About the role
As our Ferry Master at Kielder, you’ll be at the centre of delivering exceptional ferry services for guests visiting one of the most stunning locations in the North East. You’ll pilot the vessel with confidence and professionalism, ensuring safe, smooth and enjoyable journeys for all passengers.
You’ll take ownership of day‑to‑day ferry operations, including full compliance with health and safety requirements, vessel maintenance and the upkeep of our Domestic Safety Management System.
You will be responsible for planning and delivering profitable ferry schedules, ensuring equipment is safe and fit for use, and work closely with Guest Services to create seamless, memorable visitor experiences.
You’ll also lead on emergency procedures, coordinate an annual practical safety day and provide accurate KPI and financial reporting.
This is a hands‑on, varied and rewarding role, perfect for someone who enjoys the outdoors, takes pride in high operational standards and loves interacting with the public.
About You
We are looking for an experienced and safety‑minded operator with the technical competence to run ferry services in line with Maritime & Coastguard Agency standards.
With an in‑date Boat Master Licence and STCW certification, you’ll have a strong understanding of marine environments and the practical skills required to operate confidently on the water.
You will thrive in customer‑facing settings, remaining calm and professional even when situations aren’t straightforward. You’re commercially aware, comfortable interpreting data and able to plan and deliver services that maximise revenue.
As a natural team player and leader, you build rapport with ease, communicate clearly and make sound decisions quickly. You’ll balance competing priorities effectively, work flexibly when needed and maintain a strong focus on quality and safety.
We are looking for you to have experience working outdoors and within tourism, hospitality or visitor‑focused environments, along with solid practical abilities and confidence using technology such as Microsoft Office, mobile devices and radios.
A full, valid driving licence is essential, as is a commitment to excellent customer service, ethical standards and continuous improvement.
Experience with watercraft, first aid, booking systems or activity programming would be helpful, but not essential.
Here at Northumbrian Water/Essex & Suffolk Water, we embrace and value Diversity, Inclusion and Equity, and encourage all colleagues to bring their most authentic self to work.
Our colleague network groups include our Rainbow Support Network (LGBTQIA+), REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), WiSTEM (Women in STEM) and Thisability (disability and neurodiversity) networks. They provide a safe space for colleagues from diverse backgrounds, welcoming all colleagues regardless of their personal characteristics to participate in valuable conversation that improves our organisational awareness, understanding and inclusivity.
We encourage and welcome all applications, as we strive to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to having diverse communities represented within all our teams, structures, and organisation.
Please note this role will require a DBS to be completed prior to employment
NWG are an inclusive employer who support the rehabilitation of offenders, we will not, however consider candidates who have certain unspent convictions to ensure our commitment to fostering a safe and secure working environment for all OR colleagues, suppliers, customers and third parties.
About us
Here are NWG we strive to make Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) a Great Place to Work, for all. We embrace and value Diversity, Inclusion and Equity and encourage you to bring your full self to work. As an equal opportunity employer we’re committed to having a diverse community represented across our business.
We’re aware that not everyone will have every skill listed in the job description, however if you have some of the skills listed, we'd encourage you to apply
NWG at a glance:
Our purpose at NWG is caring for the essential needs of our communities and environment, now and for generations to come.
We do this by providing reliable and affordable water and wastewater services for our customers.
We make a positive difference by operating efficiently and investing prudently, to maintain a sustainable and resilient business.
Our vision is to be the national leader in the provision of sustainable water and wastewater services. To support us in achieving our vision, we have five core values which are the guiding principles, defining who we are, what we do and how we do it.
Our benefits
We’re a Great Place to Work because of the amazing people who work for us, and to say thank you we offer a range of benefits to colleagues. Our ‘Tap Into’ benefits include:
1. Generous holiday entitlement starting at 23 days plus bank holidays and additional time off on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. There’s also the option to buy or sell holidays.
2. Company pension scheme, where we’ll double match your contributions up to an employer contribution of 11%.
3. Free access to local attractions.
4. A fantastic discount scheme, with savings on days out, shopping, travel and more.
5. Award winning ‘Living Well’ wellbeing support, including access to a digital GP service for you and your family members.
6. Support with sustainable travel – through salary sacrifice cars and a cycle to work scheme.
7. Financial wellbeing support – access our community savings scheme, financial education and low cost loans through Salary Finance. We also provide 4 x Life Assurance and an Income Protection Scheme.
8. Support with your development – we offer a range of development opportunities, can support you through an interest free qualification loan and we’ll even pay for any relevant professional body subscription.
This role has also been defined as a safety or security critical role and as a condition of a formal offer of employment you’ll be required to undergo a drug and alcohol test.
Prospective employees and agency workers in defined safety and security critical roles will be required to undertake a drug and alcohol test after the job offer has been made. This will be prior to or within four weeks of their start date.
Prospective employees and agency workers who fail a pre-employment urine drug screen will have their sample analysed by the Company appointed laboratory as a matter of course. Failing a pre-employment drugs or alcohol test may lead to the job offer being revoked.