We are looking for an Area Operations Manager with a strong maritime professional background, to join our South West team between Rock and Ilfracombe, plus Fowey and Looe. You will be responsible for visibly leading and managing the people across your designated area, to ensure you are delivering a safe, effective and inclusive lifeboat service., As Area Operations Manager, working alongside an Area Technical Manager you will provide leadership, direction and support to your teams in an active maritime operational environment, looking after both full time staff and volunteers. Working as a part of the regional team you will be a credible people manager used to leading in an operational maritime environment. You will:
- Provide leadership, direction, management and guidance to a group of lifeboat stations, ensuring they are operating in line with RNLI values, policies and procedures, to deliver the core lifeboat service.
- Inspire, lead, support, coach and develop your team, promoting interpersonal relationships, in order to create an inclusive environment for all RNLI people.
- Collaborate with other colleagues within the region to deliver the RNLI's lifesaving service and objectives through operational support, education, influence and education.
About you
The role of the RNLI Area Operations Manager is to provide support and management to our lifeboat stations within the region. Each of these stations is managed by a volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager, with the majority of boat and shore crew being volunteers. In addition to providing day to day support to your stations, you will be busy carrying out assurance activities at your stations throughout the year, in order to ensure that they are being run in a safe and legally compliant way. You will have experience operating in commercial (afloat) maritime operations. You will be an experienced people manager and have experience in the marine environment. You should be Operational Lifeboat crew at Navigator or Coxswain level, and you will be expected to go afloat with your team, able to train and assess. You are ultimately accountable to the Regional Operations Lead for the operational effectiveness and safety of your station teams.
- Inspire, lead, support, coach and develop your team of staff and volunteers, promoting interpersonal relationships, in order to create an inclusive environment for all RNLI people.
- Actively manage and be responsible for the safe and effective delivery of the RNLI's lifesaving services through all aspects of a defined assurance framework.
- Collaborate with other managers within the Region to deliver the RNLI's lifesaving service and objectives through operational support, influence and education.
We are looking for a genuine team player who can bring their skills and experience to help deliver lifesaving services in this area. This is not a 9-5 job; for you it will be a passion, being prepared to work in the evenings and occasional weekends to support your stations and volunteers at a time that suits them. You will also be on a 8-10 week duty rota, and will be prepared to turn out to support your stations when they need you, sometimes at unsociable hours. As part of the role, the successful candidate will be expected to travel throughout the RNLI South West Region for meetings and to support other regional managers as well as undertake occasional travel within the UK and Ireland. So, if you are ready for your next exciting challenge as our new Area Operations Manager, and if you consider yourself to be someone who is a natural leader who can inspire and motivate a team of dedicated people.
This post requires a valid driving licence.
Our purpose is simple: to save lives at sea. 24 hours a day, every day, RNLI lifesavers are ready to launch to the rescue. Our crews need a dedicated, talented team behind them, and that is where you come in.
Our staff and volunteers have been saving lives at sea without prejudice for 200 years. We respect and value diversity of background, skills and perspectives within our teams, and consider it essential to help us deliver a world-class lifesaving service. We are an inclusive organisation and welcome applications from everyone. In addition to having the skills needed for the role, we also look for applicants who share our commitment to living our RNLI values (trustworthy, courageous, selfless, and dependable), and helping us work towards Our Vision: To save Every One.
£42,479 - £49,976 (dependent on experience)
Contract type: Temporary: Fixed Term Contract or Secondment Hours Full Time
Vehicle: A vehicle will be made available to carry out your duties.
Location description: This AOM role will cover the RNLI's South west region, the successful candidate will need to live within region.
Interview date 18 and 19th November
Closing Date 10-11-2026
Reference 22140
Documents (please view all documents)
- JP- Area Operations Manager V1.0.pdf (PDF, 150.36kb)
- Summary of Employee benefits.pdf (PDF, 1219.65kb)
- 26 days' annual leave (plus Bank Holiday days)
- Competitive pension scheme
- Life Insurance
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Area Operations Manager employer: Royal National Lifeboat Ins titution (RNLI)
At the RNLI, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer dedicated to saving lives at sea while fostering a supportive and inclusive work culture. As a Leadership Development Lead, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact by developing leadership capabilities within our volunteer network, all while enjoying comprehensive benefits, professional growth opportunities, and the chance to collaborate with passionate individuals across the UK, Ireland, and Northern Ireland. Join us in our mission to create a world-class lifesaving service where every team member is valued and empowered to perform at their best.
Contact Details:
Royal National Lifeboat Ins titution (RNLI) Recruitment Team
