Assistant Harbour Master - Rye Harbour - 32518

Assistant Harbour Master - Rye Harbour - 32518
1
South East
Rye
DEFRA GRP RYE HARBOUR HOUSE, TN31 7QS
Staff Grade 4
Permanent
Operational Delivery
Full Time
£34,320

02/02/2026, 23:55 hours

Basic Check
Do you have a passion for marine operations? Do you have experience working at sea? Can you assist the Harbour Master in delivering the safe, efficient and smooth operation of Rye Harbour?

Your role as Assistant Harbour Master at Rye Harbour will include supporting the Harbour Master and Deputy Harbour Master in the day to day running of the Harbour and Pilotage Service.

You will:
- Act as duty Harbour Master on rotational basis
- Lead on identifying, reviewing and reporting marine risks within the Harbour.
- Ensure that the facilities of the Harbour and Harbour estate are correctly maintained and safely available to Harbour users.
- Prepare and maintain a Port Waste Management plan.
- Prepare maintain and exercise the Harbour emergency and oil spill plans.
- Assist the Harbour Master to ensure compliance with the Ports & Marine Facilities Safety Code.
- Ensure the safe berthing of yachts and fishing vessels using Harbour authority moorings.

Other duties include Harbour patrols, maintenance of navigation aids, and enforcement activities.

You will assist with controlling the public use of the Harbour slipways, fishing berth facilities such as davits and cranes and ensure adherence to Health and Safety regulations.

The role requires the successful candidate to be involved with the safe pilotage of commercial ships working around the tide day and night 365 days per year on a rostered basis. An ability to work flexibly, including unsocial hours around spring tides and working weekends is essential. You will be on call for emergency response when required, that can attract additional payments.

We want to create a diverse workplace where people are respected, valued, and listened to. We’re all different, and by embracing Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) we can become an equal opportunity employer where jointly we all grow and learn together.
The Harbour Masters Team, which sits within KSL Waterways Department in Local Operations, is a small team of experienced marine personnel that deliver the safe and efficient running of Rye Harbour. They deliver the pilotage service for commercial ships which use the Harbour to trade at Rye Wharf, welcome visiting yachts in the summer months and administer leisure and fishing berths year-round.

See candidate pack for more on working with us and our benefits.
Essential:
- Seagoing marine experience and experience in command of a commercial vessel.
- RYA advanced powerboat commercially endorsed or a higher-grade certificate of competency.
- Marine radio certificate
- ENG1 or ML5 certificate of medical fitness
- Full UK driving license

It would be helpful, but not essential, if you had:

RYA Day skipper theory, STCW small ships navigation and radar certificate, STCW Sea Survival, RYA First aid, STCW one day Firefighting, RYA professional practices and responsibilities, knowledge of the Ports & Marine Facilities Code.

The candidate pack and generic role profile should be read along with the advert to understand the key accountabilities and skills needed.



Everyone starting in a new role will be welcomed into the team and given all the training and support needed.



As part of your comprehensive induction, you will be provided with all the equipment required for your role.
You will be based at the Rye Harbour Masters Office, with a requirement to visit the Harbour mooring sites and wider Rye Harbour estate. There is currently no vehicle with this role so you will need your own transport for which business mileage would be claimed.

OPEN DAY – On Wednesday 21st January 2026 between 10am-1pm, you have the chance to come along to the Harbour Masters Office (TN31 7QS), meet the team and find out more about their work and this role. Please contact the Harbour Master to confirm your attendance.

Interviews are planned to be held week commencing February 23rd, 2026, in person at the Harbour Masters Office.

If you have any questions please do contact the Harbour Master, James Bateman via: rye.harbour@environment-agency.gov.uk
Seaman-ship
Please note we do not assess CVs. Answers to these competency questions will be used for interview selection so ensure you draw out your skills and experience in your responses. You have up to 250 words so please do use them to tell us what we need to know about you. See Candidate pack for more details and a link to our capability dictionary.

Are you familair with passage planning and navigating a vessel into a tidal drying harbour. Can you describe the checks that you would make if you were in charge of a vessel prior to navigating within a tidal waterway. Please describe what information you would need to find and where you would find the information.
Health Safety & Wellbeing
You are repsonsible for lifitng gear faciltiies within the Harbour. What regulations are applicable to lifting gear and how would you be able to identify that lifting equipment is safe to use? Give examples from previous experience where you have had to maintain a register of lifting gear and how this was achieved.
Communicates Effectively
Clear communication is a critical skill required for this role. Describe a time when you have communicated effectively or how you would do so to resolve a potentially unsafe situation from occurring. Tell us about the methods you used.
Navigation
Part of this role will require you to either crew or skipper the harbour launch. Under Work Boat Code 3, you will need to hold or be able to obtain RYA advanced powerboat commercially endorsed or a higher grade certificate of competency. Please provide details of your relevant qualification and give an example of how your relevant sea going experience.
Driving Licence - Eligibility for lease cars is made based on the role. Internal candidates ensure you check the lease car policy and consider its impact before applying.
If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.

We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Although the Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra, we subscribe to and align with the candidate guidance on the use of artificial intelligence found on the  Civil Service Careers website. Please review for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.