Job Description: Marine Lead
Job Purpose
The Marine Lead is responsible for stewarding, coordinating, and assuring the safety and quality of all Marine Units deployed across Project operations. Acting as the Project Marine Coordinator, the role provides expert guidance, technical leadership, and strategic support to multiple Project Management Teams throughout the marine execution lifecycle.
The role ensures regulatory compliance, operational readiness, risk mitigation, and adherence to company Marine Operations Procedures (MOP), while driving continuous improvement and maintaining strong internal and external stakeholder relationships.
Job Context & Major Challenges
- Serve as the Marine Subject Matter Expert (SME) for vessel selection, Technical Bid Evaluations (TBE), inspections, and assurance processes.
- Manage complex multi-party interfaces across OPCO Marine, contractors, and project teams.
- Ensure full compliance with the latest Marine Operations Procedure and marine specifications.
- Maintain effective communication between vessel owners, contractors, and third parties to deliver timely resolutions.
- Custodian of all marine assurance activities for floating and marine assets.
- Uphold the highest standards of marine assurance and compliance as per international maritime regulations, classification societies, flag states, and local regulatory requirements.
- Adapt to shifting project priorities, tight deadlines, emergent incidents, and operational disruptions without compromising safety or ongoing activities.
- May serve as a shared marine resource supporting multiple projects simultaneously.
Key Job Accountabilities
Mobilization Phase
- Oversee and verify the Vessel Suitability Survey conducted by the 3rd Party Marine Inspector (MWS), ensuring findings are closed out effectively and on schedule.
- Ensure all marine units maintain valid OVID inspection reports and oversee the close-out of findings with vessel owners. Lead Marine Operations Safety Induction (MOSI) for all relevant personnel.
- Review, validate, and approve EPC Contractor Marine Unit Assurance (MUA) documentation before submission to OPCO Marine.
- Provide SME input to all marine-related procedures and participate in risk screenings and formal risk assessments.
- Lead marine safety campaigns (lessons learned, stop cards, lifesaving rules, heat stress programs).
Execution Phase
- Monitor Marine Unit Acceptance (MUA) certification validity and maintain updated MUA dossiers for all units. Ensure officers understand marine guidelines and the marine operations procedure.
- Manage periodic inspection processes (housekeeping, industrial hygiene, safety walks, and quality inspections) as per the MOP to ensure consistent compliance with maritime regulations and contractual standards.
- Act as a focal point for defect and breakdown management, ensuring prompt reporting, coordination with EPC contractors, vessel owners, and OPCO Marine, and issuance of Marine Violation Notes when needed.
- Participate in vessel accident/incident investigations and ensure strict compliance with company incident reporting requirements. Capture lessons learned and contribute to bi-monthly incident review meetings.
- Contribute to weekly Marine Progress meetings, report on Marine KPIs and performance standards, and manage the MP Marine Compliance Matrix.
De?Mobilization Phase
- Lead the Marine Unit demobilization and transfer process, ensuring proper closure of MUA documentation.
- Conduct performance reviews for each demobilized marine unit, prepare formal reports, and share feedback with OPCO Marine and MPCMF.
Minimum Person Specification:
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in marine/engineering/sciences OR Diploma in Marine/Nautical Studies
- STCW II/2 or STCW III/2 Certification
Knowledge & Experience
- Minimum 8 years of seagoing experience as a shipboard engineer or officer, including at least 1 year as Chief Engineer or Master.
- Strong background in offshore marine unit operations within the oil & gas sector.
- Deep understanding of international maritime regulations, codes, and standards.
- Broad operational knowledge across offshore installation vessels, construction barges, heavy lift vessels, transportation, pipe/cable lay vessels, jack?ups, accommodation barges, and dive support vessels.
- Experience working in the Middle East (advantageous).
- Marine Warranty Surveyor (MWS) and consultancy experience preferred (OVID accreditation advantageous).
Technical & Business Skills
- Excellent verbal and written English communication skills.
- Strong technical, analytical, and critical?thinking abilities.
- Demonstrated leadership, stakeholder management, and interpersonal skills.
- High-level organizational, planning, and interface management abilities.
- Strong negotiation, influence, and problem?solving capabilities.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office applications.