Partner, Maritime and Marine

The strongest sector leadership roles offer more than responsibility for an established service. They provide the opportunity to shape where a business goes next.

Ridge is looking for an experienced maritime leader to establish and grow a significant new area of capability within our Project and Programme Delivery business. Working with leaders and colleagues across our wider partnership, you will define our maritime proposition, develop the market strategy and bring together the expertise needed to deliver complex programmes across marine, coastal, port and associated infrastructure.

This is not a role where you will inherit a fixed plan. You will have the freedom to influence the direction of the business, supported by an established multidisciplinary consultancy, respected technical specialists and long-standing relationships across infrastructure, defence, government and the wider built environment.

Ridge already has relevant experience, capability and routes into the market. The opportunity now is to bring these together under clear leadership and build a maritime business with the credibility, focus and ambition to grow.

The Role

As our Marine and Maritime Lead, you will take responsibility for developing the sector within Ridge. Your role will combine business leadership, client development, programme delivery and the creation of a strong, connected team.

You will:

• Define and lead Ridge’s strategy for the marine, maritime, coastal and ports market.
• Build a compelling client proposition around Ridge’s project, programme, technical and advisory capabilities.
• Develop trusted relationships with public and private sector clients, partners and industry stakeholders.
• Identify and secure opportunities across ports, harbours, coastal infrastructure, marine estates, offshore-related programmes and associated landside assets.
• Provide senior leadership and assurance on strategically important projects and programmes.
• Bring together specialists from across Ridge, including project management, cost management, engineering, sustainability, building surveying, health and safety and specialist advisory services.
• Shape the future team, identifying the expertise and leadership capability required as the business grows.
• Represent Ridge within the market and contribute to the wider direction of our Project and Programme Delivery practice.

You will have the backing of the wider partnership, but this will be your opportunity to create something distinctive. We are looking for someone who can turn existing capability and market potential into a coherent, commercially successful business.

What You’ll Be Working On

The maritime sector is broad, technically demanding and increasingly important to the UK’s infrastructure, energy, defence and environmental priorities.

At Ridge, the opportunity spans the full lifecycle of marine and associated infrastructure. This may include early-stage strategy and programme definition, business cases, portfolio management, project delivery, commercial oversight, design coordination, construction and the ongoing management of complex assets.

Our existing experience provides a strong foundation. Ridge supports The Crown Estate’s Marine Delivery Programme through a major project management framework, providing programme oversight, risk management and portfolio office support connected to the future of the UK’s seabed and coastline.

Our engineering capability has also expanded through the addition of Jubb Consulting Engineers, bringing further civil, structural, ground and coastal expertise into Ridge. Alongside this, our work in defence and other highly regulated environments creates opportunities to support marine and naval estates where resilience, security and operational continuity are critical.

As the business develops, the scope could extend across:

• Ports, harbours and waterfront infrastructure.
• Coastal resilience and adaptation programmes.
• Marine and naval defence estates.
• Offshore energy and supporting infrastructure.
• Terminals, logistics facilities and associated transport connections.
• Marine asset management and capital investment programmes.
• Public-sector marine estates and environmental programmes.

You will influence which markets Ridge prioritises, how we position our expertise and where we invest for long-term growth.

About You

You are likely to be operating as a Head of Maritime, Head of Coastal, Maritime Director, Technical Director or in a comparable senior leadership position.

You will bring:

• Strong experience within the maritime, marine, ports or coastal infrastructure market.
• A credible network and a clear understanding of the clients, programmes and investment priorities shaping the sector.
• Evidence of developing client relationships and converting market insight into sustainable work.
• Experience leading major projects, programmes or multidisciplinary commissions.
• The commercial judgement to build a new service area responsibly and successfully.
• The ability to bring people together across technical and professional disciplines.
• A leadership style that combines ambition with sound judgement, openness and professional credibility.

You do not need to arrive with a ready-made team or replicate a business you have built elsewhere. More important is your ability to see the opportunity, establish a clear proposition and create the relationships and capability required to deliver it.

Why Ridge

Ridge combines the breadth of a multidisciplinary consultancy with the accessibility and entrepreneurial freedom of a partnership.

Our clients can draw on expertise across project and programme management, cost consultancy, engineering, architecture, building surveying, sustainability, health and safety and specialist advisory services. For the person leading our maritime business, that breadth creates a genuine advantage. You will be able to build integrated solutions around client needs rather than being constrained by a single service line.

You will also join a business that values practical brilliance. For us, that means applying deep expertise in a way that is commercially aware, useful and focused on achieving the right outcome.

At Partner level, you will have a meaningful voice in the direction of the business. You will be trusted to shape the opportunity, supported in building the team and encouraged to develop an area of Ridge that can become a substantial part of our future growth.

Ridge continues to invest in its people, specialist capability and regional network. That makes this the right point to bring focused leadership to our maritime ambitions.

About This Team

Project and Programme Delivery sits at the centre of many of Ridge’s most complex commissions. Our teams help clients define programmes, establish effective governance, manage risk and coordinate the technical, commercial and operational expertise needed to deliver successfully.

The maritime proposition will draw on people from across Ridge rather than operate as an isolated service. You will work alongside established leaders and specialists, connecting regional knowledge with wider sector expertise.

As the business grows, you will help create a dedicated team with the technical depth and client understanding to support marine and landside infrastructure from initial strategy through delivery and into operation.

This Office

The role can be based from our Winchester or Reading office, with hybrid working available.

Our Winchester office is in Kings Worthy, a few miles from Winchester city centre and approximately two miles from Winchester railway station. The number 6 bus stops close to the office and provides connections to the station and city centre.

Whichever office you choose, the role will operate across Ridge’s wider regional network and will involve regular engagement with clients, colleagues and industry contacts throughout the UK.

Start the Conversation

Appointments of this nature begin with a conversation.

If you have built a career in the maritime, marine, coastal or ports sector and are interested in creating a business rather than simply taking responsibility for an existing one, we would be pleased to speak with you.

You may already have a clear view of what Ridge could build in this market. We would like to hear it.