Deputy Head of Offshore Training

Location: Gosport, PO12 2AB

Contract: Full time, fixed term until February 2027

Salary: £46,500 to £47,500 depending on experience

Closing Date: 26 April 2026

Are you a Deputy Head of Offshore Training looking for a new opportunity?

The Marine Society & Sea Cadets (MSSC) is the leading maritime charity for youth development and lifelong learning. We are a vibrant and growing charity inspiring young people to achieve their potential through challenge and nautical adventure, while also enabling seafarers and maritime professionals to realise their potential through learning and career development.

Thousands of young people take part in Sea Cadets activity every week. We want to reach thousands more. We have a strong vision and are on the cusp of rolling out a new multi-year growth strategy to meet the growing demand for what we provide for young people. We aim to equip them to achieve their potential and thrive in a rapidly changing world. We are immensely proud of the breadth, quality and safety of activities we offer to young people.

We are currently looking for a Deputy Head of Offshore Training to join our team.

About the role

We are currently seeking a suitably qualified individual to take on the role of Deputy Head of Offshore Training for our offshore fleet for a fixed period to provide cover for the current postholder. The position is principally based in our offices in Gosport but may require some weeks afloat (as a relief crew member), occasional day sea-riding for sea trials/shakedown, and alongside assurance visits around the UK.

The MSSC offshore fleet consists of our flagship, TS Royalist, a sail training brig, two modern 24 metre power vessels and two Rustler 42 yachts. The vessels operate around the UK and near continent during a nine-month training season and usually refit in the Gosport area December to February. The vessels are coded and inspected annually by YDSA. Safety compliance is critical and a Safety Management System is in place.

Responsibilities

• Deputise for the Head of Offshore Training in all respects, particularly when the Head of Offshore Training is sea-riding vessels or out of the office on duty/leave.
• Ensure provision of 24/7 support to MSSC offshore vessels during the operational season (March to November), including acting as a Duty Officer out of normal working hours and at weekends.
• Responsible to the Head of Offshore Training for the day to day management of national offshore based training conducted by the MSSC; including staff work, personnel and logistic matters.
• Manage on behalf of the Head of Offshore Training the Offshore Safety Management System; ensuring it is maintained, reviewed and updated, and that lessons learned from operations, other organisations, good practice and emerging legislation are incorporated in the system.
• Lead on all offshore logistics and personnel policy and procedures.

• Maritime experience in a deck, engineering or logistics role.
• Knowledge of Sea Cadet organisation and operations.
• Strong communication and team management skills.
• Medically fit to work at sea.

• 25 days annual leave per annum, pro rata for part time employees, increasing with length of service
• Hybrid working for many roles
• Volunteering Leave
• Life assurance (4x salary)
• Private medical insurance
• Generous pension (employer contribution up to 10%)
• Cycle to work scheme
• Access to the Marine Society Digital Library
• Wellbeing portal and EAP with 121 counselling
• Employee development: We are investing in our employees' development and have an annual calendar of learning and development opportunities, designed to support employees to develop into their roles and stretch them to achieve their full potential.

Additional Information

MSSC positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates from all backgrounds. Equity, diversity, and inclusion really matters to us, so we can best serve our beneficiaries from every community. We work to ensure a fair and consistent recruitment process and aim to be a charity where diversity of experience, identity and skills are valued and welcomed. MSSC is an equal opportunities employer.

We recognise our responsibilities to safeguard and protect the young people and vulnerable adults with whom we work. We do all we can to promote their health, safety and wellbeing, and we expect our staff to share this commitment and work in line with safeguarding policy, the MSSC's values and ethos of inclusivity. We adhere to safer recruitment practices and therefore employment is subject to detailed pre-employment checks for successful candidates, including references and criminal disclosure checks and the completion of a disclosure questionnaire.

All successful applicants are required to attend safeguarding training and undergo pre-employment checks including a criminal record check.