Marine Operations Officer – Assistant Harbour Master

Salary: £46,508 – £63,949 (Grade 7)

Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) owns vessels and harbour infrastructure necessary for vital ferry services serving many communities throughout Scotland. We have a strategic mandate to continue improving Scotland’s ferry network. We are looking for enthusiastic, innovative individuals to join us to support the operation and development of safe, efficient, reliable ports and harbours that serve Scotland’s islands.

We are recruiting for a Marine Operations Officer to support marine operations, marine safety and operational assurance across CMAL’s harbour and marine estate. Reporting to the Marine Operations Manager, you will undertake inspections, gather and maintain evidence, support projects and investigations, and coordinate technical activities. You will act as Assistant Harbour Master and may exercise Harbour Master functions where formally appointed, competent and authorised to do so.

The role

· Undertake planned and reactive harbour inspections and site visits, gather evidence for marine-safety and Harbour Operating Agreement assurance, prepare factual reports and track findings and actions through to completion.

· Act as Assistant Harbour Master and exercise Harbour Master functions only where formally appointed, competent and authorised, escalating significant concerns and matters outside your competence.

· Maintain Marine Safety Management System documents and controlled records, and support audits, compliance reviews and navigational risk assessments.

· Support incident and near-miss investigations through evidence gathering, chronology preparation and action tracking, and assist with emergency planning, exercises and lessons learned.

· Support vessel and harbour infrastructure projects, maintain project records and organise data for simulator and manoeuvring studies.

· Coordinate hydrographic and bathymetric surveys, maintain survey records and navigational information, and draft routine Notices to Mariners for review, approval and issue.

· Maintain harbour legislation and statutory-notice registers, support consultation and publication activities, and monitor CCTV and weather-system availability, logging faults and tracking restoration.

· Provide day-to-day data stewardship for the Marine Intelligence Hub, maintain the marine-data catalogue and team action records, and coordinate activities with operators, contractors, project teams and harbour personnel.

Who are we looking for?

CMAL requires motivated, professional, and diligent people with a proactive and creative approach to problem solving and the ability to work flexibly, both within a team and autonomously. We are particularly looking for people with the following skills, experience, and attributes:

· Relevant maritime qualification or equivalent marine operational experience, with professional competence in marine or harbour operations and evidence of continuing professional development.

· Working awareness of marine safety and risk-management principles, with a strong commitment to safety, integrity and personal responsibility.

· Ability to understand technical and operational information, prepare clear factual reports, maintain accurate records and follow actions through to completion.

· Good organisational and communication skills, competence using Microsoft Office applications, and the ability to work independently within clear boundaries and collaboratively with a range of stakeholders.

· A calm, methodical and practical approach, with the ability to manage competing demands, challenge constructively and recognise when matters require escalation.

· A full UK driving licence and the ability to travel regularly throughout CMAL’s harbour and marine estate, including remote and island locations and occasional overnight stays. Flexibility to support incidents, investigations and emergency exercises outside normal working hours when required, and the ability to obtain required site or security clearances.

· Experience in harbour or port operations, navigational safety, Marine Safety Management Systems, inspections, audits, risk assessments, incident investigations or vessel and infrastructure projects would be advantageous.

· A Deck Officer Certificate of Competency, maritime HNC, HND or degree, Harbour Master’s qualification, or relevant audit, safety, incident-investigation or emergency-response training would be advantageous. Scottish Gaelic language skills are also desirable.

What’s in it for you?

A rewarding and evolving working environment in a future thinking organisation.

In addition to an attractive salary (placing on the scale is dependent on qualifications and experience) we offer an excellent benefits package including 30 days annual leave plus 8 public holidays per year, a defined benefit pension scheme, life assurance, an optional healthcare scheme, free ferry travel, relocation assistance, an Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing hour each month. We also support further personal and professional development.

The work environment

The role is based in our head office on the Clyde Estuary, in Port Glasgow, with some flexible remote working as mutually agreed to ensure we have the best people working with us to serve the communities that rely on our infrastructure.

How to apply and further information

To apply, please send your CV with a covering letter (applications without a covering letter will not be considered) stating how you meet the person specification by clicking the Apply button now.

Closing date for applications: 5pm on Monday 20th November 2026

Interviews planed for the 9th and 10th of December.

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