Job title: Harbour Master Support Officer
Department: Harbour Master Department
Grade: 8
Salary: £39,938 per annum
Base: Gravesend, Kent (frequent travel to other PLA locations required)
Closing date: 27th March 2025
Interview date: 9th April 2025
Who We Are
The Port of London Authority (PLA) is the statutory harbour authority for the tidal Thames, overseeing the UK’s largest port - 95 miles of the River Thames from the Estuary to Teddington in West London. Our mission is to keep river users safe, protect and enhance the environment, and promote the use of the river for recreation, trade, and travel.
The Role
The Port of London Authority (PLA) is recruiting a Harbour Master Support Officer, operating from our base in Gravesend. This role works as part of the Chief Harbour Master's team in fulfilling their responsibilities to provide a safe and efficient port for all users and provides administrative support to colleagues as required.
Key Responsibilities
A HM Support Officer’s duties include:
1. Managing Pilotage Exemption Certificates (PECs), including advising applicants, scheduling examinations, interviews and assessments of candidates and issuing new and renewal certificates within critical timeframes.
2. Decision making authority for routine changes to PECS, including tripping requirements for additional vessels.
3. Manage the Local Knowledge Endorsement process, including advising applicants, scheduling examinations, attending exams as necessary and issuing Endorsements.
4. Support the operational and administrative functions and activities of the Harbour Masters and their wider teams, including SMS, as required, taking an active role in the delivery of these provisions.
5. Provide administrative support in the delivery of the Port Security Authority secretariat, as required.
6. Maintain an effective Marine Authorisation system for authorised third parties such as the Marine Police Unit.
7. Provide cover for the HM Team Administrator, including maintaining Administer and maintain the Port Service Provider ID cards system, prompting and issuing renewals.
8. This role also involves delivering items, supporting various departments, and ensuring KPIs are met.
The Ideal Candidate Will Meet The Following Requirements
1. Significant experience in a busy and demanding office role.
2. Advanced IT skills including at least intermediate knowledge of MS Office suite.
3. An ability to work under pressure and make decisions within agreed delegation of authority.
4. Well-developed interpersonal skills to deal effectively with members of the public, other statutory bodies, commercial organisations, and PLA staff at all levels, in correspondence, by telephone, and in person. including the ability to act tactfully, yet persuasively and assertively when necessary.
5. Must have excellent organisational skills.
6. A proven ability to act on own initiative, to work independently and unsupervised, making decisions and taking work forward with minimal guidance.
7. Excellent and proven communication, time management and administrative skills.
8. Good writing and data report structuring and development abilities.
In Return, We Offer a Competitive Benefits Package
1. 28 days of annual leave + Bank Holidays
2. Health Cash Plan (Westfield Health)
3. Generous pension scheme
4. Access to Occupational Health, Mindfulness, Counselling, and Physiotherapy services
5. Cycle to Work Scheme
6. Access to MyGymDiscounts
7. Salary sacrifice Car Scheme
To discuss this role or if you have any questions, please contact Lyn Kindlen-Funnell (Harbour Master) at Lyn.kindlen-funnell@pla.co.uk
The PLA are not registered with the UK Home Office and do not sponsor candidates who require a visa or work permit to work in the UK, therefore an offer of employment cannot be made unless you currently hold the rights to live and work in the UK.
A thriving tidal Thames and home to the UK’s number one port. We are driven by our purpose to protect and improve the 95 mile stretch of the River Thames which is tidal – from Teddington Lock on the border of Surrey, through the heart of London, Kent, Essex and out to the North Sea.
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