Marine Management Organisation

Location: Flexible. This role is open to national applications. The CEO will be expected to maintain a regular presence at the MMO Head Office in Newcastle upon Tyne, spending a minimum of two days per week on site. The position also requires regular travel to MMO locations including coastal regions and London

As the principal regulator of England’s seas, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) plays a vital role in enabling sustainable economic growth while safeguarding our precious marine environment. We ensure our seas remain clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse — protecting one of the planet’s most valuable resources for future generations.

The MMO works in partnership across government, the private sector, delivery partners, and third-sector organisations to protect and sustainably manage England’s seas. Our aim is to keep the marine environment healthy, productive, and biologically diverse, supporting both nature and people to thrive.

We collaborate closely with stakeholders from marine development, fisheries, and environmental sectors, as well as coastal communities, local authorities, and the public. These relationships are vital to shaping a sustainable future for our marine environment. As an arm’s length body of Defra, we play a key role in delivering on marine and fisheries policy. We also support sustainable economic growth, enabling responsible access to marine resources for infrastructure, offshore wind and other developments.

We are now seeking an outstanding Chief Executive Officer to lead the organisation through its next chapter. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of marine management at a defining moment, as the MMO strengthens its role in advancing the UK’s clean energy ambitions, driving sustainable growth and delivering regulatory transformation.

To succeed in this role, you will bring proven senior leadership experience in a multidisciplinary environment, with a track record of leading large operational teams through change. You will combine strategic vision with the resilience to deliver against demanding priorities. Politically astute and a natural collaborator, you will have the credibility to influence at the highest levels across government and industry, and the ability to inspire confidence across our workforce and stakeholders. Above all, you will be passionate about delivering MMO’s mission for the benefit of people, nature and the economy.

At the MMO, we are committed to becoming an inclusive employer that reflects modern Britain. We know that diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to an effective, modern public sector, and we will create an organisation where diversity is not only respected and valued but celebrated.

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to the Marine Management Organisation on this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit www.saxbam.com/appointments using reference GBNYA1. Alternatively email louise.mccarthy@saxbam.com. Applications should be received by midday on Wednesday 22 October 2025.