up duty.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

Professional Experience

• Relevant professional experience in marine operations, vessel operations, marine safety, statutory compliance, shipboard inspections or vessel supervision, including practical onboard and/or shore‑based marine operational experience.
• Valid IMO STCW Certificate of Competency (CoC), at Operational level or higher appropriate to the marine operational responsibilities of the position.
• Demonstrated knowledge of applicable IMO conventions and requirements including STCW, ISM, ISPS, SOLAS, MARPOL and relevant Flag State requirements.
• Practical experience with marine safety, compliance and operational readiness assessment, on‑board inspections and/or incident management.
• Demonstrated ability to assess vessel operational condition and compliance, and to identify and follow up appropriate corrective actions.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree at a nationally recognised/certified University in Nautical Science, Marine Operations, Maritime Studies or a related discipline and 3 years post‑related experience;

Or

• Equivalent combinations of relevant education, professional qualifications and at least 5 years practical marine experience may be considered in accordance with applicable NATO recruitment rules.

Language Requirements

A thorough knowledge of one of the two NATO languages, both written and spoken, is essential and some knowledge of the other is desirable.

NOTE: Most of the work of CMRE is conducted in the English language.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Recent or current sea‑going experience in commercial, research, survey, offshore support or other marine operations.
• Experience gained as a deck officer or in another operational marine role under an IMO/STCW framework.
• Previous shore‑based experience as a Marine Superintendent, Marine Operations Officer, Vessel Superintendent or comparable marine operational role.
• Experience with Flag State authorities, Classification Societies, SMS/ISM, onboard inspections, emergency drills or marine incident investigation.
• Experience in an international and multicultural environment and, preferably, with research, survey or offshore support vessels.
• Knowledge of Italian in order to support marine business with the Host Nation and Flag State is desirable.

ATTRIBUTES/COMPETENCIES

The successful candidate possess the following competencies / personal attributes:

• Professional Judgement: Sound judgement in marine safety, compliance, operational readiness and escalation of issues.
• Analytical Thinking: Ability to assess marine operational risks and translate requirements into practical solutions.
• Communication & Stakeholder Management: Clear communication and effective coordination with Masters, crews, colleagues, management and external stakeholders.
• Teamwork: Cooperative approach and ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
• Achieving Objectives & Follow‑up: Strong work ethic and ability to deliver results and close agreed actions under operational pressure.

All CMRE personnel are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the current NATO Code of Conduct agreed by the North Atlantic Council (NAC), and thus display the core values of integrity, impartiality, loyalty, accountability, and professionalism.

REMARKS

The duties are performed in an office, laboratory, workshop environment or on‑board Centre ships or chartered vessels. Slightly undesirable working conditions may apply. The incumbent is expected to maintain a practical, hands‑on approach to marine operations, including regular on‑board inspections, trials, drills and interaction with vessel personnel.