Ferry Engineering Manager

Tamar Bridge & Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee seek to appoint a Ferry Engineering Manager to manage the maintenance of our fleet of three bespoke chain ferries. This is a pivotal role in a class leading and unique environment. Please read all the details to understand what we require before deciding whether the role is suitable for you. This summary should be read in conjunction with the full job description and person specification.

Who we are:

Tamar Crossings is responsible for the management, operation, maintenance and administration of the two crossings over the River Tamar – Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry. With approx. 26,000 vehicles travelling with us every day, we play an important part in the local infrastructure, creating a link between Plymouth, Devon and South East Cornwall.

Tamar Crossings are jointly owned by Cornwall Council and Plymouth City Council.  The operation, maintenance and improvement of the crossings are funded through tolls charged. The Torpoint Ferry is the largest chain ferry service and busiest estuarial vehicular crossing in the UK, whilst the Tamar Bridge provides a link on the busy A38 Trunk Road for more than 14 million vehicles a year.  The crossings operate a successful electronic tolling scheme which 60% of users utilise to pay the toll.

At Torpoint Ferry we provide a service to approximately 2 million vehicles and 550,000 pedestrians and cyclists per year.  Three ferries provide a 24-hour service, 365 days a year and is an essential transport link for Southeast Cornwall, its residents and businesses. The Torpoint Ferry crossing is the busiest estuarial vehicular crossing in the United Kingdom.

The three chain ferries come under complex Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Regulations and are maintained in class with Lloyds Register.  They are unique vessels presenting a wide range of both engineering and operational challenges. The Ferry Engineering Manager is responsible for the maintenance of assets valued at around £35 million including the significant task of periodic refit of vessels in drydock and leading. The post also has overall responsibility for facilities management of the Ferry offices, buildings and grounds.

You will report to the General Manager. The successful candidate will manage the Technical Manager and their direct line reports consisting of 8 multi-skilled mechanical and electrical technicians and 3 supporting roles, who maintain the three Ferries.  The team supports an innovative program of marine apprenticeships.

Ferry Engineering Manager role:

As the lead for the engineering aspect of the ferry you will have overall responsibility for optimising asset life and asset availability by managing the engineering, technical development, maintenance, and inspection functions in respect of the Ferries and associated shore facilities at Torpoint Ferry.  The postholder is responsible for developing the next round of drydock refits commencing in two years and with partners, develop an innovative capital project to decarbonise at least one of the vessels.

You will act as a member of the senior management team, contributing to the strategic management of the organisation so that it delivers its mission of providing safe, reliable, and efficient crossings of the river Tamar through the operation, maintenance and improvement of the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferries.

You will contribute to the KPIs for the delivery of the Ferry service by maximising the availability of the ferries and reducing time out of service due to routine maintenance and repairs.

You will be responsible for procurement and contract management processes for engineering works, maintenance, and inspection services at the Torpoint Ferry to ensure that expenditure is cost effective and remains within stringent budgets. You will be required to forecast for short, medium and long term projects and ability to write clear, concise reports for internal purposes and external agencies is vital.

The skills you need:

The person specification gives a high level of detail of which skills and what experience we are looking for in the successful candidate.

In the first instance, you must be able to demonstrate:

• degree level qualification in Marine Engineering or other relevant discipline
• highly developed and effective management and team building skills
• excellent interpersonal and communication skills for management of team and contractors, working with external agencies and other stakeholders
• ability to write and critically appraise detailed technical documents and specifications, contractual documents, and tender submissions.

Experience of:

• experience of undertaking a similar role in a marine engineering or similar working environment involving overseeing technical repairs
• managing, monitoring, and forecasting substantial budgets including long term financial and strategic planning and procurement of goods and services
• Preparing technical & contractual specifications for engineering work,

• Project management combined with the ability to manage a number of projects concurrently including planning/programming, budget monitoring and resourcing requirements.

What else you need to know

You will be required to climb steep and narrow stairs and access low and confined spaces; therefore, a level of physical fitness is required.

Due to the safety critical nature of the role, you are subject to random and with cause drugs and alcohol testing.

Pay & Benefits

Salary: £56,037 – £60,501 per annum, based on 37 hrs/week.

(National pay award pending from 1 April 2025)

There may be occasional ‘call outs’ outside of your normal working hours.

Benefits:

• Regular pay award for all employees negotiated by the National Joint Council for Local Government Services (NJC)
• Local Government Pension Scheme – employer and employee contributions
• A minimum of 28 days annual leave (or hours equivalent), pro-rata to contract and shift allowances, plus public/bank holidays.
• Staff travel card for free crossings of the Tamar Bridge and the Torpoint Ferry
• 24/7 access to Employee Assistance Programme for you and your family
• Family friendly policies including shared parental leave, contractual maternity, paternity and adoption
• Uniform and PPE provided – washing and drying facilities available for use on site
• Learning and Development Opportunities
• Remote working and comms technology appropriate to the post

Interested?

Applications will only be accepted on the official application form available on the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry website. Letters, CV’s, or other alternative methods will not be accepted. Presentation of the application form is important and may be assessed as part of the short-listing process.

Closing date:               9:00am on 03 April 2025

It is anticipated that interviews will take place w/c 15 April 2025

To learn more about this exciting opportunity or for an informal conversation please contact Andrew Vallance, Interim General Manager on 07787 563401.

If you have not heard anything by 15 April 2025 please assume you have been unsuccessful. We are sorry but due to the expected volume of applicants we are unable to inform people individually or give feedback to people who are not successful in reaching the interview stages.