Chief Executive Officer, Harwich Haven Authority (HHA)
Location: Harwich, Essex, England
Salary: Competitive package
Closing date for online applications: Midnight 31st October 2025
About Harwich Haven Authority
Harwich Haven Authority (HHA) is one of the UK’s 5 major trust ports, responsible for 150 square miles of the Haven. They play a critical role in enabling and regulating safe, sustainable, and efficient access to the Haven for some of the nation’s most strategically important commercial ports. These include the Port of Felixstowe, the UK’s busiest container port who handle 40% of the UK’s container traffic.
With statutory responsibility for one of the busiest and most complex and economically significant stretches of water on the UK coastline, HHA is trusted to serve not shareholders, but a wide range of stakeholders. These range from port users and employees to local communities and the environment.
The Opportunity
We seek an outstanding and forward-thinking Chief Executive Officer to lead HHA into its next chapter.
As CEO, you will be responsible for the leadership and performance of the Authority. Reporting to the high quality and engaged Board, you will provide strategic direction and ensure the delivery of our statutory duties, commercial goals, and long-term sustainability; operationally, financially, and environmentally.
This is a rare and exciting opportunity to lead a maritime organisation of national economic significance, where your leadership has the opportunity to shape the future of UK trade, maritime safety, and coastal resilience.
Key Responsibilities
* Provide visionary leadership to the Authority, ensuring the highest standards of safety, compliance, environmental responsibility, and operational delivery.
* Deliver the Authority’s long-term strategic objectives, including investment in infrastructure, digitalisation, and environmental sustainability.
* Lead and inspire a diverse and expert workforce across marine operations, pilotage, hydrography, engineering, and corporate services.
* Represent the Authority to government, industry, regulators, and local communities.
* Act as a key ambassador for UK maritime excellence and trust port values.
* Ensure sound financial stewardship and enhanced performance of the organisation.
* Maintain and enhance strong stakeholder relationships with port users, shipping lines, local authorities and environmental bodies.
* Work collaboratively with the Board and lead the Executive Team to shape a high-performing, inclusive, and forward-looking culture.
About You
We are seeking an exceptional leader with the credibility, experience, and vision to lead a strategically important organisation across a complex, safety-critical environment.
* Significant executive leadership experience, ideally in the maritime, transport, infrastructure, safety critical or regulated sectors.
* Proven track record of leading operationally complex organisations with high public accountability.
* Strong understanding of governance, safety, and risk management.
* Strategic capability to shape long-term vision and embed ongoing strategic change alongside spotting opportunities for further transformation and commercial growth.
* Excellent and proven stakeholder management, negotiation, and influencing skills.
* A values-led leadership style, committed to integrity, sustainability, and inclusion.
* Maritime industry experience is not essential, and we would be pleased to consider appropriately experienced first time CEO’s.
At HHA we do not just accept the different strengths people bring, we recognise them, we support them, and we thrive on them for the benefit of our employees, our stakeholders, the services we provide, and our community.