Marine Compliance Officer
Job title: Marine Compliance Officer
Department: Harbour Masters
Reporting to: Marine Compliance Manager
Grade: 6
Salary: £51,124 per annum
Working pattern: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week
Base: Gravesend, Kent
Closing date: This is a high priority vacancy. Therefore, interviews will be held as applications come in and this advertisement will be withdrawn once the position is filled.
Who we are:
The Port of London Authority is the statutory harbour authority for the tidal Thames and responsible for 95 miles of the River Thames from the Estuary to Teddington Lock in West London. We work to keep river users safe, protect and enhance the environment and promote the use of the river for trade and travel. As part of our duties under the Ports and Marine Facilities Safety Code, we manage and maintain the port’s navigational safety management system and marine emergency planning function.
The role:
Based in our newly modernised Head Offices at Gravesend you will join a growing team providing specialist services in support of the PLA’s core safety functions.
- You will contribute significantly to the ongoing development and maintenance of an effective safety management system, risk assessment processes, compliance assurance and supporting regulatory framework and enforcement regime, whilst providing statistical analysis and reports on a routine and as-required basis.
- You will lead a small team of internal Port & Marine Facilities Safety Code (PMSC) auditors, ensuring that all operations comply with established safety standards and regulations, tracking findings and assigned actions through to completion at all levels of PLA Management.
- You will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operation of the Marine Safety Management System (MSMS) and the navigational risk management database, which are critical for identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential risks. Your diligence will be pivotal in ensuring thorough risk assessments are conducted and reviewed to a high standard and according to schedule, helping maintain a culture of continuous improvement in navigational safety.
The post also acts as a support function for the PLA’s central marine emergency planning role, including planning and executing emergency exercises, representing the PLA at external forums and events and liaising with key internal and external stakeholders on the development or the PLA emergency plan.
The ideal candidate will:
- Hold a STCW (OOW Unlimited) Certificate of Competency or equivalent or have relevant management experience in the marine and ports industry, including in particular, navigational safety management, risk assessment, training and emergency management.
- Be able to lead, motivate and manage effectively.
- Have proven and effective interpersonal skills.
- Have good writing skills
- Have an ability to work effectively under pressure
Benefits package:
- 28 days annual leave (plus Bank Holidays)
- Medical Cash Plan (Westfield Health)
- Generous pension
- Onsite parking with electric charging
- Access to Occupational Health, Mindfulness, Counselling and Physiotherapy
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Access to MyGymDiscounts
For further information or if you would like to have an informal discussion about the position, please contact Paul Evans, Marine Compliance Manager on 01474 562323.
The PLA are not registered with the UK Home Office and do not sponsor candidates who require a visa or work permit to work in the UK, therefore an offer of employment cannot be made unless you currently hold the rights to live and work in the UK.
- Department
- Harbour Masters
- Locations
- London River House, DA12 2BG
- Remote status
- Hybrid
- Yearly salary
- £51,124

About Port of London Authority
A thriving tidal Thames and home to the UK’s number one port.
We are driven by our purpose to protect and improve the 95 mile stretch of the River Thames which is tidal – from Teddington Lock on the border of Surrey, through the heart of London, Kent, Essex and out to the North Sea.
Marine Compliance Officer
Loading application form