Operations Manager

As Operations Manager, you'll play a leading role in delivering a highly specialised service that makes a real impact. You'll be responsible for the safe, efficient, and compliant operation of the RSACT contract, ensuring our crews and teams have everything they need to perform at their best while consistently delivering for our clients. This is a hands-on leadership role where people are at the heart of success. You'll work closely with skilled crews and multidisciplinary teams, building a culture of trust, accountability, and high performance. Through strong engagement, coaching, and development, you'll help individuals grow their capability, support future talent, and create an environment where people feel valued, motivated, and empowered to succeed.

Alongside leading day-to-day operations, you'll have responsibility for HSEQ performance, financial management, continuous improvement, and identifying opportunities to strengthen and grow the contract. You'll be encouraged to challenge the status quo, drive innovation, and influence the future direction of the operation. A key part of the role is developing strong relationships with clients, regulators, and industry partners. As a trusted leader and ambassador for the business, you'll help build confidence in our people, our safety culture, and our ability to deliver exceptional service in a demanding and specialist operational environment. This is an opportunity to lead talented crews, shape operational success, and make a lasting contribution to a unique and highly professional service.

We welcome applications from candidates across the UK, with occasional visits to the Plymouth office as needed.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic oversight of operational delivery, driving safe, efficient, and reliable performance across all areas of responsibility.
• Ensure the effective deployment of personnel, assets, and equipment to meet operational requirements and contractual commitments.
• Monitor operational performance against agreed objectives and KPIs, implementing timely interventions to address risks and drive improvement.
• Foster strong cross-functional collaboration to ensure consistent standard, effective governance, and integrated service delivery.
• Lead operational improvement initiatives that support business transformation, innovation, and organisational objectives.
• Work closely with the technical specialists to ensure vessel compliance with all applicable regulatory, statutory and contractual requirements.

The Candidate:

• Experience in managing operations in similar industry demonstrating strong leadership and people management skills.
• Knowledge of health, safety, environmental and quality standards (e.g. ISO, ISM, Workboat Code, HSEQ frameworks).
• Experience of leading change, implementing new processes and prioritising and managing competing demands.
• Working knowledge of contract management and client relationship handling. Commercial acumen and cost awareness.
• Relevant professional qualification or certification in Operations, Management, Engineering or similar field (e.g. ILM Level 5, NVQ level 4/5, NEBOSH Certificate).
• Project Management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2, APM).
• Full UK Driving License.
• Flexibility to travel and work across sites.
• Willingness to work occasional unsociable hours to meet operational needs.
• Experience in multi-site or regional operations.

The Company:

Since the 1970s, the Briggs Group has grown to become one of the world leaders in the marine and environmental services industry, currently employing around 800 dedicated members of staff. Providing clients with services ranging from terminal operations to subsea cable repair, we are committed to employing dedicated and skilled staff who are looking for a career that offers stability, genuine career progression, and recognition. Our core values support the Company's mission and decision-making and provide a benchmark for everything that we believe in. They are the Company's fundamental beliefs and are integrated into every employee process, shaping the Company's culture for future success.

What's in it for you?

We offer an excellent package, including a pension, life assurance, the Cycle to Work scheme, and more, along with opportunities for on-the-job training and career progression within a stable environment. Flexible working options are also available.

As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applicants from all protected characteristics and are committed to providing any reasonable adjustments you need during the application, assessment, and onboarding process.

The next steps:

You must be able to provide relevant documentation confirming that you have the right to work in the UK. Please be advised that all employees may be required to undergo security vetting at any point during their employment with Briggs Marine. Data will be processed through Serco, who are our FSC vetting partner. Their privacy statement can be found at Privacy Policy - Serco.

As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment. All disabled candidates who meet the minimum essential requirements for this role will be offered an interview.