Head of Engineering Reports to Operations Director Department Engineering Date April 2026 The Company Wightlink is a leading ferry operator providing essential transport links between the Isle of Wight and the south coast of England. Operating multiple routes across the Solent, the company carries over 4 million passengers annually and plays a vital role in supporting local communities, tourism, and regional business connectivity. With a fleet of modern ferries and a strong focus on reliability, safety, and customer experience, Wightlink is recognised as an award-winning operator. The Company is also committed to sustainability, investing in innovative technologies such as hybrid-energy vessels as part of its environmental strategy. Purpose of Role The Head of Engineering is responsible for leadership and oversight of the maintenance for the Company’s fleet of ferries and infrastructure to ensure safe and efficient operations to Wightlink’s customers. The role ensures full compliance with all ship and shore Safety, Health, and Environmental (SHE) standards and regulations, safeguarding the wellbeing of staff, passengers, contractors, and stakeholders. Scope The role forms part of the strategic management team and reports direct into an Executive team member. The Engineering department has circa 40 employees covering ship and shore. Key Responsibilities • Provide strategic advice and plans to Directors and Managers on significant maintenance and repair risks impacting business operations. • Create, manage and control the Engineering budget. • Plan, organise, and manage repair work, including refits and overhauls, ensuring safe execution by designated teams. • Collaborate closely with the Head of Safety, Head of Fleet Operations and Director of Port Operations to ensure all maintenance activities are conducted safely, efficiently and within budget. • Oversee contractor performance and manage service agreements to ensure quality and value. • Comprehensive management of Engineering team, setting clear objectives, providing mentoring and training, to build a culture of accountability, transparency and proactivity. • Ensure all ship and shore safety equipment meets regulatory compliance, with particular focus on critical and essential systems. • Oversight of full utilisation of maintenance management systems (MAXIMO). • Promote and embed a strong safety culture, emphasising behavioural safety and visible leadership, while ensuring full compliance with Health and Safety Executive (HSE) requirements in all maintenance activities. • Develop and enhance maintenance elements of the Safety Management System (SMS) in line with industry best practice and legislative requirements. • Encourage and support the reporting of incidents and lead on their investigation to ensure lessons are learnt and to drive continuous improvement. • Act as the primary liaison with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) on technical matters. Knowledge/Skills/Experience/Qualifications Knowledge • Strong knowledge of safety, health, and environmental regulations • Practical understanding of the ferry / transport business or similar • Technical knowledge of vessel structure and maintenance requirements • Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) controls and governance Skills • Planning and organising • Ability to analyse complex issues and implement effective solutions • Strong communication both verbal and written • Presentation • Data analytics and reporting Experience • Extensive leadership experience in a commercial 24/7 maritime organisation • Comprehensive experience of team management from recruitment and selection, performance reviews, absence management and development plans • Experience of new build vessel projects, desirable • Experience with maintenance management systems e.g. MAXIMO or similar • Contractor management • Project management Qualifications • Degree qualified in an engineering discipline • IOSH or NEBOSH qualified, desirable • Project management, PRINCEII or similar, preferrable Characteristics -Technically curious -Commercially focussed -Ability to influence -Proactive -Strategic thinker -Team orientated -Ability to delegate and deliver through others -Problem solver -Accountable -Collaborative -Flexible and adaptable Other requirements Portsmouth (Head Office), with regular travel to Lymington and Isle of Wight ports. Other travel may be required to suppliers and or for networking purposes. Due to 24/7 nature of the business some on call or evening or weekend working may be required. Company Vision and Mission Vision The UK’s favourite way to travel. Mission To provide outstanding customer experience through connecting the Isle of Wight sustainably and safely. Strategy ‘Shaping Tomorrow Together’ Safety C Good Governance – Develop Our People – Grow Customer Demand – Modernise the Operations – Working with Communities. Company Values Dependable – in everything we do Customer Focus – our customers are at the heart of everything we do Working as a Team – together the journey is easier Sustainable – delivering today without compromising tomorrow Wightlink Confidential Role Profile: Head of Engineering Reporting to: Operations Director (Gavin Marshall) Location: Portsmouth, with regular operational presence across ports and vessels Overview Wightlink is seeking to appoint a replacement/new Head of Engineering at a critical point in the company’s evolution. This is a leadership and transformation role, not a steady-state technical position. The successful individual will be responsible for stabilising current performance, addressing cultural and structural challenges within the engineering function, and building a modern, accountable and high-performing organisation aligned to Wightlink’s long-term operational and decarbonisation ambitions. Business Context Wightlink operates a fleet of 6 RoPax ferries and 2 high-speed FastCat passenger vessels, connecting Portsmouth and Lymington with the Isle of Wight. Under the leadership of CEO Katy Taylor, the business is focused on: · Modernising operations and improving customer experience · Strengthening organisational culture and leadership capability · Delivering fleet renewal and infrastructure upgrades · Progressing a long-term pathway towards hybrid and fully electric vessels The Head of Engineering will play a central role in enabling this transformation. Role Mandate The Head of Engineering will be expected to: · Stabilise the technical management and operational reliability of the fleet · Establish clear accountability, structure and performance standards across the engineering function · Address underperformance directly, including organisational restructuring where required · Strengthen leadership capability within the technical superintendent layer · Improve maintenance planning, execution and reporting discipline · Enhance communication and alignment between shore-based engineering and vessel operations · Work closely with the Operations Director to support safe, efficient and reliable service delivery · Contribute to strategic initiatives including hybrid vessel introduction, fleet replacement and long-term electrification planning · Support the evolution of systems, data and maintenance tools to improve predictability and performance Team · Approximately 20 personnel within the engineering function · Includes technical superintendents and fleet engineering support · Structure and capability require review and optimisation Candidate Profile Background · Strong operational shipping background · Ideally sailed to Second Engineer or Chief Engineer before moving ashore · Experience within ship management, vessel operations or similar marine environments · Defence backgrounds considered where combined with strong commercial awareness and leadership qualities/behaviours Experience · Proven leadership of engineering or technical teams within a live operational environment · Track record of improving organisational performance at an individual, team and department level · Experience managing budgets and making commercially sound decisions · Exposure to fleet upgrades, refits or newbuild programmes is advantageous Leadership · Strong people leader with high emotional intelligence and self-awareness · Willing to challenge, make decisions and lead through difficult situations · Visible, hands-on and engaged with both shore and vessel teams · Collaborative and able to work effectively with senior stakeholders · Accountable, proactive and delivery-focused Key Challenges · Resetting culture and expectations within the engineering function · Managing and improving performance across parts of the team · Restoring confidence in operational reliability and technical delivery · Building a leadership pipeline for the future · Supporting a complex transition towards hybrid and electric vessel operations Opportunity · Lead and reshape a critical function within a high-profile regional transport operator · Play a key role in Wightlink’s decarbonisation and electrification journey · Influence fleet strategy, infrastructure development and long-term engineering capability · Build a modern, high-performing engineering organisation with lasting impact Reward · In addition to a very competitive basic salary you will also benefit from the following – o Bonus: 5–10% (management bonus linked to EBITDA and individual performance) o Pension: 10% employer contribution (no employee contribution required) o Private medical insurance o Life assurance: 4x base salary o Up to 8 free personal ferry crossings per year o 75% discount on South Western Railway leisure travel o Octopus Electric Vehicle salary sacrifice scheme o 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays o Time off in lieu for additional hours worked
