At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and develop marina operations, ensuring exceptional customer experiences and commercial success.
- Company: Join a high-profile harbour organisation in the stunning Isle of Wight.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus, and benefits package with opportunities for growth.
- Other info: Role may require occasional evening and weekend work to support operations.
- Why this job: Shape a premium marina facility and make a real impact in the maritime community.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership experience in operational settings, strong commercial mindset, and excellent stakeholder engagement skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 60000 € per year.
Package: Circa £60,000, plus bonus and benefits
Are you a commercially minded leader with a passion for delivering exceptional customer experiences in a marine or operational environment? This is a rare opportunity to lead the development of a new premium marina facility—maximising capacity and utilisation, shaping its strategic direction, and driving its success at a pivotal stage in its evolution. Join us in a high-profile harbour organisation at the heart of the Isle of Wight’s maritime community.
We are seeking a Head of Marina Operations to lead, develop and grow marina and visitor services, ensuring they are safe, efficient, customer-focused and commercially successful.
About the Role
Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will take full responsibility for the leadership, performance and strategic direction of marina and visitor operations. This is a senior leadership role combining long-term strategic planning with hands-on operational delivery. You will be key in developing and delivering the new premium visitor experience at Cowes Harbour Marina—optimising capacity and utilisation, driving commercial growth and ensuring the highest standards across safety, compliance and service delivery across all aspects of the operation.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead marina and visitor operations, ensuring safe, efficient and high-quality service delivery
- Develop and implement strategy for marina and visitor operations, aligned with wider organisational goals
- Drive commercial growth, identifying new revenue opportunities and enhancing occupancy
- Hold full ownership of budgets, financial performance, and business planning
- Oversee marina infrastructure, maintenance and capital projects
- Champion a strong health & safety and environmental culture
- Build and maintain relationships with stakeholders, customers and partners
- Lead, develop and inspire a high-performing team
About You
You’ll be an experienced senior leader with a strong commercial mindset and a track record of delivering results in operational environments such as marinas, ports, marine services or similar. You will bring:
- Proven leadership experience in a complex operational setting
- An inspirational and motivated leader
- Strong strategic thinking and commercial acumen
- Experience managing budgets and driving revenue growth
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills
- A commitment to delivering outstanding customer service
- Solid understanding of health & safety and compliance
Experience in the marine or leisure marine sector is highly desirable.
Why Apply?
- Opportunity to shape and influence a key maritime operation
- Strategic leadership role with real impact
- Stunning Isle of Wight location
- Competitive salary and benefits package
This role may require occasional evening and weekend working to support operational and event needs.
Head of Marina Operations in Cowes employer: British Marinemember
Join a leading harbour organisation at the heart of the Isle of Wight’s maritime community, where you will have the opportunity to shape and influence a premium marina facility. We pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative work culture that values exceptional customer service and employee growth, offering competitive salaries, bonuses, and benefits. With a focus on strategic leadership and operational excellence, this role provides a unique chance to make a significant impact in a stunning coastal location.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Marina Operations in Cowes
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the marine industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its operations. Understand their values and how they align with your experience. This will help you showcase how you can lead and inspire teams while driving commercial growth.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! During interviews, share specific examples of how you've successfully managed teams and improved operational efficiency. Highlight your strategic thinking and ability to deliver exceptional customer experiences.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our maritime community.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Marina Operations in Cowes
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the marine environment shine through. We want to see that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about delivering exceptional customer experiences in this field.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience in operational settings. We’re keen on seeing how your background aligns with our goals at Cowes Harbour Marina, so don’t hold back!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your key achievements and skills are easy to spot. This will help us quickly understand why you’d be a great fit for the Head of Marina Operations role.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application via our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at British Marinemember
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you thoroughly understand the marina operations landscape. Brush up on current trends in the marine sector, especially around customer experience and operational efficiency. This will help you speak confidently about how you can drive commercial growth and enhance service delivery.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare to discuss your leadership approach and how you've inspired teams in previous roles. Think of specific examples where you've developed high-performing teams or improved operational processes. This is your chance to demonstrate that you can lead and motivate others effectively.
✨Be Ready with Strategic Ideas
Since this role involves strategic planning, come armed with ideas on how to optimise capacity and utilisation at the marina. Think about potential revenue opportunities and how you would align your strategies with the organisation's goals. This shows you're proactive and ready to make an impact.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Highlight your experience in building relationships with stakeholders. Prepare to discuss how you've successfully engaged customers and partners in the past. This will show that you understand the importance of collaboration in driving success within the marina operations.
