Training Director - Maritime Institute - London / West Africa

ORGANISATION: We are exclusively hiring on behalf of a leading global shipowner and integrated maritime solutions provider with a strong footprint across Europe and Asia. As part of its expansion, the company is launching a new international maritime training institution that will blend a West Africa-based campus with partnered UK maritime colleges. This integrated model is designed to develop the next generation of seafarers and maritime professionals through pre-sea and post-sea programmes that lead into UK-recognised CoC, diploma, and degree routes.

We are now seeking an experienced and visionary Director to lead the business strategy and growth of this institution. Based in London with regular international travel, this role will work closely with executive leadership and global partners to define the strategic direction, establish international collaborations, and ensure alignment with evolving global maritime standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead the overall management, commercial growth, and long-term strategic development of a new maritime training institution spanning both pre-sea and post-sea education.
• Design and execute a business development strategy to build a strong portfolio of clients across shipowners, shipmanagers, oil majors, and other maritime organisations.
• Drive international collaborations with leading UK and global maritime colleges to establish academic pathways, joint programmes, and progression routes (including UK CoC, diploma and degree options).
• Develop and implement a marketing and student recruitment strategy targeting aspiring cadets and serving seafarers in West Africa and beyond, including digital campaigns, outreach events, and institutional partnerships.
• Build and own a placement strategy for graduates and course participants to secure berths, cadetships and roles with external shipowners and managers across Europe and other key markets.
• Represent the institution to shipowners, maritime organisations, regulators, and government authorities, acting as the primary spokesperson and industry liaison.
• Oversee campus operations in West Africa, ensuring world-class standards across facilities, infrastructure, staff performance, student services, and overall learner experience.
• Manage financial planning and stewardship of the institution, including budgeting, forecasting, audits, cost optimisation, and procurement oversight.
• Build and nurture a high-performing, commercially aware team, fostering a culture of professionalism, accountability, customer focus, and continuous improvement as the institution scales.

Your profile

• Degree in Business Administration, Management, Maritime Studies, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 10+ years of leadership experience in maritime training, maritime education, ship management, or maritime industry operations.
• Strategic, growth-focused leadership mindset with strong commercial and operational insight.
• Strong professional reputation and network within the maritime community, especially among shipowners and relevant UK maritime / training authorities.
• Deep understanding of global maritime education standards and regulatory frameworks (STCW, IMO, NIMASA, MCA).
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication, and relationship-building skills, comfortable interacting at C-suite and senior institutional levels.
• Comfortable with extensive international travel and cross-border operational management (London West Africa global shipowner hubs).

The offer

• Opportunity to build and lead a flagship maritime training institution from the ground up.
• Significant commercial responsibility, including influence over institutional growth.
• Highly visible, strategic role within a growing international group.
• Direct reporting to senior leadership (CXO level).