Vessel Operations Manager (Senior Skipper)

Vessel Operations Manager (Senior Skipper) in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex.

About Sussex IFCA

The Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) is one of ten regional IFCA’s in England, responsible for managing sea fisheries resources and Marine Protected Areas out to six nautical miles. Our district covers the entire Sussex Coast, including the estuaries.

Our vision is to lead, champion and manage a sustainable marine environment and inshore fisheries, by successfully securing the right balance between social, environmental and economic benefits to ensure healthy seas, sustainable fisheries and a viable industry.

The IFCA is a committee of local government, and we are funded by East Sussex County Council, West Sussex County Council and Brighton and Hove City Council.

About the role

Are you enthusiastic about protecting our marine environment and ensuring sustainable fishing practices? Do you have a strong maritime background, enjoy working at sea and have great leadership skills? If so, this might be the perfect opportunity for you!

Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) is seeking a dedicated and motivated Vessel Operations Manager (Senior Skipper) to support the management and conservation of inshore fisheries within the Sussex coastal area. As Vessel Operations Manager (Senior Skipper) you will be a vital part of our team of motivated professionals based at our Shoreham-by-Sea office, working to safeguard our coastal waters.

You will be responsible for the safe and efficient management and operation of the Authority’s fishery patrol vessels, including management and development of crew, and the compliance and enforcement of fisheries and conservation regulations in the inshore waters of Sussex, ensuring the Authority meets its vision. You will be trained to conduct enforcement of regulations relating to fisheries and Marine Protected Areas and you’ll ensure that anyone fishing in the Sussex IFCA district complies with the Marine & Coastal Access Act and other marine, environmental and sea fisheries legislation. You will conduct inspections, collect and record data, and give advice and guidance using your knowledge and understanding of the different fisheries and fishing methods in our district. Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading in the operation and maintenance of our patrol vessels
• Conducting fishery inspections and enforcement activities to ensure compliance with regulations
• Participating in data collection and research to support marine conservation efforts
• Leading and mentoring crew members to ensure efficient and safe operations

About you

You should be enthusiastic and passionate about the marine environment, with knowledge of marine issues, and the fishing industry. You should have a strong drive to enforce rules protecting fish stocks, marine habitats, and marine wildlife. You will have had demonstratable experience of operating as a Skipper in a professional capacity, including fast craft and RIB handling. You will combine this with effective communication skills both written and oral, combined with an organised approach and an aptitude for teamwork and collaboration. You will work as part of a team and be confident working alone when required. You must be prepared to work additional hours and unsocial hours (weekends and at night), for which the post attracts a 10% uplift on basic salary. You will be required to tackle physically demanding duties in a challenging marine environment and as such, we will expect you to meet the standard required to obtain a Seafarers Medical Certificate (ENG1). Officers involved in both enforcement and conservation and research activities may be required to work a minimum of 20 weekend days per year and a maximum of 28 weekend days. Staff shall work on average a minimum of 37 hours per week.

For further information please contact the IFCA office on 01273 454407 or email hidden link - please login or visit our website at www.sussex-ifca.gov.uk/jobs where you will find an application form and the job description and person specification

For informal advice on the recruitment process please ask for Robert Pearson, Chief Fisheries and Conservation Officer.

The first round of the two-stage interview process will be held in the week commencing 18th November 2024 in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex.

Application forms are to be returned to hidden link - please login

Closing date: 6th November 2024 17:00

Job Description

Purpose of the role:

To operate at the front line of inshore fisheries management with a primary responsibility to oversee and optimise the day-to-day operations of the Authorities maritime activities. You will be responsible for skippering the Sussex IFCA patrol/survey vessels with full accountability for the crew, equipment on board and routine maintenance of the vessel as well as the implementation of any work required from outcomes of safety management systems. You will have overall accountability for vessel operations, ensuring the safe, efficient, and cost-effective execution of compliance and enforcement patrols, marine projects and surveys, while adhering to industry regulations and company policies. The post will be required to undertake sea-based and shore-based enforcement of fisheries legislation, undertaking senior enforcement officer duties. With overall accountability for the planning and execution of surveys and project work for various marine agencies with impact on marine conservation issues and regulations.

