The posting
This position supports Princess ships by delivering occupational health and safety leadership and advisory support to shipboard management. This includes assisting in the implementation of safety initiatives, conducting in-depth assessments, delivering targeted training, and performing incident analysis. The role is central to reducing crew and guest injuries and incidents, strengthening accountability, and enhancing the fleet’s safety culture through sustained engagement and follow-up.
This role requires adaptability in dynamic operational environments, with frequent travel and the ability to build strong, collaborative relationships—particularly with the Staff Captain and Heads of Department—to ensure alignment, accountability, and continuity of safety efforts. The OHS Officer interprets safety data, audit findings, and onboard observations into actionable insights, tailoring standardized assessment protocols to each vessel’s unique risk profile and operational context. Beyond compliance, the OHS Officer serves as a coach and mentor—empowering shipboard teams to take ownership of occupational safety and embed it into daily operations, thereby reinforcing a proactive safety culture across the fleet.
Key Responsibilities
- Shipboard OHS Assessments and Risk Evaluation: Conduct comprehensive occupational health and safety assessments tailored to ship-specific risks, including walkthroughs, interviews, documentation reviews, floor friction testing, and evaluation of onboard conditions to identify hazards and risk exposure.
- Data Analysis, Incident Investigation, and Corrective Actions: Analyze injury trends, incident data, and audit findings to perform root cause analysis, support incident investigations, and collaborate with shipboard teams to develop, implement, and track corrective action plans.
- Training, Coaching, and Safety Engagement: Deliver targeted occupational safety training based on ship needs, including Working at Height, Permit to Work, Confined Space Entry, Chemical Management, and Risk Assessment. Coach shipboard leaders and crews to reinforce proactive safety behaviors and ownership.
- Ship Visit Planning, Execution, and Follow‑Up: Plan, coordinate, and execute ship visits, including travel logistics, pre-visit preparation, on-site execution, post-visit reporting, and structured follow-up through operational meetings to ensure continuity and accountability.
- Program Collaboration and Continuous Improvement: Collaborate with the shoreside Safety team and shipboard leadership on occupational health and safety program development, continuous improvement initiatives, equipment standards, and alignment of fleet-wide safety objectives.
- Performs other duties as assigned: Adheres to Corporate Policies and Procedures, including Code of Conduct, Audit Procedures and any control related responsibility for financial data entered, stored, or reported via business systems within employee’s control (list not exhaustive). Ongoing Obligation.
Skills Knowledge and Expertise
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities needed:
- Familiarity with Flag State, SOLAS, IMO, ILO rules desired.
- Strong project management and communication skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
- Ability to work well under pressure with travel flexibility.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Motivation, adaptability, and relationship-building capability.
- Problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
HESS Responsibilities:
- Lead by example by ‘respecting and protecting’ the health and safety of yourself and others.
- Ensure your team and colleagues speak up report all accidents, ‘near miss’ incidents and work related ill health conditions.
- Help your team follow HESS rules and procedures by promoting the HESS Golden Rules.
- Attend HESS training & conduct risk assessments where required.
- Demonstrate HESS leadership in accordance with our Heroes of Safe & Well programme.
Essential/Minimum qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field (maritime, technical, management) or equivalent experience.
- Occupational Health and Safety, Maritime Safety, or related certifications preferred.
Essential experience required:
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in technical, marine, auditing, risk, or safety roles.
- Cruise industry or other maritime industry experience desirable.
- Experience in organizing and conducting practical training sessions.
