Ferry Supervisor

Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee (TBTF) seek to appoint a Ferry Supervisor to join the team at the Torpoint Ferry. This is a dynamic and safety critical role in a unique environment and an exciting opportunity for a confident individual with excellent communication, leadership and operational management experience, supporting customer service within the ferry team. Please read all the details before deciding whether the role is suitable for you and what we are looking for. **This summary should be read in conjunction with the full job description and person specification.**

Who we are

Tamar Crossings is responsible for the management, operation, maintenance and administration of the two crossings over the River Tamar - Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry. With approx. 26,000 vehicles travelling with us every day, we play an important part in the local infrastructure, creating a link between Plymouth, Devon and South East Cornwall.

The Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry are jointly owned by Cornwall Council and Plymouth City Council. The operation, maintenance and improvement of the crossings are funded through tolls charged. The Torpoint Ferry is the largest chain ferry service and busiest estuarial vehicular crossing in the UK, whilst the Tamar Bridge provides a link on the busy A38 Trunk Road for more than 14 million vehicles a year. The crossings operate a successful electronic tolling scheme which is used to pay the toll by 60% of vehicles crossing.

At the Torpoint Ferry we provide a service to approximately 2.5 million vehicles and 750k pedestrians and cyclists per year. Three ferries provide a 24-hour/365 day a year service as an essential transport link for South East Cornwall, its residents and businesses.

The three chain ferries come under Maritime and Coastguard Agency regulations and are in class with Lloyds Register. They are unique vessels presenting a wide range of both engineering and operational challenges. A combination of varying weather conditions, customer demand, vehicle traffic density and ship movement on the river Tamar make for a dynamic environment where no two days are the same.

Based in the Devonport or Torpoint control towers, Ferry Supervisors monitor and control the safe movement of traffic and pedestrians embarking and disembarking the ferries. Overseeing daily operations, they report to the Assistant Operations Manager (Current Operations and Rota) and line manage a ferry crew consisting of:
1 x Ferry Controller - responsible for control and operation of an allocated ferry and associated crew

1 x Mechanical Assistant - maintaining and monitoring the engine room

2 x Collectors - loading/unloading the ferries and collecting toll fees

2 x Cleaner/Relief - provide support to the ferries and slipways in addition to assisting collectors where required

Find out more about what we have to offer

What you will do

The main duties and responsibilities include:

- Effective operation of the lane control system to ensure efficient and safe marshalling of traffic in approaches to ferries, using public address systems as necessary to direct traffic and to inform waiting vehicles of exceptional circumstances.
- Effective communication with the Bridge Control Room to allow posting on external traffic information signs if ferry operation is reduced from normal service.
- Act as a communications hub between ferries and emergency services in the event of an incident or emergency.
- Ensure safe levels of staffing onboard the ferry in line with established practice, obtaining relief staff as required
- Professionally deal with public enquiries outside office hours, responding to routine media enquiries about service situation and, proactively, informing media of unexpected loss of and changes to service.
- Ensure thorough and accurate recording of all accidents, incidents or near misses involving public and/or staff within a timely manner.

The skills you will need

In the first instance, you **_must_** be able to demonstrate:

- Good level of general education i.e. GCSE Maths. English
- Excellent communications skills
- Supportive of change management
- Ability to respond positively to changing operational demands
- Ability to develop and maintain a good working relationship amongst colleagues
- Pro-active and assertive

Experience of:

- a minimum of two years’ experience (FTE) working in a customer service environment and a good understanding of how to deliver excellent customer service.
- significant experience in managing staff performance, setting improvement objectives, delivery of appraisals
- ability to make independent decisions, motivating staff in challenging circumstances and giving clear instructions to employees when unexpected events occur.
- working with and setting staff rota’s
- a high level of accurate and objective reporting, with complimentary writing ability, including a strong competency in using MS office software including Word, Excel and MS datab