AECO – The Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators is an international member organization at the forefront of responsible expedition cruise tourism in the Arctic. Together with our more than 80 international members, we develop standards and tools that safeguard the environment, safety, and local communities across Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland, and Arctic Canada. AECO’s Secretariat has 14 dedicated professionals and our head office is in Tromsø, Norway.

Maritime Operations Generalist

We are looking for a dedicated Maritime Operations Generalist with broad competence and interest across cruise vessel operations, environment, safety, administration, and consultations. You are versatile, adaptable, and ready to take on a variety of tasks that support safe, sustainable, and responsible expedition cruising in the Arctic.

Your Role

As part of AECO’s Operational Department (a team of four), you will contribute to a wide range of activities, from regulatory processes and compliance, to field-based ship observations and project work. The position requires a balance between office-based tasks and active engagement with members, stakeholders, and authorities. Travel must be expected.

Areas of work

• Respond to maritime and operational consultations; communicate regulatory issues to members
• Work closely with AECO’s Maritime Operations Committee
• Contribute to the development and management of AECO’s operational tools
• Handle tasks related to AECO’s Observer Scheme, including conducting ship observations
• Support incident handling, compliance, and dispute resolution
• Contribute to safety and search & rescue (SAR) initiatives
• Contribute to environmental initiatives and projects
• Maintain contact and collaboration with authorities and external stakeholders
• Represent and present AECO in relevant fora
• Lead and support projects across AECO’s operational portfolio

Qualifications

• General vessel operations competence, preferably with experience from the expedition cruise industry in polar waters
• Experience with regulatory processes, including handling consultations and compliance issues
• Strong communication and collaboration skills – comfortable presenting and representing AECO in external fora
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a small, interdisciplinary team
• Fluency in English and one of the Scandinavian languages, both written and spoken.

Personal attributes

• Flexible and adaptable – thrives on varied tasks (“a potato” as we say in Norwegian)
• Analytical and structured, with a practical and hands-on approach
• Comfortable with both office work and field tasks
• Collaborative, diplomatic, and confident in stakeholder engagement
• Calm and constructive under pressure

We offer

• A varied and meaningful role in an international organization with Arctic responsibility
• The opportunity to shape and contribute to responsible expedition cruising
• Dedicated colleagues in a diverse and international work environment
• Competitive salary, good insurances, and pension schemes
• Office location: Tromsø, Norway (some travel required)

Interested?

• Applications deadline: September 21, 2025. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
• Questions? Contact Melissa Nacke, Head of Operations – melissa(a)aeco.no or Nina Beate Paulsen, Head of Administration & HR – nina(a)aeco.no

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Last update: 25. August 2025