Marine Compliance Manager

Job Description

Location:  Kent
Salary: £50 – £55K + Excellent Benefits

An excellent opportunity has arisen for an experienced Marine Compliance Manager to join a major UK port operation in Kent.

This is a key role within the marine function, responsible for ensuring that marine operations are conducted safely, effectively and in full compliance with statutory requirements, industry standards and the Port Marine Safety Code (PMSC).

Working closely with senior marine leadership and operational teams, you will take the lead on marine compliance, assurance and governance, helping to maintain the highest standards of safety while driving continuous improvement across a busy and complex port environment.

The Role

As Marine Compliance Manager, you will oversee and continuously develop the marine compliance framework, ensuring the organisation meets its responsibilities as a Statutory Harbour Authority.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading marine compliance, assurance and governance activities.
• Maintaining and continuously improving the Marine Safety Management System (MSMS).
• Ensuring ongoing compliance with the Port Marine Safety Code, associated guidance and relevant marine legislation.
• Supporting compliance with Statutory Harbour Authority and pilotage responsibilities.
• Planning, coordinating and supporting internal and external marine audits and assurance programmes.
• Reviewing marine risk assessments, incident investigations, audit findings and corrective actions.
• Monitoring compliance performance and identifying trends, emerging risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Supporting marine incident management, investigation and root-cause analysis.
• Ensuring appropriate marine licences, authorisations, training records and competence documentation are maintained.
• Providing practical guidance to operational teams on regulatory and compliance requirements.
• Working closely with Harbour Masters, marine operations teams, regulators, auditors and other external stakeholders.
• Driving corrective and preventative actions through to completion.
• Promoting a strong culture of safety, accountability and continuous improvement across marine operations.

About You

We are looking for someone with a strong background in marine compliance, marine safety, assurance, auditing or risk management, ideally gained within a port, harbour, shipping, marine or similarly regulated operational environment.

You will ideally bring:

• Experience within marine compliance, safety management, auditing, assurance or risk management.
• Good knowledge of the Port Marine Safety Code (PMSC) and Marine Safety Management Systems.
• An understanding of Statutory Harbour Authority responsibilities and the regulatory environment surrounding port and marine operations.
• Experience reviewing risk assessments, incidents, audit findings and corrective actions.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify trends, root causes and areas for improvement.
• The ability to interpret legislation, regulations and industry guidance and translate these into practical operational requirements.
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• Confidence working with senior management, operational teams, regulators, auditors and external partners.
• Excellent organisation and attention to detail.
• Sound judgement and the ability to manage competing priorities within a safety-critical environment.

Experience within a port or harbour environment would be particularly advantageous.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to join a major UK port operation at an exciting stage of investment, development and transformation.

You will play an important role in supporting safe and compliant marine operations while helping shape and continually improve the systems, processes and standards that underpin them.

The organisation is committed to developing its people and provides excellent opportunities for professional development and long-term career progression.

Benefits

Alongside a competitive salary, the package includes:

• 27 days’ annual leave, plus bank holidays
• Up to 10% matched pension contribution
• Flexible benefits package
• Salary sacrifice car scheme
• Healthcare cash plans
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Critical illness insurance
• Gym membership scheme
• Retail discounts and vouchers
• Excellent learning, training and professional development opportunities
• Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing support

If you have a background in marine compliance, port marine safety, marine assurance or marine governance and are looking for an opportunity to take ownership of compliance within a significant UK marine operation, we would be keen to hear from you.

Applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK