Chief Officer Offshore Operations -Maritime North - OOP Operations
| Posting date: | 19 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £50000-64000 per annum |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 21 March 2026 |
| Location: | Portsmouth, PO1 3LT |
| Company: | Serco Limited |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 307832-43984258 |
Summary
Serco Limited
Chief Officer
Location: Portsmouth, PO1, 3LTSalary: Competitive plus excellent benefitsSchedule: Perm/FT/48 hours
Ready to impact a better future?
As a Chief Officer in our team, you’ll take charge of the day‑to‑day operation of the Deck Department — from navigation and safety leadership to cargo operations and vessel upkeep. Your work will help ensure safe, efficient and purpose‑driven maritime operations that support our customers and the communities we serve.
You’ll create a safe and collaborative onboard environment where colleagues feel supported, operations run smoothly, and critical decisions are made with care and professionalism. Your leadership will contribute to safer seas, trusted operations and a positive impact on those who depend on our services.
What you’ll do as a Chief Officer
You’ll be entrusted to:
- Plan and supervise the maintenance of all deck areas, including holds, hatches and the superstructure.
- Oversee loading, discharge and ballasting operations, ensuring stability, watertight integrity and compliance with all requirements.
- Manage deck stores — including stowage, inventory and re‑ordering — and inspect all deck equipment and records on joining.
- Act as a Watchkeeping Officer, normally undertaking the 4–8 watch, following Company Procedures and International Regulations.
- Arrange and oversee fire drills, boat drills, oil pollution drills and safety equipment testing.
- Ensure compliance with Oil Pollution Regulations and work closely with the Chief Engineer during bunkering and bilge operations
- Be responsible for sounding all ballast and fresh water tanks and shall ensure that the proper records are kept in the Tank Sounding Book.
- Be responsible to the Master for the maintenance of vessel security in all its forms.
- Give and receive an appropriate and detailed written handover when leaving/ joining the Ship
Does this sound like you?
You’ll be a great fit for this role if you have:
- SC cleared or have no problem obtaining one.
- A Certificate of Competence as Chief Officer (Unlimited) as a minimum
- Valid STCW certification, including Survival Techniques, Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities, Designated Security Duties and Survival Craft.
- An unrestricted ENG1 and British nationality, including a valid British passport
- A methodical approach and strong organisational capability.
- Familiarity with safety routines, vessel contingency plans and company safety management systems (SMS, IMS, ISM, ISPS).
This role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance, which involves verifying your identity, employment history, nationality, and criminal record to meet government security standards. In addition, depending on the nature of the role, you may need to obtain formal Security Clearance (such as CTC or SC), which includes more detailed background checks on employment, criminal record, and financial history to ensure suitability for working in secure environments. Please note that UK residency requirements may apply for certain levels of clearance. You will also complete an Occupational Health Questionnaire so we can identify and provide any support you may need to undertake the role effectively.
Discover all you need to keep growing
We’re one of the top 1% of international employers, so you can have confidence you’ll be part of a highly supportive culture with leaders you can count on to help you achieve your goals. From mentoring and training to our focus on internal progression, we’re proud to offer clear development opportunities – and the support and tools to help you seize them.
What we offer
- Holidays: Competitive holiday package
- Training and development: Over 1,100 internal courses available, funding for qualifications and apprenticeships (including L3 Team Leader and L5 Operations Manager apprenticeships), mentoring opportunities, and a focus on internal progression
- Health and wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programme, Bupa Anytime HealthLine, wellbeing app, 30% off at Serco‑managed leisure centres, and 24/7 access to a virtual GP service
- Discounts: Discounts across around 1,000 retailers, from food and clothing to days out, entertainment and travel
- Charity: Paid volunteering day, tax‑free charitable giving through Payroll Giving Scheme, donate your pennies from your monthly pay to the Serco People Fund Charity
- Employee networks: Our networks support inclusion and connection by providing spaces for collaboration, learning and belonging. They represent and empower all our colleagues including LGBTQIA+ employees, women, parents and carers, people with disabilities, veterans, and people from all cultural backgrounds.
