Role Title: BSSAF Convener
Closing Date: 6th January 2025
Role Type: Voluntary Part-Time
Remuneration: Reasonable expenses
BSSAF Convener Role Purpose
Role Overview:
We are seeking a dynamic, and well-organised individual to join the BSS Advisory Forum as the convener. The Boat Safety Scheme Advisory Forum (BSSAF) provides advice to the Directors on all aspects of the operation of the scheme. The Advisory Forum comprises members drawn from the navigation and harbour authorities, the Examiner Bodies, the Marine Industry and user representatives. It is a large forum that aims to represent all stakeholder views and seek their consensus before making recommendations to the Directors and consequently the navigation and harbour authorities through The Standards Setting Forum.
The BSSAF receives proposals from the Technical Forum and considers how they can be applied within the aims of the Scheme; it also reviews the operation of the Scheme and looks to identify future trends that will impact on the Scheme’s Risk Management Process.
Stakeholders
Navigation Authority Representatives
- Canal & River Trust
- Environment Agency
- Broads Authority
- Association of Inland Navigation Authorities - AINA
Boat User Representative Organisations
- Residential Boat Owners Association – RBOA
- Inland Waterways Association - IWA
- National Association of Boat Owners - NABO
- Royal Yachting Association – RYA
- Association of Waterway Cruising Clubs - AWCC
- The Boating Association - TBA
British Marine Federation (trade) representation
- British Marine (1) - Executive interests
- British Marine (2) - Hire boat operators
- British Marine (3) - Boatbuilding
Practitioner Representative bodies (Examiners and surveyors)
- Association of Boat Safety Scheme Examiners - ABSSE
- Yacht Brokers Designers & Surveyors Association - YDSA
- International Institute of Marine Surveyors - IIMS
Boat Safety Scheme
- BSSTF Convener
- BSS Technical & Quality Manager
- BSS General Manager
- BSS Secretariat
Corresponding Member
- Maritime and Coastguard Agency - MCA
BSSAF Convener: Role
The Convener is independent of the BSS Office and the Scheme. The role is to support and uphold the principles of the BSS including by ensuring each member representing an interest 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 BSSAF but must remain independent and without a narrow opinion.
The Forum also has a review function in terms of the overall operation of the Scheme.
The Convener will hear all stakeholders’ views before making recommendations to the BSS Directors. The Advisory Forum is not a decision-making body and the ultimate authority for any action rests with the Directors
This approach enables the Forum to make proportionate recommendations that will help minimise boat-related risks to all waterways’ visitors, neighbours to the waterways and the waterways’ workforce.
Key Responsibilities:
- To run at least three attended forum meetings a year
- Collaborate with BSS office on scheduling and preparing for meetings
- Ensure Forum members provide efficient and quality support for the BSS
- Report on Forum activity and recommendations to the Directors
- Represent the BSSAF at the three Standards Setting Forum meetings annually
- Contribute to ad hoc working groups, panels, and correspondence discussion groups
- Maintain accurate and well organised systems of records that are easily retrievable
BSSAF 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:
- 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 non-technical data to 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
- A high standard of written English is required together with competency in use of email, Microsoft Office tools and video conferencing packages
- Membership of relevant professional bodies at appropriate levels is an advantage
- The role is independent of the BSS Office and the Scheme’s owners, deemed to be ‘user or trade’
BSSAF 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.
BSSAF Convener: How to apply
Please read the Members Code, Terms of Reference and about The Boat Safety Scheme Limited(BSS) before applying.
Please make an expression of interest in the following way:
Send a short covering email setting out why you would like to be considered. Please also attach a supporting statement as to how your background fits the role, skills, knowledge, and experience we have set out above.
Please also include the most suitable phone number we can reach you and we will respond to the email address the message arrives from unless you provide an alternative preferred correspondence email details. (Note: Short-listed candidates will be invited for interview).
Please send this to the BSS Office
Subject line: BSSAF Convener - Expression of Interest
BSS.enquiries@boatsafetyscheme.org
Deadline 6th January