Sri LankaJob Description
General Manager / Principal
McLarens Maritime Academy invites applications from experienced maritime leaders to serve as General Manager / Principal, providing strategic, commercial, and regulatory leadership to position the Academy as a premier maritime education and training institution in Sri Lanka. This is a high-impact executive role responsible for driving sustainable growth, regulatory excellence, academic quality, and institutional development in alignment with shareholder expectations and global maritime industry standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Liaise with the Managing Director and shareholders to define and execute the Academy’s strategic direction, ensuring long-term growth, financial sustainability, and effective resource allocation.
- Assist in financial performance through budgeting, forecasting, cost optimization, and disciplined capital deployment, while safeguarding training quality and compliance.
- Lead market expansion by identifying new programs, revenue streams, and partnerships aligned with global maritime industry demand.
- Ensure academic excellence and full regulatory compliance, including STCW, IMO, MSS/DGMS, and other applicable standards; oversee curriculum development and launch of competency-based training programs.
- Maintain and expand institutional accreditations and regulatory approvals with local and international bodies.
- Build and manage high-impact relationships with shipping companies, regulators, flag administrations, and government agencies, including frameworks for sea-time placements.
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing leadership team and faculty, supported by succession planning and continuous professional development.
- Drive brand positioning, marketing, public relations, admissions strategy, and stakeholder communications to enhance market presence and student recruitment.
- Provide executive oversight of infrastructure development, simulators, workshops, and facilities, ensuring delivery within budget, timeline, regulatory, and sustainability requirements.
- Establish and monitor KPIs across academic performance, compliance, financial outcomes, student satisfaction, and operational efficiency.
- Strengthen governance, risk management, and internal controls to ensure adherence to statutory obligations, regulatory requirements, and shareholder expectations.
Skills and Experience Required
- Master Mariner with experience.
- Senior leadership experience within maritime education, training and development.
- Strong understanding of STCW, maritime regulatory frameworks, and accreditation processes.
- Proven commercial and P&L leadership capability.
- Demonstrated ability to engage regulators, industry stakeholders, and boards.
- Track record of institutional growth, program development, and infrastructure delivery.
