TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE MANAGER

BW Epic Kosan Ltd; Queenstown; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading maritime company in New Zealand seeks a Technical Excellence Manager to oversee investigations into incidents and accidents. The role requires a Class 1 COC and experience in marine operations, with responsibilities including leading investigations, training staff, and promoting a culture of safety across the organization. Ideal candidates will have strong analytical and project management skills, along with excellent communication abilities.

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Work with a progressive company

Qualifications

• Minimum 1 year sailing experience as Chief Engineer on tanker vessels.
• Ability to travel at short notice and manage 24/7 on-call lifestyle.
• Fluent in written and spoken English.

Responsibilities

• Lead investigations into incidents, accidents, and technical breakdowns.
• Collaborate with teams to implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Train staff on accident prevention and investigation techniques.

Skills

Team orientation

Time management

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Project management

Education

Class 1 COC (Chief Engineer)

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Outlook

Job description

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

BW Epic Kosan owns and operates a fleet of about 51 modern and high quality fully pressurized, semi‑refrigerated and ethylene‑capable gas carriers providing seaborne services for the transportation of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), petrochemicals and other specialty gases. We are headquartered in Singapore, with offices in Copenhagen, Manila, and Tokyo. Our vessels serve as a crucial link in the international gas supply chains of leading energy majors and commodity trading houses throughout Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. We employ approximately 2,000 seafarers and a multi‑national team of about 180 shore‑based staff.

TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE MANAGER – SINGAPORE OFFICE

RESPONSIBILITIES

Primary responsibilities

• Reports directly to the Head of Technical (HoT).
• To champion Technical excellence by leading high‑quality, timely, and systematic investigations using modern methodology into incidents and accidents across the fleet.
• Ensure root causes are identified, lessons are embedded, and continuous improvement is driven throughout the organization’s safety, operational, and learning culture.
• To ensure a proactive approach to avoid incidents by analyzing repetitive defects, near misses, human factors, and other weak signals to build a predictive approach to risk and incident mitigation.

Incident & Accident Investigation Excellence

• Lead and coordinate investigations into significant incidents, accidents, Technical Breakdowns and near misses across the fleet or as directed by the HoT, Technical Director.
• Treat each investigation as a discrete project: define scope, objectives, timeline, deliverables, allocate resources, identify risks, and track progress to closure.
• Conduct thorough onsite investigations, including incident scene attendance, evidence collection (digital, physical, equipment records) and operational documentation review.
• Interview witnesses, crew, and other involved parties using structured and professional techniques.
• Complete all investigations within the timelines defined in the Integrated Management System (IMS) and in compliance with internal and external requirements.
• Produce well‑structured, detailed incident investigation reports using causal reasoning and root cause analysis tools (e.g., BowTie, TapRooT, Five Whys).
• Communicate investigation timelines and progress updates regularly to relevant internal and external stakeholders (Technical, Marine, Vetting, HSEQC, Crewing, Commercial, Class, Flag, P&I).
• Prepare and release preliminary incident reports at short notice for urgent vessel clearance or commercial requirements in liaison with Vetting team.
• Manage each investigation as an individual project, define scope, objectives, timeline, deliverables, allocate resources, identify risks, and track progress to closure using project management methodologies.
• Liaise and collaborate with Marine Excellence Manager to align on Technical, Marine, Vetting and Crewing matters.
• Recommend targeted, actionable corrective and preventive actions / measures to address identified root causes and prevent recurrence.
• Maintain implementation overview of all Corrective and Preventive actions as per assigned timeline, ensuring all teams report back with the actions progress. Report implementation progress to Senior management.

Technial Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Act as the central liaison between Technical, Gastech, Procurement, PMS, Vetting, Projects, and teams to connect with the Learning & Development (L&D) for ensuring learnings from incidents / near misses, inspections, and defects are systematically captured and translated into competence‑building programs.
• Monitor and analyze incident trends, link with near misses, identify systemic issues, and initiate fleetwide improvement strategies.
• Collaborate closely with Technical, HSEQC, Marine, Vetting and Crewing teams to create processes for verification of implementation and effectiveness of corrective and preventive actions.
• Regularly review and update investigation procedures and tools in line with evolving IMO regulations, industry standards (OCIMF/CDI/Oil major requirements), and lessons learned.
• Participate in the development of a completely digital incident investigation and analysis framework.

Training & Competency Development

• Collaborate with Learning & Development (L&D) team and relevant stakeholders to ensure integration of competence‑building initiatives into the company’s broader Technical, Vetting and safety training framework.
• Support continual improvement of training processes by ensuring lessons learned are looped back into curriculum design, simulation exercises and competency management systems.
• Develop training course content to support L&D towards ensuring the Technical training incorporates lessons learned from incidents and inspections.
• Deliver training, workshops and guidance on accident prevention, investigation techniques, and reporting standards to onboard and shore staff.
• Attend Technical training courses at various training centres at scheduled intervals to audit the quality and consistency of the training instructors.
• Oversee and audit the implementation and effectiveness of technical training onboard to meet current operational requirements.
• Oversee and collaborate with training partners to ensure a digital interface for mapping Technical competence and the human element in Technical training for participants.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Serve as the key interface with internal and external stakeholders on investigation and technical excellence matters.
• Promote a culture of learning, accountability, and continuous improvement across the organization.
• Support safety campaigns, internal and external audits, TMSA self‑assessments, and other initiatives linked to safety and learning.
• Engage in periodic discussions with the Head of Technical and Top Management to review the adequacy and effectiveness of training programs.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Class 1 COC (Chief Engineer).
• Minimum 1 year sailing experience as Chief Engineer on tanker vessels or minimum 2 years sailing experience as Second Engineer on tanker vessels.
• Experience of 1 year or more as a Ship Manager or a similar rank in a reputed company or with 3 plus years in a tanker company with a similar profile.
• Ability to travel at short notice and manage 24/7 on‑call lifestyle.
• Proficient in Outlook, Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Fluent in written and spoken English.
• Committed and responsible in meeting deadlines with excellent time management skills.
• Independent, outcome‑driven, organized and resourceful.
• Strong team orientation and ability to manage cross‑functional relationships in a dynamic and fast‑paced environment.

OTHER INFORMATION

BW Epic Kosan offers exciting and rewarding career opportunities to bright and ambitious people, who have the skills and determination to succeed in a career in the maritime industry.

Our success is attributed to attracting, developing and retaining among the best people our industry has to offer. We place great emphasis on developing talent and maximizing the opportunities for our staff to progress within the company.

This is a unique opportunity to work for one of the most progressive companies in the industry. Interested candidates should submit their covering letter and a detailed curriculum vitae to the Human Resource Department. Website: www.bwek.com

Information for Recruitment Agencies:

Please be informed that BW Epic Kosan operates on a Preferred Supplier List (PSL) and will not be accepting unsolicited applications from non‑PSL agencies.

We regret only shortlisted candidates will be notified.