Job Description and Activities
A Port Manager oversees the operation of one or several ports. They are responsible for all aspects of the business, which include everything from monitoring profit and loss to ensuring that an efficient service is provided for all port clients. Typical work activities will usually include some or all of the following:
- Planning financial and other resources around a budgetary framework
- Liaising with staff from stake holding bodies, council departments and commercial organisations
- Linking with local community bodies to maintain a positive working relationship with the surrounding geographical area
- Adapting services and functions in response to changing commercial requirements and developments in the local community
- Undertaking the strategic business development of the port and its functions, including property development, estate management, allocation of resources and equipment, and the infrastructure supporting port operations
- Overseeing the management and recruitment of staff.
The Working Environment
- Working hours and conditions typically include regular unsocial hours. There may be some on-call work and shift and weekend work is very likely, particularly in the first stage of a career. Many port managers work between 10 to 12 hours a day.
- For managers running more than one port, there is a fair amount of travel between the different business units. You may also have to travel to attend meetings with clients and colleagues.
- The international aspect to the work means there are opportunities for port managers to work abroad, either for companies based overseas, for UK companies with consultancy arms abroad, or for international companies. Overseas placements are common within international companies.
- The ability to work well with all levels of staff, self-motivation, confidence, a high level of numeracy, and commercial awareness are all very important.
Salary
The typical starting salary for a graduate trainee is £21,000. Port Managers will earn anything within the range of £30,000 to £80,000. Salaries will vary according to the size and number of ports managed.
Entry Requirements
Relevant work experience is considered important in the industry, but increasingly a diploma in Port Management is respected and desirable. A Foundation Degree with a pathway for Port Management is also being developed.
Career Development
The most natural progression would be to work up from Port Manager to port director, which would mean managing some of the main ports with much larger business units. The graduate training schemes offered by a few of the larger port authorities provide the most clear-cut career progression routes. The schemes aim to provide experience in all key areas to enable trainees to progress into appropriate roles when their training is complete.