Head of Fleet Operations

Salary £70,000 to £90,000 depending on experience

Permanent

Hybrid / Home and Southampton

Here at Saga Cruise, we are recruiting a new role into our growing operational structure. The new Head of Fleet Operations will be reporting directly to our Cruise Operations Director to fully lead on the operation of the Saga Ocean Fleet. In this role you will be supporting the ships and ensure a functioning, innovative and effective fleet cell. Managing and escalating any impacts to the ship operation and ensuring an effective partnership with our longstanding Ship Management Company.

Our new Head of Fleet Operations will be pivotal to ensure a successful and efficient Fleet cell, which supports the safe and efficient daily operation of the Saga Cruises Ocean Fleet. Constantly working closely with the ship management company to manage the complexity of the operation and ensure all stakeholders are aware of activity and impacts. You will manage itinerary performance and port operations, including budget accountability, as well as the implementation of strategy and KPIs working collaboratively with the optimisation team, ships and ship management company. A significant focus will be on guest satisfaction, with analysis of feedback, satisfaction scores to identify touchpoints to continuously improve to enhance guest experience.

We work in a hybrid way at Saga both at home and in the office. When you do come into the office, it’ll be with a real purpose in mind – to meet with your team, to work together, and of course to socialise and celebrate too!

Role Responsibility

Fleet Performance and Operations
Itinerary Execution
Communication and stakeholder relations
Technical status of the fleet
Efficient operations
Prioritisation of resource and focus
Supporting the crewing team
Emergency Response
Ensuring 24/7 Support to Ships
Guest satisfaction for itineraries
Consistent Policy, Procedures and adherence in the fleet
Following our Business Code of Conduct and always acting with integrity and due diligence

The Ideal Candidate

You will already have been working in a similar role and have gained significant credibility as a leader of Fleet Operations / Marine Operations / Technical Op’s. You will be able to demonstrate strong stakeholder management with excellent leadership and fleet management skills. You will also need to demonstrate a high level of knowledge and skills in the points below;

Excellent Time Management – ability to work towards tight deadlines
Flexible and adaptable with outstanding attention to detail
Ability to develop and maintain close working relationships
Operationally minded leadership skills
Can naturally mentor, coach, and develop a team
Ability to work on own initiative and remain calm under pressure
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Excellent reasoning and problem-solving skills
Understanding of budget planning and P&L Management
Strong Commercial acumen
Have a strong knowledge of technical issues and fleet management
Regulatory knowledge and experience (Supporting DOC holders / SOLAS)
Flexible and willing to travel (Europe and International) as part of the role when required

Saga Values: Make it Happen, Do the Right Thing, Customer First, Excellence Every Day,

Our People Make Us Special

Package Description

Everyday our colleagues deliver exceptional experiences to our customers. We believe exceptional work deserves even more exceptional rewards, that's why we have put together an amazing benefits package for all colleagues.

BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO ALL COLLEAGUES:

25 days holiday + bank holidays
Option to purchase additional leave up to 5 extra days
Pension scheme matched up to 10%
Annual bonus - Up to 15%
Car Benefit – cash allowance - £4800 per annum
Free private medical insurance after 1 years' service
Life assurance policy on joining us
Wellbeing programme
Colleague discounts including family discounts on cruises and holidays
Range of reductions and offers from leading retailers, travel groups and entertainment companies
Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
Grandparents leave
Income protection
Access to Saga Academy, our bespoke learning platform

About the Company

Over the past 70 years we have become the UK's specialist provider of products and services to people aged over 50 in the UK. We’re one of the most recognised and trusted brands amongst UK consumers in this demographic, recognised for its high-quality products and exceptional standards of service. Our product portfolio includes cruises, holidays, insurance, personal finance products and our Saga Magazine.

We aim to be the largest and most-trusted brand for older people in the UK. Our focus on delivering exceptional experiences empowers our colleagues to create moments that are personal and special for our customers and for each other. Our values underpin our approach and help guide us to deliver our purpose.

We’re committed to making sure that colleagues can be their best, be themselves and make a difference – more than anywhere else. We do this by creating a truly inclusive culture, where all colleagues can bring their full and authentic selves to work and be treated with dignity and respect in an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment.

Thanks to our people, Saga has been ranked 6th in the UK’s Best Employers 2025 by the Financial Times and Statista. This recognition, based on the voices of 20,000 employees across the UK, is a testament to the great culture we’ve built together. This award belongs to all our colleagues who collectively make Saga a fantastic place to work.

We are champions of age inclusivity and signatories of the Age-Friendly Employer Pledge, we are proud of our multigenerational teams we have in place. We’re also a committed Disability Confident employer and ensure that our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible.

Your application will have fair consideration, and you’ll receive personal communication throughout your applicant journey when you apply to join Saga.

For more information on our DEI policies, colleague stories and other opportunities across the business, please visit Jobs and careers with Saga

Saga does not accept agency CVs unless specifically engaged on the role by the Talent Acquisition Team. Please do not forward CVs to our recruiters, employees or any other company location. Saga will not be responsible for any fees related to CVs received in this unsolicited manner.

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Head of Fleet Operations