Head of Marine

Role Overview

An opportunity is open for a Head of Marine to support projects in Qatar. This is an onshore position focused on marine safety, assurance, and operational leadership across NFPS Compression project marine activities.

Core Accountabilities

• Own marine safety, quality assurance, and compliance for the NFPS Compression project marine scope in line with the company Marine Operations Procedures, relevant revisions, international rules and standards, classification society requirements, flag-state rules, and local regulations.
• Direct and coordinate the marine leads and coordinators assigned to the individual NFPS Compression projects.
• Act as the main authority for marine safety and quality assurance across all marine units working on the projects.
• Oversee marine assurance activities, including vessel suitability reviews, marine assurance inspections and audits such as OVID, marine warranty surveys, and DP assurance.
• Confirm that contractor personnel and company teams have the right qualifications, training, and practical experience for marine-related work.
• Manage interfaces and coordination with OPCO Marine and NFPS Compression PMTs so the marine scope is delivered consistently, efficiently, and to project goals.
• Build strong communication links between key stakeholders, including EPC and marine contractors, and help implement timely solutions.
• Support collaborative and resolution-focused discussions among marine stakeholders, vessel owners, contractors, and third parties.
• Set up and maintain an effective marine incident reporting process, support root-cause analysis and corrective actions, and lead serious marine incident investigations as the marine subject matter expert.
• Attend offshore surveys, inspections, and marine audits when required.

Experience and Background

The role calls for a candidate with strong marine operations leadership in offshore oil and gas projects, especially where multiple vessels must be managed at the same time. Experience in Marine Warranty Survey or marine assurance is required, along with prior involvement in EPCI offshore work such as installation, construction, heavy lift, transport and installation, and hook-up and commissioning.

Applicants should also have worked with an International Oil Company, a major EPC contractor, or a large offshore operator. Hands-on knowledge of DP operations, towage, heavy transport, offshore marine risk management, and broader marine assurance practices is essential. Experience in the Middle East offshore environment is an advantage.

The position requires the confidence to provide technical direction, challenge contractors constructively, and make sound decisions even under time and commercial pressure. Strong stakeholder management and communication skills are important for working with clients, contractors, classification societies, and marine assurance teams.

Technical Knowledge

• Dynamic Positioning systems and operations
• DP FMEA analysis
• DP FMEA proving trials
• Annual DP trials
• ASOG/CAM
• Marine safety and quality assurance processes
• International maritime regulations, codes, and standards
• Local and international maritime rules such as IMO, SOLAS, MARPOL, and the ISM Code
• Marine operations for offshore construction vessels, barges, heavy lifts, pipe and cable lay vessels, jack-up accommodation barges, and dive support vessels

Qualification

A bachelor’s degree in sciences, marine-related disciplines, or engineering is required, or alternatively a Marine First Class Certificate of Competency.

Additional Information

The ideal background includes 10 years of seagoing experience as a shipboard engineer or sea officer, with at least 2 years spent as Chief Engineer or Master. IMCA accreditation and certification are preferred. Previous Marine Warranty Surveyor or marine consultancy experience is considered an advantage.

Orion Group describes itself as an international recruitment business founded in 1987, with a global workforce presence across 24 offices and 68 countries, supporting sectors such as Oil & Gas, Life Science, Power & Utilities, Construction & Infrastructure, Manufacturing, and Renewables.