Head of Engineering, Innovation & Sustainability, Maritime Transport

About the Role

Head of Engineering, Innovation & Sustainability – Maritime Transport
Full-Time, Permanent
United Kingdom with travel

The Role:
The Head of Engineering, Innovation & Sustainability will play a pivotal role in driving the Maritime Transport Division’s digital transformation and innovation through New Product Development. This position leads the identification, development, and integration of advanced technologies and innovative maritime solutions that strengthen our operational capability and future‑readiness as well as working with the Product Managers to set-up a roadmap for new products in the Fendercare business.

Acting as a strategic link between engineering teams, operational stakeholders, and senior leadership, this role will oversee the entire innovation lifecycle - from establishing long‑term roadmaps and managing external technology partnerships, to governing New Product Development (NPD) with rigour and compliance.

Leading the identification, development, and implementation of sustainability-driven strategies, incorporating digital and decarbonisation initiatives, to optimise vessel operations and product line growth.

You will enhance operational safety, ensure regulatory alignment across complex maritime environments, and deliver measurable, long-term business value through innovation excellence.

The role can be based anywhere in the UK within commutable distance to one of our offices in London, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Norwich or Barrow-in-Furness. There will be some international travel as well when required.

What you'll be doing:

• Drive digital transformation and decarbonisation across the division’s fleet.
• Lead cross‑functional collaboration and govern the NPD process.
• Identify, develop, and implement digital and decarbonisation strategies to optimise vessel operations and support product line growth.
• Manage complex engineering projects, ensuring timely delivery aligned with strategic goals.
• Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement across the division.
• Develop product roadmap in partnership with Product Managers.
• Integrate advanced technologies to enhance operations, safety, and navigation.
• Lead and inspire cross‑functional teams across Engineering, Operations, IT, and Compliance.
• Ensure collaboration with internal teams and external partners to maintain regulatory compliance and operational excellence.
• Develop and implement the division’s digital strategy in line with organisational and Group-wide objectives.
• Establish prioritisation frameworks, roadmaps, tools, and metrics to track delivery against KPIs.
• Identify and evaluate growth opportunities through emerging technologies and stakeholder feedback.
• Build a network of innovation partners from academic to external suppliers and start-ups.
• Provide technical input for bids, new service development, and innovation funding.
• Drive NPD gate delivery with rigour, ensuring milestones are met on time and aligned with business objectives.
• Implement structured review processes to monitor progress, risks, and resource allocation.
• Develop and implement a broader sustainability strategy aligned to James Fisher’s sustainability goals.

What we're looking for:

• Relevant engineering degree/qualification preferably in the maritime industry (i.e. naval architect, marine engineer).
• Proven leadership experience in engineering, innovation management, or digital transformation within the maritime sector is essential.
• Experience with vessel operations and emerging technologies relevant to tankships and fender products.
• Demonstrable strong knowledge of sustainability principles and ESG frameworks, with proven experience in conducting ESG assessments, performing data analysis, and developing ESG strategies aligned with recognised industry standards.
• Expertise in Industrial IoT and big data analytics within maritime environments.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross‑functional teams and manage complex, multi‑disciplinary projects.
• Strong understanding of maritime technologies, regulatory frameworks, and sustainability initiatives.
• Broad knowledge of marine systems, digital tools, asset and vessel management, risk, and project management.
• Experience managing New Product Development (NPD) processes and delivering structured innovation programmes.
• Ability to build and maintain strong networks with academic partners, research bodies, and technology suppliers.
• Strong leadership, communication, stakeholder engagement, strategic thinking, and commercial acumen.
• Previous experience in building and managing teams.

• Competitive benefits tailored to the division
• Opportunities for career growth and visibility across the organisation
• A supportive, inclusive culture that values your ideas and contributions
• Work that truly makes a difference in safety, innovation, and global capability

About Us

James Fisher is a global engineering services company operating across Energy, Defence, and Maritime Transport. With a strong heritage in maritime operations, we now deliver innovative solutions in challenging environments. Our One James Fisher strategy is focused on building a unified, sustainable business within the Blue Economy, driving progress through technology, expertise, and collaboration.

With two centuries of maritime shipping and innovation, James Fisher is a trusted partner in the safe and efficient movement of the world’s critical resources. As a market leader in ship-to-ship transfer and coastal shipping, we help customers protect people, cargo and infrastructure while shaping the future of global maritime transport. You can find out more about Maritime transport

If this sounds like the ideal next step in your career, then click ‘apply’ now!

Due to the volume of applications, we receive for our vacancies, on occasion applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment.

At James Fisher and Sons, we are committed to taking positive action on diversity and strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and recognise that our success is driven by the talent and diversity of our workforce.
To support an accessible and inclusive recruitment experience in the UK, we partner with Vercida. You can learn more about our approach by visiting our company page: James Fisher and Sons diversity, inclusion, culture - VERCIDA