Marine HSEQ Manager
Posting Start Date: 19 Feb 2026
Location: Plymouth, Devon, GB, PL2 2BG
Company: Serco Plc
Marine HSEQ Manager
Devonport, PL2 2BG
Full Time, Permanent
Band 4 – Competitive Salary (dependent on experience)
At Serco, we deliver critical public services that matter. Within our Defence Maritime portfolio, safety, environmental stewardship and operational excellence are fundamental to everything we do.
We’re now seeking an experienced Marine HSEQ Manager to take a pivotal, specialist role overseeing Health, Safety, Environment and Quality across our UK Defence afloat operations.
The Marine HSEQ Manager is responsible for ensuring the highest standards of HSEQ compliance across a complex and highly regulated maritime environment. Operating under the jurisdiction of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), this role ensures full compliance with the Merchant Shipping Act, International Safety Management (ISM) Code, Defence Maritime Regulations (DMR) and other applicable maritime legislation, conventions and standards.
Working closely with Masters, Marine and Technical Managers, you’ll provide expert guidance, assurance and leadership to ensure that all afloat activities are conducted safely, sustainably and in line with statutory, contractual and regulatory obligations.
You’ll also work in close partnership with our Shore-Side HSEQ Manager, maintaining a strong collaborative relationship to ensure a seamless, integrated HSEQ approach across the wider maritime business.
As part of this you’ll:
- Act as the HSEQ Subject Matter Expert for all afloat operations
- Provide operational oversight and assurance across the maritime fleet
- Develop, maintain and implement maritime Safety Management Systems (IMS/ISM)
- Lead and support investigations into incidents, accidents and near misses afloat
- Ensure audit readiness and regulatory compliance (internal and external)
- Produce insightful HSEQ performance reports to drive data-led decision making
- Support marine-specific HSEQ training and competency development
- Foster a proactive, Just safety culture where people feel engaged, supported and accountable
- Support bids, contract changes, vessel transitions and mobilisation activity
What you’ll need to do the role:
You’re an experienced maritime HSEQ professional who understands how to influence without forcing. You’re confident, tactful, people-focused and able to win trust across a diverse operational workforce.
You bring:
- Strong maritime operational awareness and regulatory knowledge
- The credibility to engage with Masters, engineers, regulators and senior stakeholders
- A mentoring mindset – able to coach, develop and positively challenge
- The ability to balance operational pragmatism with regulatory rigour
Essential qualifications & experience:
- Minimum Level 6 qualification in Occupational Health & Safety (or equivalent experience)
- IOSH / IIRSM (or equivalent) membership
- Proven experience in an HSEQ practitioner role
- Strong knowledge of maritime legislation and operational environments
Desirable:
- ISO / ISM Lead Auditor qualification
- Accident investigation training
- Maritime audit and inspection experience
- Environmental reporting and auditing experience
- HAZID / HAZOP / Safety Case experience
- MOD or Defence regulatory framework experience
- One or more of the following:, MCA STCW II/2 Chief Mate (Unlimited), MCA STCW III/2 Second Engineer (Unlimited), RN Ship Command or Engineering equivalent
Why Serco:
Meaningful and vital work: In this position, your work is vital to the business, in terms of decisions and growth. You will gain a world of opportunity working for a globally operating business delivering essential services across 5 vital sectors, personal growth, achievement and development won’t be hard to find. You'll also work with great people. You’ll find yourself working in a highly motivated, supportive environment where no two days are the same, with experienced colleagues who strive for excellence.
What we offer:
- Flexible working considered
- Pension – 6%
- A unique opportunity to influence safety across a Defence maritime fleet (40 vessels).
- A close-knit, supportive management team (team of 4 reporting to one leader).
- A waterside office location with river views and free on-site parking.
- Close collaboration with the customer, co-located within the same building.
- Clear development opportunities, including the potential to line manage a small team in the near future.
- A role where your expertise genuinely matters – and where you can shape the future of maritime HSEQ.
- Serco discounts which include cinema, merlin entertainment and online shopping discounts, and discounts on mobile phone plans and leisure centre memberships.
- A range of benefits to support the health and wellbeing of you and your family such as Employee Assistance Programme, Simply Health Cash Plans, and more.
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About Serco
At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play, from caring for vulnerable people to managing complex public services. We are a team of 50,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone.
By joining Serco you will have unlimited access to our Global Employee Networks – SercoInspire (Gender), SercoEmbrace (Multicultural), SercoUnlimited (Disability) and In@Serco (LGBT & Networks). Serco Employee Networks, led by colleagues who are passionate about diversity, inclusion and belonging.
Apply
Please click on the apply button to complete your application. Occasionally we receive a large volume of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.
At Serco, we see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. As such we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool. We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working. We operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly Disability Confident Leader employers and holder of the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview. For help with your application please contact 0345 010 4000.
At Serco we support fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions through the ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some may be exempt due to the nature of the role and the security clearance required). Please contact our recruitment team directly on 0345 010 4000 to discuss.