Case Study: Technical Manager – Permanent Recruitment Success in Papua New Guinea
Job title of Permanent Recruitment: Technical Manager
Recruitment Type: Permanent Recruitment
Business Type: Shipping Company
Location: Papua, New Guinea
Key Stakeholders: Company Owner and Technical Director
Faststream Recruitment Representative:Jon Tay, Principal Consultant - Asia-Pacific, Faststream Recruitment
Hiring senior technical talent in remote or challenging locations requires more than just a job advert; it takes a strategic and consultative approach. When a major shipping company in Papua New Guinea reached out to Faststream, they needed a trusted recruitment partner who could source a resilient and culturally sensitive leader to manage their fleet operations and develop a diverse technical team.
With a fleet of 17 vessels and operations supporting sectors such as oil & gas, manufacturing, and retail, they needed someone with technical expertise and the leadership skills to navigate the complexities of working with local and expatriate staff.
The Challenge
Recruiting for this role came with several complexities:
Challenging Location: Papua New Guinea is not a typical destination for most maritime professionals, requiring a strong pitch and clear expectations.
Cultural Sensitivity Required: The candidate needed to demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and cultural awareness to manage both local and expatriate staff.
Workforce Development: The local workforce often required hands-on supervision and development to align with global compliance and operational standards.
The Solution
To tackle this complex hire, we took a highly consultative approach from day one. Jon Tay, our specialist consultant, established a close working relationship with the Company Owner and Technical Director to fully understand the nuances of the role, the operating environment in Papua New Guinea, and the type of leader they needed.
Setting expectations with potential candidates was a key part of the process. We developed a detailed job brief that went beyond the basics, outlining not just the responsibilities but what life in Papua New Guinea would be like.
We also provided useful resources to help candidates get familiar with the location, culture, and work environment. This ensured that those moving forward were both technically suitable and mentally prepared.
Throughout the search, we kept in regular contact with the client, providing updates on progress and feedback from the candidate market. This allowed us to adapt the search strategy in real-time, ensuring we were aligned on vessel types, engine specifications, and leadership profile.
By taking the time to understand the business and acting as a true partner throughout the process, we were able to navigate the challenges of the location and deliver an exceptional result.
The Result
The recruitment process took three months from presenting the first candidate profiles to the successful hire, starting in Papua New Guinea. Although the initial brief was to recruit a Technical Superintendent, Jon identified and introduced a standout candidate who brought such impressive credentials and leadership qualities that the client made a strategic decision, they created a new role, Technical Manager, specifically for this individual.
This hire marked a turning point for the business. The new Technical Manager has since taken on responsibility for leading daily technical operations, driving performance, and mentoring both local and expatriate staff.
Additional outcomes included:
A bespoke role was created to match the calibre and potential of the candidate.
The client gained a leader capable of bridging technical expertise and people development.
A traditionally challenging location was turned into an opportunity for long-term impact through the right hire.
By combining global talent reach, deep maritime expertise, and a personal, consultative approach, Faststream helped this client make a critical hire that exceeded expectations.
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