Location: Portsmouth, 24 Store, PO1 3LT
Salary: Up to £60,000 per annum, dependant on experience plus excellent benefits
Schedule: Full time, permanent
Ready to impact a better future?
As an In‑Service Support Manager in our Maritime Services team, you’ll coordinate the full scope of in‑service support activities that keep Army-operated vessels mission‑ready. You’ll make a tangible difference by ensuring maintenance, repairs, upgrades, and support tasks are delivered efficiently and in line with contract requirements.
Through clear communication, dependable coordination, and accurate documentation, your work will help maintain safe, capable and dependable vessels for the Ministry of Defence. This role directly supports operational readiness and contributes to a positive impact on the communities and people who rely on Army boats.
What you’ll do as an In‑Service Support Manager
You’ll be entrusted to:
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Act as the central coordination point between the MOD Authority, Serco subcontractors, and end users, ensuring clear, timely and accurate communication.
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Receive, interpret and process tasking from the Authority/Customer point of contact, making sure requests are logged, prioritised, scheduled and assigned.
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Coordinate scheduled and reactive support activities, including maintenance, defect rectification, repairs, upgrades, and assurance tasks.
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Monitor task progress and subcontractor performance, tracking timelines, quality, risks and SLA compliance, escalating issues where needed.
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Control risks to vessel availability, ensuring mitigation actions are implemented promptly.
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Prepare and quality‑check reporting outputs such as KPIs, evidence packs, MOD spreadsheet submissions and documentation updates.
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Maintain accurate records and databases, ensuring strong document control, audit trails, configuration data and governance compliance.
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Provide estimating and planning support, reviewing scopes, assessing effort and contributing to resource and scheduling plans.
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Liaise on logistics and transport arrangements for vessel, equipment and material movement across stakeholders.
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Support continuous improvement, enhancing administrative processes, workflows, communication channels and safety governance.
Does this sound like you?
You’ll be a great fit for this role if you have…
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Strong administrative, coordination and organisational skills, with experience managing documentation, workflows, timelines and multi‑stakeholder communication.
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Project management capability, ideally supported by a qualification or an HND/HNC in an engineering discipline (marine experience desirable).
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Experience in a marine, engineering, logistics or technical environment with understanding of small craft maintenance and support operations.
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Experience working in a commercial setting, interpreting tariffs, validating pricing and supporting estimating activity.
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Quality management experience with controlled processes, audits, documentation accuracy and evidence‑based reporting.
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High proficiency with MS Office, including Excel, Word, SharePoint, Teams and document control systems.
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Strong analytical and reporting skills, able to interpret and present maintenance updates, KPIs and MOD‑required outputs.
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Good communication skills, able to work professionally with MOD, Serco colleagues, subcontractors and end users.
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A proactive, self‑motivated approach and commitment to continuous improvement.
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A full UK driving licence.
Vetting and checks:
This role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance, which involves verifying your identity, employment history, nationality, and criminal record to meet government security standards. In addition, depending on the nature of the role, you may need to obtain formal Security Clearance (such as CTC or SC), which includes more detailed background checks on employment, criminal record, and financial history to ensure suitability for working in secure environments. Please note that UK residency requirements may apply for certain levels of clearance. You will also complete an Occupational Health Questionnaire so we can identify and provide any support you may need to undertake the role effectively.
Discover all you need to keep growing
We’re one of the top 1% of international employers, so you can have confidence you’ll be part of a highly supportive culture with leaders you can count on to help you achieve your goals. From mentoring and training to our focus on internal progression, we’re proud to offer clear development opportunities – and the support and tools to help you seize them.
What we offer
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Holidays: Up to 25 days plus bank holidays
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Pension: Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
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Training and development: Over 1,100 internal courses available, funding for qualifications and apprenticeships (including L3 Team Leader and L5 Operations Manager apprenticeships), mentoring opportunities, and a focus on internal progression
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Health and wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programme, Bupa Anytime HealthLine, wellbeing app, 30% off at Serco‑managed leisure centres, and 24/7 access to a virtual GP service
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Discounts: Discounts across around 1,000 retailers, from food and clothing to days out, entertainment and travel
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Charity: Paid volunteering day, tax‑free charitable giving through Payroll Giving Scheme, donate your pennies from your monthly pay to the Serco People Fund Charity
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Employee networks: Our networks support inclusion and connection by providing spaces for collaboration, learning, and belonging. They represent and empower all our colleagues including LGBTQIA+ employees, women, parents and carers, people with disabilities, veterans, and people from all cultural backgrounds.
Let’s impact a better future, together. Apply today.
A little bit about us:
At Serco, everyone plays a vital part in delivering essential public services that make a real difference. As a global team of 50,000 people across Defence, Transport, Justice, Immigration, Healthcare, Leisure and Citizen Services, we’re united by a shared purpose: to improve the services that communities rely on. Guided by our values of Trust, Care, Innovation and Pride, our people make meaningful impact, every single day.
Our inclusive recruitment commitment:
We prioritise your skills and potential. As a Disability Confident Leader, the Top Great British Employer of Veterans 2026, and a Gold Inclusive Employer Standard holder, we champion equal opportunities for all. We offer flexible and hybrid working where possible and make reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment and employment.
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Guaranteed Interview Scheme: Applicants with disabilities, veterans and people with convictions, who meet the minimum job criteria, are guaranteed an interview. Simply opt into the relevant scheme on the application form.
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Ban The Box: We also support fair access for those with unspent criminal convictions through our ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some roles may have security exemptions).
For support with your application, please contact [email protected].
Let’s impact a better future, together. Apply today.
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