Manager – Technical & Marine

Job title: Manager – Technical & MarineDepartment: TechnicalGrade Band: ManagementReporting to: Global CEODirect reports: NILLocation: ChennaiJob purpose:The Manager – Technical & Marine oversees the safe, efficient, and compliant technical and marine operations of the company’s managed fleet. This includes leading a team of Technical Superintendents, Marine Superintendents, and support personnel to ensure vessel availability, operational excellence, safety, environmental compliance, and cost optimization. The role requires a strategic mindset with deep technical and marine knowledge, excellent leadership, and regulatory expertise.Main tasks and responsibilitiesFleet Technical Management- Oversee the day-to-day performance of the assigned fleet, ensuring optimal vessel availability, minimal downtime, and timely maintenance. - Approve and monitor dry-docking schedules, budgets, and execution. - Review vessel performance reports and initiate corrective/preventive actions where required. - Ensure that all technical operations comply with Flag State, Classification Society, and international maritime standards. - Coordinate vessel maintenance, repairs and inspections. - Oversee vessel retrofitting and technological upgrades. - Strategically plan for fleet expansion and vessel upgrades - Establish and monitor KPIs for Fleet Operations - Prepare reports for Senior Management - Analyse data to identify areas for improvement - Lead and participate in process improvement initiatives - Stay informed about Industry trends and technological advancementsMarine Operations Oversight- Ensure high navigational standards, cargo operation safety, and marine compliance across the fleet. - Guide and monitor Marine Superintendents to ensure marine visits, inspections, and audits are conducted as per plan. - Ensure compliance with Maritime Regulations and Industry Standards - Maintain oversight of port state control inspections, vetting performance, and third-party audits.Budget and Cost Control- Develop and manage annual OPEX and CAPEX budgets for the fleet. - Control technical and marine expenditure and identify areas for cost optimization without compromising safety or performance. - Identify and implement cost saving measuresPeople Management- Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team of Marine and Technical Leads and superintendents and coordinators. - Participate in recruitment, training, appraisals, and development of shore-based and sea staff. - Promote a strong safety and quality culture across the fleet and teams.Stakeholder Engagement- Act as the senior point of contact for owners, charterers, and regulatory authorities. - Ensure effective client communication and satisfaction with fleet performance. - Address and resolve fleet-related issues and disputesRegulatory Compliance and Audits- Ensure compliance with ISM, ISPS, MLC, ISO standards, and internal policies. - Prepare for and lead audits and inspections by regulatory bodies and oil majors.Incident Response and Risk Management- Lead root cause analysis and investigations of major incidents and near misses.Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):| Budgetary Compliance – Fleet OPEX: ≤ 10% variance from annual budget. Weightage:10%| Fleet Technical Availability: ≥98% vessel availability. Weightage: 20%| Dry Docking Budget Compliance: ≤ 5% deviation from approved dry-docking budget. Weightage: 15%| Third-party Inspection Performance (e.g., vetting, PSC): ≥ 90% inspections cleared without major deficiencies. Weightage: 15%| Marine Visit & Internal Audit Completion Rate: ≥ 95% of scheduled visits/audits completed on time. Weightage: 10%| Compliance with Company’s Safety Management System (SMS): 100% implementation and audit closure rate. Weightage: 10%Key interactions (Internal | External)External: vessel Owners | Port State Control (PSC), Flag Administrations| Drydock Facilities, OEM Suppliers | Insurers, Agents|Internal: GCEO| HR & Admin | Technical Superintendents | Procurement / Supply Chain| Compliance | FinanceEducation requirementsMaster Mariner Foreign Going (Class 1 Certificate of Competency)MBA or equivalent preferredLanguage requirementsEnglishBackground and experience- Minimum 15 years of experience in the maritime industry, with at least 5 years in a Senior Management position. - Prior sailing experience as Master on ocean-going vessels. - Strong knowledge of Tanker, Dry bulk and Container vessel operations. - Strong knowledge of Maritime Regulations and Safety Standards - Exceptional Leadership and Team Management skills - Excellent communication and negotiation abilities - Proven experience in handling dry-docking, class surveys, and technical budgeting. - Strong working knowledge of ISM Code, vessel inspections, and regulatory compliance. - Familiar with planned maintenance systems (PMS) and ERP/technical fleet systems. - Seagoing experience in a command position of not less than 5 years - Advanced training on management systems and management system internal auditing - A wide knowledge of international rules & regulations and of industry guidelines and practices - Training, experience and skills in incident investigation - Training, experience and skills in risk management - Good leadership, managerial and communication skills as well the ability to work within a team - A willingness to learn and adopt new systems and ideas - Excellent command of the English language.Competencies and skillsCore Competencies (Grade G – Management Level)| Integrity & Accountability: Takes ownership of outcomes and supports team members in upholding ethical standards; addresses issues of non-compliance proactively| Customer Focus: Builds strong relationships with internal and external customers; adjusts processes or actions based on customer feedback and expectations| Continuous Learning: Seeks feedback and applies learnings to improve performance; encourages a mindset of improvement within the team| Agility: Adapts plans quickly to address operational challenges; helps team remain flexible during changes or unexpected issues| Collaboration & Communication: Encourages input from all stakeholders; clearly communicates expectations and updates across departments and shiftsLeadership Competencies (Grade G – Management Level)| Leading by Example: Demonstrates consistency in behaviors, follows through on commitments, and fosters accountability within the team| Team Empowerment: Provides autonomy and support to others to take initiative in improving operations; promotes ownership and skill development within the team| Strategic Thinking: Connects day-to-day operational decisions with broader business goals; helps the team understand how their work supports the organization’s strategy| Emotional Intelligence: Adapts leadership style to team and situation needs; manages stress, models empathy, and builds a respectful work environment| Operational Excellence: Applies structured methods to optimise workflows and deliver service efficiency; ensures high standards in port and vessel performanceFunctional Competencies (Grade G – Management Level)| Fleet Technical Management: Deep understanding of vessel machinery, systems, and operational reliability| Maintenance & Repair Oversight: Ability to plan, manage, and monitor maintenance plans and shipyard projects.| Safety, Compliance & Incident Management: Expertise in maritime HSEQ standards and incident handling.| Vetting, Audits, and Regulatory Liaison: Oversees preparations for port state inspections, audits, and vetting.

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