Head of Marine Safety and Assurance

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Key Information

Head of Marine Safety and Assurance - 1621

Circa £84,000 plus 13% On-Call Allowance 

Out of hours  on-call duty is required. Applicants should be based within a one-hour commuting radius

Location : Woolwich Ferry

The closing date for applications is Friday 8th August 2025 @ 23:59 hours

The Woolwich Ferry is a free vehicle and pedestrian ferry service across the River Thames in East London. The ferry service links Woolwich in the Royal Borough of Greenwich on the south bank, to North Woolwich in the borough of Newham on the north bank. It also links two ends of the inner London orbital road routes, the North and South Circulars. In excess of two million passengers use the ferry service each year.

We’re looking for an experienced and driven safety leader to step into a pivotal role, ensuring the highest standards of marine assurance across one of London’s most historic transport services. As Head of Safety and Assurance, you’ll lead on statutory compliance, risk management, and continuous improvement working closely with regulators, operational teams and senior stakeholders to embed a proactive safety culture. This is a rare opportunity to shape safety outcomes in a high-profile, complex maritime environment at the heart of Transport for London.

That’s a weighty responsibility — and a vital one for keeping London’s transport safe, sustainable, and legally sound. TfL’s approach to Safety, Health, and Environment (SHE) assurance is built on a structured framework.

Key Accountabilities 

• To act in the capacity of Designated Person under the International Safety Management (ISM) Code.
• To be responsible for ensuring that all aspects of marine safety and operational standards are implemented effectively, through facilitating, delivering and supporting improvements in policy, procedures and training in compliance with Regulatory, Port State, Flag State and TfL standards. To ensure the Safety, Health and Environment, of all staff, contractors, suppliers, members of the public, customers and users of TfL river services at all times.
• Lead on all matters of health, safety and pollution prevention on vessels and terminals -duties as the Designated Person (DP) in accordance with the ISM Code
• Effective implementation of the Safety Management System – including Managing and monitoring internal audit program and undertake internal audits as appropriate
• Manage and execute emergency exercises including counter pollution exercises
• Manage plans for the attendance of regulatory authorities to maintain compliance with the ISM Code
• Manage engagement of external organisations in compliance with Health, Safety and Counter pollution measures, (e.g. Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Port of London Authority, fire and rescue service, police service, ambulance service, local councils etc.)

Skills

• The ability to develop credibility and influence stakeholders  Essential
• Good leadership skills to manage, motivate and develop staff Essential
• Good skills in setting policy frameworks Essential
• Strong ability to initiate effect business and behaviour change design Essential
• Strong ability to work in a highly pressurised environment to very tight time constraints and high quality Essential
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills, with a proven ability to write strategic and analytical reports Essential

Knowledge

• Qualified to STCW Master II/2 or Degree in Nautical Sciences with minimum STCW II/1 qualification.  Desirable
• Fully knowledgeable of the requirements of a Designated Person’s responsibilities under the ISM Code for passenger ferry operations. Desirable
• Detailed knowledge of the issues for the safe, effective and efficient provision of HSEQ services, e.g. MCA, ISM Code and ISO requirements. Desirable
• Extensive knowledge, and successful development of the ISM Code and associated Safety Management Systems for the operation, maintenance and repair of floating craft and landside terminals. Desirable
• Working knowledge of Marine/Classification regulations and requirements, including local authority rules and regulations. Desirable
• Extensive knowledge of UK plant/machinery directives/regulations; in particular for HSE regulations governing use of, and access to, floating and landside assets by staff, contractors and the general public. Desirable
• IOSH/NEBOSH/HSE training and certification; membership of an appropriate UK or International maritime professional body in at least one of the HSEQ disciplines. Desirable

Experience

• Recent experience in the role of Designated Person or shore based management of passenger/freight ferries, and their attendant landside terminals, for a coastal/river/harbour Ro-Ro service Desirable
• Demonstrable and successful track record in delivering change/improvement strategies and programmes within a regulated environment. Essential
• Demonstrable and successful track record in the planning and management of HSEQ functions; the formulation, publication, and training of all staff in safety awareness and development. Desirable
• Experience in undertaking Safety Management System internal auditing. Desirable

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria. We also use anonymising software that removes identifying information from CVs and cover letters to make the process fair.

Application Process 

Think carefully about the skills, knowledge and experience in the advert and evidence this in your CV and cover letter. Word format preferred and do not include any photographs or images.

 
 
Benefits  
In return for your commitment and expertise, you will enjoy excellent benefits and scope to grow.  Rewards vary according to the level of role but mostly include the below:
 
Final salary pension scheme 
Free travel for you on the TfL network 
Reimbursement of 75% of the cost of a standard class Ticket for National Rail travel from home or 75% reimbursement on a 28-day flexi ticket
30 days annual leave plus public and bank holidays 
TfL is committed to work-life balance, operating a hybrid working approach where business and role requirements allow
Tax-efficient cycle-to-work programme
Retail, health, leisure and travel offers 
Discounted Eurostar travel