The post holder will be issued with an Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority warrant card and may also be joint warranted with relevant authorities that manage the marine environment.

Key duties and responsibilities:

1. To take command, lead and coordinate as Senior Skipper, all vessel operations for the Authority. Ensuring the vessels are maintained in good working order, the machinery and equipment onboard are operational and safe, undertaking routine vessel maintenance when required, supervise the crew and ensuring the highest levels of health and safety for operations at sea. This includes risk management, maintenance of logs and compiling engineer reports. For all vessel operations, you will be responsible for planning, scheduling and documenting, liaising with the Compliance and Enforcement and Conservation and Research leads as appropriate.
2. Ensure the IFCA fleet and operations remain compliant and up to date regarding all legislative requirements, including MCA coding (WBC3), best practice and industry guidance.
3. Assist the Senior Management Team in the development and implementation of company-wide policies and procedures relating to the safe operation of Sussex IFCA vessels and compliance with relevant legislation, including development and ongoing review of Safety Management Systems appropriate for the vessels.
4. Line management and leadership responsibilities; to directly manage Senior IFCO (Skipper) and Marine Engineer. To develop and maintain all crew’s skills and knowledge in all aspects of vessel duties and to develop the Senior IFCO (Skipper) to enable them to deputise in your absence.
5. Ensure the crew work efficiently and to the highest standards of Health and Safety by the development and review of onboard procedures and by ensuring Method Statements and Risk Assessments are developed, correctly implemented and reviewed, and control measures identified.
6. To be responsible for compiling and presenting an annual budget request for the Authority’s vessels and their operation and subsequently to ensure that the annual budget is adhered to.
7. Take a proactive and leading role in monitoring compliance with fisheries regulations, enforce fishing and conservation legislation, leading the conduct of inspections on vessels, gear, and catch to ensure adherence. This will involve both sea-based and shore-based inspections.
8. To undertake the duties of a Senior Inshore Fisheries Enforcement Officer, including enforcement of fisheries conservation measures, conducting investigations into breaches of regulations, and the creation of standard operating procedures for activities supporting the management of fisheries.
9. Working with our compliance and enforcement leads, you will develop and maintain a risk assessment matrix to identify activities and areas of risk within the District, planning and allocating the deployment of resources and assets at sea and ashore to address issues through a risk based, intelligence led compliance and enforcement programme.
10. To report on matters impacting vessel operational activities at Principal Committee meetings of the Sussex Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority, including maintenance, performance, staff/crew training and development, sector legislative changes/updates.
11. To meet the Health, Safety and Wellbeing responsibilities for the role, as set out in Sussex IFCA’s Health and Safety Policy Statement. Including managing procurement and maintenance of personal protective equipment for staff.
12. To assist Conservation and Research Manager/Senior Research Officers with the planning, scoping and undertaking of extensive stock surveys and minor research projects from either in-house sources or other marine agency partners such as the Environment Agency, Natural England, Marine Management Organisation.
13. To proactively engage and liaise with the fishing industry and other key stakeholders, regarding fisheries and conservation management and associated issues, to foster positive relationships, address concerns, and promote understanding of conservation measures.
14. To respond to internal and external enquiries and prepare correspondence.
15. To attend on request, meetings with other bodies as a representative of the Chief Fishery Officer of Authority.
16. Undertake available training opportunities and show a commitment to continuous development, to maximise your potential and ensure efficient and effective delivery of services.

This job description sets out the duties of the post at the time when it was drawn up. Such duties may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility entailed. Such variations are a common occurrence and cannot of themselves justify a reconsideration of the grading of the post.