Managing Director Aquaculture & Ocean Health

DNV; Trondheim; On-site; NOK 4,000,000 - 6,000,000; Full time

Job summary

DNV is seeking a Managing Director of Aquaculture & Ocean Health to set the service line direction and drive strategy, international growth, operations and commercial performance across Norway, the UK and Iceland. You will lead about 350 employees and report to the Life Sciences CEO as a member of the Executive Leadership Team.

This role requires strong commercial acumen, proven leadership, and ability to navigate complex, matrixed environments while delivering sustainable, profitable growth in

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or commensurate professional experience.
• Senior management with accountability for business performance.
• Strong commercial orientation and growth delivery.
• Proven leadership and people-management capabilities.
• Experience leading change and integration across complex environments.
• Excellent relationship-building skills with stakeholders.
• Norwegian and English proficiency; travel willing.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement Aquaculture & Ocean Health strategy.
• Drive sustainable growth, revenue, EBIT and cash flow.
• Lead management team; align goals and accountability.
• Oversee integration, transformation and business continuity.
• Utilize market insights to strengthen market position.
• Maintain senior relationships with customers and stakeholders.
• Ensure governance, risk, safety, and environmental awareness.

Skills

Leadership

Commercial orientation

Change management

Stakeholder relations

International experience

Norwegian & English communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

About Us

We are the independent expert in assurance and risk management. Driven by our purpose, to safeguard life, property, and the environment, we empower our customers and their stakeholders with facts and reliable insights so that critical decisions can be made with confidence.

About Us

We are the independent expert in assurance and risk management. Driven by our purpose, to safeguard life, property, and the environment, we empower our customers and their stakeholders with facts and reliable insights so that critical decisions can be made with confidence.

As a trusted voice for many of the world’s most successful organizations, we use our knowledge to advance safety and performance, set industry benchmarks, and inspire and invent solutions to tackle global transformations.

About Life Sciences

We help our customers in medical devices, healthcare, and aquaculture/ocean industries build trust and transparency across their products, assets, and supply chains. By working with customers to certify medical technologies, support safe and sustainable healthcare practices, and advance responsible aquaculture and ocean stewardship, we help manage risks, meet regulatory demands, and achieve long‑term goals. Drawing on deep technical expertise, we partner with customers worldwide to bridge trust gaps between patients, providers, producers, and consumers—driving sustainable results and improved ESG performance.

About The Role

This is an exciting opportunity for a forward-thinking, entrepreneurial and experienced manager to take on an executive leadership role in DNV with ambitions to grow a world‑leading aquaculture and ocean health assurance provider.

Aquaculture & Ocean Health is a strategically important Service Line within DNV’s Business Area Life Sciences, supporting customers with knowledge‑based advice and verification through interdisciplinary expertise in aquatic biodiversity, fish health and technical services for sustainable practices and operations. Within Aquaculture, our priority customers are leading global and regional aquaculture operators. Within Ocean Health, we, in addition to the aquaculture segment, prioritise customers within the energy sector. With the acquisitions of Åkerblå Group in Norway in 2023 and Ocean Ecology in the UK in 2024, DNV have set a substantial footprint in the market.

As Managing Director of Aquaculture & Ocean Health, you will set direction for the Service Line and hold overall accountability for strategy, international growth, operations and commercial performance of a ~700 MNOK business. You will be responsible for leading and developing 350 employees across Norway, the UK and Iceland.

This is a highly visible leadership role in DNV for an experienced business leader who combines commercial acumen, strong people leadership and the ability to navigate complexity and change. You will report directly to the CEO of Life Sciences and join the Executive Leadership Team, contributing to the strategic direction, priorities and performance of the Life Sciences business while leading Aquaculture and Ocean Health.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the Aquaculture & Ocean Health strategy and commercial priorities in line with DNV’s purpose, strategy, management system and governance requirements.
• Deliver sustainable and profitable growth, with clear accountability for sales, revenue, EBIT, cash flow, operational performance and other relevant key performance indicators.
• Lead, inspire and develop the Aquaculture & Ocean Health management team; set clear expectations and create alignment around shared goals, priorities and accountability.
• Drive integration and transformation activities with clarity and pace, while safeguarding business continuity and engagement.
• Drive operational excellence by reviewing performance, risks, processes and ways of working, and by implementing improvements that strengthen quality, scalability and results.
• Use market trends, customer insights, and business intelligence to identify opportunities, shape strategic choices, and strengthen the market position.
• Build and sustain senior relationships with key customers and external stakeholders, ensuring high-quality relationship management and customer value.
• Ensure appropriate governance, risk management, compliance, safety, health and environmental awareness across the Service Line.

What we offer

• A senior leadership role with broad responsibility for an international, knowledge-based business with a strong sustainability purpose.
• The opportunity to shape the future direction and growth of Aquaculture & Ocean Health in DNV.
• Close collaboration with experienced leaders, technical experts and colleagues across DNV’s global organization.
• A strong platform for continued leadership development and career progression within DNV.

DNV is an Equal Opportunity Employer and gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to gender, religion, race, national or ethnic origin, cultural background, social group, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age or political opinion. Diversity is fundamental to our culture and we invite you to be part of this diversity.

About You

• A Bachelor’s degree or commensurate professional experience; a Master’s degree or other relevant higher-level education is preferred.
• Substantial senior management experience with broad accountability for business performance, people and operations in an international environment.
• A demonstrated record of commercial orientation and of delivering sustainable, profitable growth.
• Proven leadership and people‑management capability, including experience in building effective organizations and developing senior leaders and teams.
• Experience leading change, transformation and integration across complex, matrixed and multicultural environments.
• Strong relationship‑building skills and the credibility to engage effectively with customers, external stakeholders and colleagues at all levels.
• Knowledge of the aquaculture industry and/or ocean health assurance or another relevant knowledge‑based industry would be an advantage.
• Strong written and verbal Norwegian and English communication skills.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.

Security and compliance with statutory requirements in the countries in which we operate is essential for DNV. Background checks will be conducted on all final candidates as part of the offer process, in accordance with applicable country‑specific laws and practices.