Job description for Offshore Party Chief – AUV / ROV

Why join Salvage and Marine Operations (SALMO)?

SALMO is the MOD’s centre of excellence for marine salvage and emergency response. Our multidisciplinary team, ranging from Master Mariners and Naval Architects to Environmental Scientists and Remote Operated Vehicles (ROV) / Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) Operators, delivers critical support to UK Defence operations around the globe. Whether it’s locating downed aircraft on the seabed, surveying wrecks, towing warships, or conducting emergency response drills, our work is as varied as it is vital.

Are you motivated by the prospect of working in a challenging role and looking to take the next step toward becoming a Party Chief? If so, this role could be the ideal opportunity for you.

As a Party Chief within SALMO Seabed Operations (SBO), you will act as the onsite focal point for our deployed seabed capabilities, serving as the senior offshore leader responsible for coordinating, managing, and delivering the operational, technical, and safety aspects of our Survey, Inspection, and Salvage projects. You will be required to deploy offshore to deliver this capability currently 60 days but expected to rise to circa 120 days per reporting year.

You will also be the primary point of contact between the offshore and onshore teams, ensuring that all activities are clearly planned, executed safely, delivered efficiently, and fully compliant with the required technical standards.

You will build and apply your expertise to lead teams conducting offshore marine operations safely, including the delivery of survey and inspection outputs using AUV and ROV capabilities. The work scopes are incredibly varied, from survey and intervention tasks on subsea infrastructure and wrecks being stock examples, no two tasks will be the same. This role is an exciting opportunity to develop a capability and make a difference in the work you deliver.

We will provide you with the necessary training and help you on your journey to continue your journey as a Party Chief.

We champion flexible ways of working. Whilst onshore, regular in-person on site attendance is required (this is expected to be approximately 60% of your working week) to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance and business need. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role.

The role is operationally critical and comes with additional allowances under SALMO Terms and Conditions, https://bit.ly/SALMO-Terms-and-Conditions reflecting the importance and intensity of the work you’ll be doing. 

What you’ll be doing

• Leading and managing offshore marine operations, running the Plan of the Day/24hr look ahead defining clear priorities to the AUV/ROV teams.
• Leading risk management for deployed tasks.
• Co-ordinate mission plans with vessel Master to deliver project outputs.
• Technical oversight and assurance of project deliverables.
• AUV Operations – Overview of mission schedule/plans, Coordinating vessel readiness and oversee launch and recovery.
• ROV Operations – Overview of task plans, Coordinating vessel readiness and oversee ROV Launch and Recovery.
• Overview of Survey Data Governance QA/QC whilst deployed.

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you’ll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Lead Criterion – Have experience providing technical advice at a senior level and leading delivery of successful engineering outcomes in multidisciplinary projects.

• Have a wide-ranging depth and breadth of technical experience in subsea activities or marine operations.

• Experience managing complex / challenging work with evidence of technical problem solving and risk management.

AND

Hold (as minimum) either:

• STCW (1) Master (Unlimited) 

OR

• An Engineering, Science, Technical, Technology or Marine based qualification at RQF Level 4

AND EITHER:

o IMCA accredited ROV Supervisor (R/RO2) Certification or ROV Superintendent Certification / AUV Senior Survey Engineer, with at least 360 days of documented offshore experience and a minimum of 100 hours piloting an ROV or AUV at Grade I level

OR

o IMCA accredited Superintendent with work class vehicles, with at least 180 days of logbook demonstrated offshore experience.

And:

• Be a Sole UK National
• Full UK Driving Licence
• Be able to satisfy requirements of:

o 2-Yearly ENG1 Seafarers Medical (2)

o Be enlisted as a Royal Navy Sponsored Reserve (2)

(1) STCW = International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers.

(2) For recruitment purposes, external candidates do not need to hold these but must have no known reasons not to achieve this within 6 months of employment.

Note: Alternatives to RQF listed above (which cover England, Wales, and Northern Ireland only), is the Scottish SCQF or international equivalent qualification backed up by a statement of comparability from UK ENIC.

This role is subject to Retained Grade Terms and Conditions and differ from the DE&S standard Terms and Conditions.

For SALMO Retained Grade seeking promotion, please refer to Part 2, Section 10.2 of the SALMO Retained Grade Handbook.

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Core Behaviour 1: Leadership – CSBC4
• Core Behaviour 2: Communication and Influencing – CSBC4
• Technical Competence 1: ECF_01 Suitable Systems and Systems Thinking – Practitioner Level
• Technical Competence 2: ECF_03 Supportable Technical Solutions – Practitioner Level

Offered Benefits

Alongside your salary of £70,300, Ministry of Defence contributes £20,365 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Full time staff employed for less than 5 years are entitled to 26.5 days’ annual leave per year, rising to 31.5 days per year after 5 years of service
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Market-leading employer pension contribution of around 28.97%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded professional qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So, whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of – and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.

Further Information

• Candidate Information Pack: https://bit.ly/DES_Candidate-Information-Pack
• SALMO Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/SALMO-Terms-and-Conditions

Any personal data that you provide during the Recruitment process will be treated in accordance with the MOD Privacy Notice which can be accessed here. 

Please note as a Disability Confident Leader we want to ensure you receive any reasonable adjustments that you need throughout the recruitment process. If you do require any reasonable adjustments, you can let us know on your online application under the section ‘Please indicate and give details of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the recruitment process.’

Selection process details

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

1. Pre-sift – We will check your application to ensure that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. On your CV, please clearly show how you meet the essential criteria.
2. Sift – Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills. Please follow our guidance on CV writing for best chance of success.
3. Interview – If you’re invited to interview, you will be assessed against the following:

• CV Review
• Core Behaviour 1
• Core Behaviour 2
• Technical Competencies

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance you should contact department via email: DESHR-WSC-PMOCOMPLAINTS@mod.gov.uk 

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Recruitment Complaints – Civil Service Commission