About the Role
Crewing Officer
Full-time, Permanent
Home based or flexible working from Barrow-in Furness.
(If home based, mobility is required for regular travel to Barrow-in-Furness Head Office, Glasgow and vessel visits will be required)
The role involves supporting the recruitment, placement, and ongoing management of crew members across the company’s vessels. You will ensure each vessel is crewed with competent and compliant personnel, meeting regulatory requirements and industry standards. You will coordinate crew changes for designated vessels, matching the right seafarers to the right roles while upholding high standards of safety, compliance with the Safety Management System and the company’s valued behaviours. You will also provide day-to-day support to crew members and maintain strong working knowledge of the Shipmate crewing system, alongside other industry platforms such as OCIMF. This includes managing crew deployments, monitoring certification, and ensuring all activities are handled safely, efficiently, and with a strong focus on cost control. Additionally, you will contribute to the development and implementation of crewing policies and procedures, and maintain productive relationships with crewing agencies and other key stakeholders. As the company operates its vessels 24/7, year-round, there may be occasions where short-notice responses or weekend work are required. You will be required to partake in the weekly crewing officer duty phone rota for which an additional recognition bonus is paid.
Responsibilities
* Coordinate crew changes, including travel, immigration arrangements, document checks, and communication with vessels, agents, and travellers.
* Review travel invoices and support payroll with crew location and expense information.
* Maintain accurate crewing and certification records across systems such as Shipmate and OCIMF; act as a Shipmate superuser.
* Upload and verify required documentation within crewing systems.
* Arrange drug and alcohol testing for vessels.
* Assist with incident investigations and support seafarer conferences.
* Contribute to annual procedure reviews and participate in audits when required.
* Provide support to other Crewing Officers during leave periods.
* Engage with crew, travel providers, flag states, auditors, and internal teams to ensure efficient and cost-effective crewing operations.
* Build strong relationships with seafarers, customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders to support high-quality service.
Qualifications
* Demonstrated experience in a crewing or maritime operations role, with knowledge of industry practices, processes, and regulatory requirements.
* Exceptional organisational and time-management abilities, with the capacity to manage multiple priorities effectively.
* Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive, trusted relationships with crew members and key stakeholders.
* Solid understanding of industry regulations and standards relevant to crewing and maritime operations.
* Seagoing certification is not essential but would be considered an advantage.
Benefits
* Competitive benefits tailored to the division
* Opportunities for career growth and visibility across the organisation
* A supportive, inclusive culture that values your ideas and contributions
* Work that truly makes a difference in safety, innovation, and global capability
About Us
James Fisher is a global engineering services company operating across Energy, Defence, and Maritime Transport. With a strong heritage in maritime operations, we now deliver innovative solutions in challenging environments. Our One James Fisher strategy is focused on building a unified, sustainable business within the Blue Economy, driving progress through technology, expertise, and collaboration. With two centuries of maritime shipping and innovation, James Fisher is a trusted partner in the safe and efficient movement of the world’s critical resources. As a market leader in ship-to-ship transfer and coastal shipping, we help customers protect people, cargo and infrastructure while shaping the future of global maritime transport. You can find out more about Maritime transport here.
If this sounds like the ideal next step in your career, then click ‘apply’ now!
Due to the volume of applications, we receive for our vacancies, on occasion applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment. James Fisher and Sons are committed to taking positive action on diversity and strongly encourage applications for candidates from all backgrounds. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and recognise that our success depends on our talented and diverse workforce.
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