Zizi Dredging and Marine Services is a growing dredging and marine services company based in Calabar, specializing in dredging operations, sand filling, land reclamation, shoreline protection, and marine logistics services.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Operations Manager
Location: Calabar, Cross River
Employment Type:Full-Time
Industry: Dredging / Marine Operations
Job Purpose
- Responsible for planning, coordinating, supervising and controlling the company's dredging and marine activities to ensure safe, efficient, cost-effective and timely delivery of projects and services.
- The role involves managing operational personnel, vessels, dredging equipment, project execution, maintenance schedules, logistics, client requirements, regulatory compliance and operational reporting in line with approved budgets, contracts, company policies and regulatory obligations.
Key Responsibilities
Operations Planning and Management:
- Develop operational plans, work programmes, schedules and deployment plans for dredging projects, vessels, barges and equipment.
- Coordinate daily activities across project sites and marine locations.
- Ensure that operational activities are carried out according to approved work plans, project specifications and contractual timelines.
- Allocate personnel, equipment and resources based on operational priorities.
- Monitor project progress, identify delays and implement corrective measures.
- Coordinate mobilization, demobilization and transfer of equipment between locations.
- Provide regular operational updates and recommendations to management.
Dredging and Project Execution:
- Supervise dredging, channel maintenance, excavation, sand recovery and reclamation activities, where applicable.
- Ensure that site surveys, approved dredging plans, work limits and project specifications are available before operations commence.
- Monitor dredging output, production rates, fuel consumption, equipment utilization and project progress.
- Ensure that dredged materials are handled, transported and deposited only at approved locations.
- Coordinate with surveyors, project engineers, clients, consultants and relevant authorities.
- Review project measurements, production reports and completion records before submission to management or clients.
Marine and Vessel Operations:
- Coordinate vessel, tugboat, barge and floating equipment deployment.
- Ensure vessel movements, berthing, mooring, towing and marine transfers are appropriately planned and controlled.
- Verify that required vessel certificates, permits, insurance, crew qualifications and safety equipment are valid before deployment.
- Coordinate with Vessel/Dredge Masters on operational readiness, weather conditions, navigation restrictions and voyage planning.
- Monitor vessel availability, utilization, downtime and operational performance.
- Ensure that vessel logs, movement records, crew records and other required operational documents are maintained.
- Escalate marine incidents, unsafe conditions and operational restrictions promptly.
Equipment Maintenance and Asset Management:
- Implement preventive and corrective maintenance schedules for dredgers, pumps, engines, generators, pipelines, hoses, vessels and auxiliary equipment.
- Ensure that inspections are conducted before equipment is deployed and after defects or breakdowns are reported.
- Coordinate repairs, servicing, spare-parts procurement and technical support.
- Maintain equipment registers, maintenance histories and breakdown reports.
- Ensure defective or unsafe equipment is withdrawn from service until authorised for return.
- Monitor equipment performance and recommend replacement, rehabilitation or upgrades when necessary.
Health, Safety, Security, Quality and Environmental Management:
- Enforce company HSE policies, risk assessments, permit-to-work requirements and safe systems of work.
- Ensure toolbox talks, pre-start checks, emergency drills and safety inspections are conducted as required.
- Monitor the use of appropriate PPE and compliance with site and vessel safety rules.
- Ensure that spill prevention, waste management and pollution-control measures are implemented.
- Investigate incidents and near misses with the relevant HSE personnel and implement corrective actions.
- Stop or suspend activities presenting an immediate danger to personnel, vessels, equipment or the environment.
- Ensure emergency response arrangements are communicated, accessible and periodically tested.
- Verify that personnel hold the required certifications, training, medical fitness, and competency for their roles.
- Ensure QA/QC requirements are applied to dredging works, survey records, vessel operations, and subcontractor activities.
Regulatory and Contractual Compliance:
- Coordinate with the relevant authorities and ensure that required permits, licenses, approvals and statutory documents are obtained and maintained.
- Ensure compliance with applicable Nigerian maritime, inland-waterway, environmental, labour and occupational safety requirements.
- Monitor contractual obligations, approved project scope, service standards and client specifications.
- Maintain records for regulatory inspections, audits and client reviews.
- Report actual or potential non-compliance to management and coordinate timely corrective action.
Budget, Cost and Resource Control:
- Prepare operational budgets, cost estimates and resource requirements for management approval.
- Monitor fuel, lubricants, repairs, equipment hire, crew-related operational costs and other expenditure.
- Review fuel consumption and investigate unusual variances, wastage or suspected misuse.
- Ensure that procurement and expenditure follow approved budgets and delegated approval limits.
- Monitor project profitability and recommend cost-saving measures without compromising safety or quality.
- Verify operational records supporting invoices, equipment hire, client claims and project costs.
Personnel and Performance Management:
- Assign duties, establish work schedules and monitor staff performance.
- Ensure that employees and contractors possess the required competence, training and authorizations.
- Coordinate crew availability, shift arrangements, overtime requests and leave coverage with HR and relevant supervisors.
- Conduct performance reviews, identify training needs and recommend appropriate development programmes.
- Enforce discipline, attendance requirements and compliance with company policies.
- Promote teamwork, accountability, effective communication and continuous improvement.
Reporting and Documentation:
- Review daily operations reports, dredging production records, vessel movement logs and equipment downtime reports.
- Prepare weekly and monthly operational performance reports for management.
- Track project milestones, budgets, incidents, maintenance performance and outstanding action items.
- Ensure proper recordkeeping and document control for operational activities.
- Recommend improvements based on operational data, audit findings and lessons learned.
Qualifications and Experience
- Bachelor's Degree or HND in Maritime Studies, Marine Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Marine Transportation, Project Management or another relevant discipline.
- Relevant professional certifications in operations, project management, HSE or maritime management are an advantage.
- 3- 5 years of relevant experience in dredging, marine operations, maritime logistics, vessel management or related project operations, with demonstrated supervisory experience.
- Knowledge of dredging equipment, vessel operations, maintenance planning, project costing and HSE management.
- Familiarity with applicable Nigerian maritime and environmental regulatory requirements.
- Strong leadership, planning, analytical, communication and problem-solving skills.
- Proficiency in operational reporting, spreadsheets and project management tools.