Head of Marine Safety & Compliance

Hornblower Group is a global leader in experience and transportation. Spanning a 100-year history, Hornblower Group’s portfolio of international offerings includes water- and land-based experiences and ferry and transportation services. City Experiences, Hornblower Group’s premier experience division, offers dining and sightseeing cruises and walking and food tours through the City Cruises, Walks, and Devour brands. City Ferry, part of Hornblower Group’s Ferry and Transportation Division, is the largest private operator of high-speed passenger and vehicle ferries in the United States, carrying more than 10 million passengers annually and operating services including NYC Ferry, Puerto Rico Ferry, and other regional ferry systems. Hornblower Group’s subsidiaries include Hornblower Marine, which provides vessel outhaul and maintenance services at Bridgeport Boatworks in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Seaward Services, Inc., a full-service shipping, waterfront logistics and management company that specializes in the operation and maintenance of government and commercial vessels. Additionally, Anchor Operating System, LLC, a Hornblower Group subsidiary and independent entity, provides reservation, ticketing and website integration services for clients in the transportation, tourism and entertainment industries. Today, Hornblower Group’s global portfolio covers over 10 countries, over 50 U.S. cities and serves more than 20 million guests annually. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Hornblower Group’s additional corporate offices reside in San Francisco, California; Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; London, United Kingdom; New York, New York; Dublin, Ireland; and across Ontario, Canada. For more information, visit hornblowercorp.com.

This is a permanent position based on-site at our pier located in Bermondsey, SE16 with the opportunity to work from home one day per week, and will also take the responsibility of Designated Person.

About Us:

City Cruises UK, part of the Hornblower Group, runs sightseeing, dining and private charter cruises on the River Thames in London and in York. Safety is our number one value, and we’re looking for an experienced marine safety leader to head it up.

The Role

The Head of Safety and Compliance leads safety across our London passenger vessel operations and is the company’s Designated Person (DP). Reporting to the Operations Director, you will own our Safety Management System, lead our relationships with the MCA, PLA, MAIB and other authorities, and set standards for marine crew competence. You will also oversee health and safety across our shore-side operations, including piers, offices and contractors.

You will lead the safety and compliance team, including the Safety and Compliance Manager, who acts as Deputy DP, and the Marine Training Manager. Together you will build an open, just safety culture where everyone feels confident to raise concerns.

What You'll Do

• Act as our Designated Person, providing the link between vessels and shore management, with direct access to our Managing Director
• Own and continually improve our Safety Management System under the MCA’s DSM Code, protecting passengers, crew and vessels
• Build strong, trusted relationships with the MCA, PLA and MAIB
• Work with Operations and Engineering to keep our fleet safe, compliant and running
• Set the standards for marine crew competence, training and fitness for duty
• Lead health and safety across our piers, offices and contractors
• Build an open, just safety culture where people speak up, and learn from every near miss and incident

What You’ll Bring

Essential

• Significant senior experience in passenger vessel operations or marine safety management
• Experience of working under the DSM or ISM Code, including MCA surveys and audits
• DP or DPA training, or willingness to complete it within 6 months
• Experience of managing health and safety in a shore-side or multi-site operation
• Experience of leading investigations, including those reportable to the MAIB
• Experience of managing people and a budget
• Credibility with Masters, crew and regulators, and the confidence to challenge at senior level

Great to have

• Master’s Certificate of Competency or Boatmaster’s Licence
• Experience as a DP or DPA
• NEBOSH General Certificate or equivalent
• Lead auditor qualification
• River Thames or other inland / coastal passenger experience
• Experience of Helm CONNECT or similar software

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All employees must commit to upholding our RESPECT values. They are as follows:

• Respect We will value, appreciate and respect each other. We will foster diversity and inclusivity.
• Environment We will Respect our planet. We will conserve, protect, and educate. We will practice environmental stewardship.
• Safety #1 We will think and work safely. We will follow safety standards and instructions. We will create a safe and secure workplace.
• Professionalism We will conduct ourselves professionally. We will take responsibility for our actions. We #will own the problem until it is solved.
• Exceed We will continuously improve. We will exceed standards and expectations.
• Communication We will be open and honest. We will choose a respectful approach. We will share information with others effectively.
• Teamwork We will exist to serve others. We will anticipate the needs of others. We will have fun and practice “enthusiastic friendliness”.

As an equal opportunities’ employer, we are committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and do not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

We aspire to create a diverse and inclusive environment. Candidates for employment or promotion will be assessed objectively against the requirements for the position.