Volunteer Negotiations & Stakeholder Liaison Officer

Volunteer Negotiations & Stakeholder Liaison Officer – 

Historic Naval Vessel Preservation

Position Title

Volunteer Negotiations & Stakeholder Liaison Officer

Purpose of the Role

To support the preservation and rescue of a historic naval vessel by engaging with key stakeholders, including port authorities, vessel owners, scrapyard operators, maritime organisations, heritage bodies, and local authorities. The volunteer will use their negotiation, communication, and relationship-management skills to help secure a temporary or permanent berth, explore rescue options, and seek to halt or delay scrapping activities while viable preservation solutions are investigated.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain professional contact with relevant stakeholders, including the Port of London Authority, Peel Ports, vessel owners, scrapyard operators, maritime heritage organisations, and local authorities.
• Lead or support negotiations aimed at securing a suitable berth or safe haven for the vessel.
• Engage with scrapyard management and vessel custodians to seek temporary suspension of scrapping activities while preservation proposals are assessed.
• Build constructive working relationships with commercial organisations, public authorities, and community groups.
• Represent the preservation project in meetings, telephone discussions, correspondence, and stakeholder consultations.
• Identify areas of mutual benefit that may encourage stakeholder cooperation.
• Assist in developing proposals, briefing documents, and presentations to support negotiations.
• Maintain accurate records of stakeholder communications, agreements, and action points.
• Work closely with project leadership and heritage advisors to ensure negotiations align with project objectives.
• Identify potential risks, obstacles, and opportunities and report findings to the project team.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Proven experience negotiating with difficult or complex business stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and influencing skills.
• Ability to remain professional, diplomatic, and persistent in challenging situations.
• Experience building relationships with senior decision-makers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to research and understand commercial, operational, and regulatory considerations.
• Strong organisational and record-keeping abilities.
• Commitment to the preservation of maritime and naval heritage.

Desirable Experience

• Background in maritime, shipping, port operations, logistics, heritage conservation, or public affairs.
• Experience working with local authorities, government agencies, or statutory bodies.
• Knowledge of UK port operations and berthing arrangements.
• Fundraising, sponsorship, or stakeholder engagement experience.
• Existing contacts within the maritime or heritage sectors.

Personal Qualities

• Determined and resilient.
• Professional and trustworthy.
• Diplomatic and tactful.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently.
• Collaborative and team-oriented.
• Passionate about heritage preservation.

Time Commitment

Flexible volunteer commitment, expected to involve stakeholder correspondence, meetings, telephone discussions, and occasional site visits as required.

Objective

To maximise opportunities for the preservation of a historic naval vessel by securing stakeholder engagement, negotiating berthing and support arrangements, and pursuing all reasonable avenues to prevent scrapping while long-term conservation solutions are explored.

Volunteer Status

This is an unpaid voluntary position. Reasonable pre-approved expenses may be reimbursed where funding permits.

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.