Base Manager in Aberdeen

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Aberdeen

Hours of Work: Monday to Friday, 08.30 - 16.30

Job Purpose:

To provide leadership and accountability for the safe, effective and commercially focused operation of the Aberdeen sites, including Albert Quay, Mearns Quay and Torry Marine Base, collectively known as the Point Law Peninsula. The role is accountable for leading operational teams and managing associated resources, assets, plant and facilities to meet customer requirements, achieve operational standards and maintain compliance with Health, Safety, Security, Environmental and Quality (HSSEQ) requirements. Working in collaboration with the General Manager Northern UK and the UK Operations Control Centre, the post holder will contribute to the delivery of the Business Unit Operating Plan through effective people leadership, continuous improvement, business development and stakeholder management.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership and People Management
• Provide visible leadership to ensure quayside operations are delivered safely, efficiently and cost effectively, in line with company standards, customer expectations and legislative requirements.
• Maintain effective communication with operational teams, customers and stakeholders on operational activity, planned works, business changes and service performance.
• Lead, motivate, coach and develop operational teams to achieve business objectives and promote a positive, accountable and inclusive working culture.
• Promote continuous improvement and personal development to support achievement of business objectives.
• Raise safety awareness across base personnel and actively encourage reporting, investigation and learning from safety events.
• Develop cross-disciplinary succession plans, in conjunction with the Operations Control Centre, to support future resource continuity.
• Customer, Commercial and Stakeholder Management
• Maximise profitability through effective planning, deployment and utilisation of labour, plant, equipment and operational resources, in collaboration with the Operations Control Centre.
• Review operational processes and working practices to identify opportunities to improve safety, efficiency, productivity and customer service.
• Monitor operational performance against agreed KPIs and implement corrective actions to improve operational and financial performance.
• Support the General Manager in developing and delivering the annual Operating Plan, business objectives and strategic priorities.
• Contribute to annual budgeting, forecasting and quarterly business reviews, ensuring operational requirements are accurately reflected.
• Support the preparation of tender submissions, commercial proposals and contract renewals for existing and prospective customers.
• Assist the General Manager in identifying and developing opportunities for business growth, diversification and entry into renewable and critical energy markets.
• Develop and maintain strong customer relationships through regular engagement and consistently high service standards.
• Manage relationships with on-site tenants, ensuring operational, commercial and HSSEQ expectations are clearly understood and met.
• Governance and Performance
• Lead operational management across Aberdeen Operations to ensure consistent service delivery, operational performance and customer satisfaction.
• Maintain and regularly review operational and site risk registers, ensuring risks are identified, mitigated and monitored.
• Ensure third-party contractors operate in accordance with ASCO guidelines, working standards and permit requirements.
• Coordinate emergency response and business continuity arrangements across operational functions, ensuring plans remain current, tested and effective.
• Support the development of a multi-skilled, flexible and adaptable workforce to meet changing client and business needs.
• Assets, Projects and Infrastructure
• Work with the Facilities team to maintain operational assets, equipment and facilities, maximising availability and reliability.
• Support the planning and delivery of approved CAPEX and OPEX projects from concept to completion, including scope definition, financial justification, procurement, contractor management and close-out.
• Contribute to asset condition and replacement planning in conjunction with the Facilities team.
• Build effective relationships with Port Authorities, harbour personnel, regulators and external stakeholders through regular operational and strategic engagement.
• Liaise with the Facilities team to ensure timely maintenance and repair of operational assets in line with business requirements.
• Oversee the storage and delivery of potable water in line with Group Operating Procedure requirements and third-party service arrangements.
• HSSEQ, Security and Compliance
• Ensure employees are competent, appropriately trained and developed to maintain a flexible, multi-skilled workforce that can meet changing customer requirements.
• Ensure third-party contractors work safely and comply with company procedures, permit requirements and contractual obligations.
• Support the Port of Aberdeen in maintaining Port Facility Security compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
• Communicate changes to security legislation, procedures and operational requirements to employees, tenants and facility users in line with Port of Aberdeen guidance.
• Lead or support investigations into incidents, near misses and non-conformances, ensuring lessons learned are shared and corrective actions are implemented.

Minimum Qualifications

• Substantial operational management experience within logistics, ports or the energy sector
• Valid full UK driving licence
• IOSH Managing Safely certification

Minimum Competencies (Skills, Knowledge and Behaviours)

• Operational leadership capability
• Strong commercial awareness
• Financial planning and management skills
• Strategic and forward-thinking approach
• Customer-focused mindset
• Effective people leadership
• Clear communication and influencing skills
• Sound decision-making ability
• Effective risk management
• Continuous improvement mindset
• High standards of integrity and professionalism
• Equality and diversity awareness
• Awareness of unconscious bias

Desirable Qualifications/Competencies

• Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience
• Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) membership
• Lean Six Sigma qualification or experience
• Project management qualification, such as APM or PRINCE2
• Management or leadership qualification, such as CMI or ILM
• NEBOSH General Certificate

Continuous Improvement

• Support continuous improvement initiatives within the business.
• Engage with continuous improvement training.
• Participate in developing a continuous improvement and LEAN culture within your team.
• Embrace 2-second lean principles and lean thinking.
• Generate improvement ideas, share your ideas either with your team or through the employee suggestion scheme, and discuss your ideas with your line manager.
• Implement ideas as agreed with line management.
• Participate in continuous improvement projects and follow direction from management.
• Deliver on improvement targets and plans as agreed with line management.

HSSEQ

• In partnership with the HSSEQ department, ensure the continuous improvement of safety and environmental performance and compliance to all laws, regulations and industry standards/codes.
• Reports all incidents or breaches of policy or regulations to the line manager.
• Fully endorse the ASCO ‘Stop the Job’ policy and commitment to proactive intervention where an unsafe act or condition is observed.
• Adherence to the ASCO’s integrated management system ensuring document control and improvements to key processes is maintained.