Job Description and Activities
A Team Leader is an operative selected to ‘look after’ a group of 4 or 5 other operatives and report to the Supervisor. The role of Team Leader usually exists in larger ports and harbours, where a Supervisor may have too many operatives to effectively supervise at once.
- Physical tasks – the loading or unloading of pieces of cargo into freight containers, securing containers on the deck of a ship, the tying and untying of ships’ ropes when arriving or leaving a port, lifting passengers’ baggage on and off baggage trailers, carrying baggage on or off the ship, assisting disabled passengers, positioning passenger barriers, directing vehicles, positioning and removing gangways, fuelling craft, rowing unpowered craft, manoeuvring buoys and markers into/out of the water and in some cases operating lock gates.
- Driving vehicles/operating harbour craft – general operatives are often required to drive a variety of types of vehicle including large trucks and trailers, lift trucks, electric trolleys and trade vehicles. They may also be required to operate harbour craft under supervision.
- Operating equipment – whilst some ships can be loaded and unloaded using trucks, other ships need to be worked using highly technical specialised equipment. This equipment can include ship to shore cranes for containers and general cargo, conveyor belts/suction pipes for grain and pipelines for oil tankers.
- Supervisory – Team Leaders will have some supervisory activities, such as assigning activities to their team, ensuring the work is done safely and on time, and reporting to their supervisor.
The Working Environment
- Those working as a general team leader must be fit and able to work at height and on the water.
- Team leaders must have strong leadership qualities to lead their team, and good communication skills for reporting to their supervisor.
- There are more males than females currently employed within the industry, but this is changing.
Salary
A Team Leader can earn around £18,000 to £20,000, depending on the size and location of their port, and their level of experience.
Entry Requirements
A Team Leading pathway has been designed for the N/SVQ in Port Operations level 2. Anybody wishing to become a team leader can either complete the qualification on this pathway, or if they have already completed the qualification with a different pathway, do the additional team leading units.
Career Development
Team Leaders are well placed to become Supervisors for their area of operations. Promotion is usually based on experience, but a level 3 N/SVQ in Supervision of Port Operations is a useful and respected qualification for supervisors.