Role Title: BSSTF Convener
Closing Date: 17:00 Sunday 27 July 2025
Role Type: Voluntary Part-Time
Remuneration: Reasonable expenses
Note: This role and person profile should also be read in conjunction with the BSSTF Terms of Reference and the BSSTF Members Code.
BSSTF Convener Role Purpose
Boat Safety Scheme Limited (BSS) is a public safety initiative helping to protect people, property and environments across the UK’s inland waterways. A not-for-profit company, working with navigation and harbour authorities to reduce the risks of boat fires, explosions, carbon monoxide poisoning, and pollution.
The BSS work with the UK inland waterways covered by the 16 navigation authorities participating in the Scheme.
An opportunity has arisen for a constructive, dynamic, and well-organised individual to join the BSS Technical Forum as the Convener. This forum is the specialist stakeholder group that makes recommendations to the BSS Advisory Forum concerning issues of a technical nature.
Stakeholders:
Boat User Representative Organisations
- Assoc. Waterways Cruising Clubs - AWCC
- Inland Waterways Association - IWA
- National Assoc. of Boat Owners - NABO
- Royal Yachting Association - RYA
British Marine Federation (trade) representation
- British Marine (1)
- British Marine (2)
Practitioner Representative bodies (Examiners and surveyors)
- Examiners Group Representative
- Surveyors Group Representative
Boat Safety Scheme
- BSS Technical Manager
Co-opted & Others:
- BSS General Manager
- Navigation Authority Representative
- BSS Lead Quality Control Assessor
BSSTF Convener: Role
The Convener is independent of the BSS Office. The role is to support and uphold the principles of the BSS including ensuring each member has the opportunity to input into meetings, appeals panels, working groups and other fora, thereby making sure that the BSS is given well-rounded advice.
The Convener will work with BSS office on scheduling and preparing work for the BSSTF but must remain independent and without a narrow opinion.
The role is to ensure that Technical Forum members are able to provide high quality, effective and evidence-based support to the other BSS Forums and BSS Office.
The Convener will assist the Forum in its examination of proposals within the guiding principles and practical risk management techniques published by the National Water Safety Forum and will follow the BSS Risk Management Process that formalises the guiding principles.
The Convener supports the process to consider all facets and effect of our technical standards ensures the process is technically sound, free from commercial bias and consistent with the principles set in the BSSTF Terms of Reference. This approach enables the Forum to reach proportionate decisions or make recommendations that will help minimise boat-related risks to all waterways’ visitors, neighbours to the waterways and the waterways’ workforce.
Key Responsibilities:
- To convene 4 - 5 Technical Forum meetings a year.
- Work with BSS office on scheduling and preparing for meetings.
- Ensure Forum members provide efficient and quality support for the BSS.
- Represent the BSSTF at the three Advisory Forums and three SSF Forum meetings annually.
- Attend Directors’ meeting (or parts of meetings) at the invitation of the Directors
- Contribute to ad hoc working groups, panels and correspondence discussion groups.
Maintain accurate and well organised systems of records that are easily retrievable.
BSSTF Convener: Knowledge, Skills/Qualifications & Experience
Ideally you will be an experienced ‘process manager’ with demonstrable knowledge and skills to help drive issues through the forum in a timely process that will apply an accepted risk grading criteria.
Skills/ Qualifications:
- Technical Experience/knowledge.
- Experience of the inland waterways and boats is key.
- Some knowledge of working safely and risk assessment.
- Experience of working as or with volunteer(s).
- Able to provide a good standard of written communication and proven ability to present technical data to non-technical audiences.
- Communication skills that allow you to inform, help and advise other professionals clearly and professionally.
- Ability to deal with difficult and potentially confrontational situations.
- Confidence, patience, politeness, tact and diplomacy.
- An excellent standard of written English is required together with competency in use of email, Microsoft Office tools and video conferencing packages.
- Membership of relevant professional body at an appropriate level
- Professional qualification in a relevant technical discipline or equivalent experience
BSSTF Convener: Statement of Engagement
At the BSS we care passionately for waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. The Scheme strongly upholds the principle that our wider support team brings with it a diversity of ideas, thinking and ways of working which enhances what we do.
We aim to represent the diverse communities we are part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.
BSSTF Convener: How to apply
Please submit an expression of interest in the following way:
- Provide a short covering email setting out why you would like to be considered.
- Attach C.V and a supporting statement as to how your background fits the role, skills, knowledge, and experience we have set out above.
Please send your submission to the BSS Office
Subject line: BSSTF Convener Expression of Interest
bss.office@boatsafetyscheme.org by 17:00 Sunday 27 July 2025