Chief Officer
Location: Portsmouth, PO1, 3LTSalary: Competitive plus excellent benefitsSchedule: Perm/FT/48 hours
Ready to impact a better future?
As a Chief Officer in our team, you’ll take charge of the day‑to‑day operation of the Deck Department — from navigation and safety leadership to cargo operations and vessel upkeep. Your work will help ensure safe, efficient and purpose‑driven maritime operations that support our customers and the communities we serve.
You’ll create a safe and collaborative onboard environment where colleagues feel supported, operations run smoothly, and critical decisions are made with care and professionalism. Your leadership will contribute to safer seas, trusted operations and a positive impact on those who depend on our services.
What you’ll do as a Chief Officer
You’ll be entrusted to:
- Plan and supervise the maintenance of all deck areas, including holds, hatches and the superstructure.
- Oversee loading, discharge and ballasting operations, ensuring stability, watertight integrity and compliance with all requirements.
- Manage deck stores — including stowage, inventory and re‑ordering — and inspect all deck equipment and records on joining.
- Act as a Watchkeeping Officer, normally undertaking the 4–8 watch, following Company Procedures and International Regulations.
- Arrange and oversee fire drills, boat drills, oil pollution drills and safety equipment testing.
- Ensure compliance with Oil Pollution Regulations and work closely with the Chief Engineer during bunkering and bilge operations
- Be responsible for sounding all ballast and fresh water tanks and shall ensure that the proper records are kept in the Tank Sounding Book.
- Be responsible to the Master for the maintenance of vessel security in all its forms.
- Give and receive an appropriate and detailed written handover when leaving/ joining the Ship
Does this sound like you?
You’ll be a great fit for this role if you have:
- SC cleared or have no problem obtaining one.
- A Certificate of Competence as Chief Officer (Unlimited) as a minimum
- Valid STCW certification, including Survival Techniques, Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities, Designated Security Duties and Survival Craft.
- An unrestricted ENG1 and British nationality, including a valid British passport
- A methodical approach and strong organisational capability.
- Familiarity with safety routines, vessel contingency plans and company safety management systems (SMS, IMS, ISM, ISPS).
This role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance, which involves verifying your identity, employment history, nationality, and criminal record to meet government security standards. In addition, depending on the nature of the role, you may need to obtain formal Security Clearance (such as CTC or SC), which includes more detailed background checks on employment, criminal record, and financial history to ensure suitability for working in secure environments. Please note that UK residency requirements may apply for certain levels of clearance. You will also complete an Occupational Health Questionnaire so we can identify and provide any support you may need to undertake the role effectively.
Discover all you need to keep growing
We’re one of the top 1% of international employers, so you can have confidence you’ll be part of a highly supportive culture with leaders you can count on to help you achieve your goals. From mentoring and training to our focus on internal progression, we’re proud to offer clear development opportunities – and the support and tools to help you seize them.
What we offer
- Holidays: Competitive holiday package
- Training and development: Over 1,100 internal courses available, funding for qualifications and apprenticeships (including L3 Team Leader and L5 Operations Manager apprenticeships), mentoring opportunities, and a focus on internal progression
- Health and wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programme, Bupa Anytime HealthLine, wellbeing app, 30% off at Serco‑managed leisure centres, and 24/7 access to a virtual GP service
- Discounts: Discounts across around 1,000 retailers, from food and clothing to days out, entertainment and travel
- Charity: Paid volunteering day, tax‑free charitable giving through Payroll Giving Scheme, donate your pennies from your monthly pay to the Serco People Fund Charity
- Employee networks: Our networks support inclusion and connection by providing spaces for collaboration, learning and belonging. They represent and empower all our colleagues including LGBTQIA+ employees, women, parents and carers, people with disabilities, veterans, and people from all cultural backgrounds.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.