It’s time for boarding! Lead nautical excellence in a company that is growing, modernising, and shaping the future of river operations
We are looking for a Director Nautical Operations to lead and elevate our nautical organisation across a dynamic and growing fleet. This is a senior leadership role for a strong nautical expert who combines operational depth with modern thinking, commercial awareness, and the ability to drive change.
This position is not only about running operations. It is about building the future of nautical performance: safer, smarter, more efficient, more connected, and better prepared for growth.
You will lead nautical operations across fleet planning, safety, crew deployment, incident response, compliance, reporting, cost control, and service quality. You will work closely with internal departments, captains, technical teams, and senior leadership to ensure high standards, strong coordination, and a clear operational direction. The underlying job scope includes ownership across safety, budgets, staffing, planning, process discipline, reporting, and fleet-wide coordination.
What you will do
The role requires both hands-on operational awareness and strategic leadership. It is well suited to someone who is disciplined, forward-looking, and comfortable operating at the intersection of people, process, safety, and business performance. The job description places strong emphasis on budget control, recruitment and crew planning, safety management, process ownership, customer satisfaction, cross-department coordination, and executive reporting.
- lead the nautical operation across the fleet (Fleet Managers, Corporate Captains, Locks & Docks and Nautical HR Crewing, Nautical Recruiting Teams)
- Responsibility for itinerary planning and continuous route optimization, considering nautical, operational, and client requirements
- Responsibility for safety, nautical standards, emergency management, and compliance with relevant processes and regulations, in close collaboration with internal stakeholders and interfaces
- oversee nautical staffing, crew planning, and development
- ensure strong coordination between shipboard and shore-based teams
- manage budgets, cost performance, and operational efficiency
- strengthen reporting, planning, and operational transparency
- improve processes, handbooks, and working methods
- act as a trusted leader and representative of the nautical function internally and externally
What you bring to the table
- Extensive nautical expertise and several years of leadership experience in the maritime or nautical sector
- A strong understanding of operational processes, safety, crew management, and quality standards
- Proficiency with technology and confidence in using digital tools, reports, planning tools, and data-driven workflows
- An open mindset, a passion for innovation, and a willingness to question and improve existing practices
- Creativity in solving complex operational challenges
- Entrepreneurial thinking and a keen sense of costs, priorities, and sustainable results
- Strong communication skills, assertiveness, and a passion for cross-team collaboration
- A structured, forward-thinking, and solution-oriented approach
- A high degree of personal responsibility, reliability, and strong leadership skills
What we are looking for
We are seeking a leader who brings:
- deep nautical expertise and credibility
- strong operational judgement in a live, fast-moving environment
- a technology-savvy mindset and confidence working with digital tools, data, reporting, and structured planning
- openness to new ideas, new ways of working, and continuous improvement
- creativity in solving operational challenges and improving systems
- the maturity to lead people, align departments, and communicate with clarity at all levels
What to Expect
- A key role with significant responsibility in a growing and dynamic company
- The opportunity to help shape structures, standards, and teams in a sustainable way
- An exciting work environment that offers plenty of creative freedom and close collaboration with senior management
- A company that takes development, professionalism, and modern leadership seriously
- The opportunity to actively shape the future of the nautical industry
Ready to take on responsibility?
If you are a nautical expert with leadership strength, an open mind, and the drive to modernise and improve, we would like to hear from you.
