The Company
Headquartered in Nanaimo, Hullo is a modern Canadian ferry company transforming how passengers travel in British Columbia. Founded in 2022 as a joint venture between investors including InfraRed Capital Partners and Conqora Capital Partners, the company is run by the Vancouver Island Ferry Company (VIFC) and became operational in August 2023 under the service brand – Hullo.
Hullo is a passenger-only, high-speed ferry service operating between downtown Vancouver (British Columbia) and downtown Nanaimo (Vancouver Island). It’s all about being an easier, faster, and more enjoyable ferry experience with seamless booking process and friendly guest experience staff and crews.
Hullo’s vision is to create a globally admired travel brand through unparalleled innovation and operational excellence. With downtown ports, easily accessible terminals, and quick sailing times to make the start and end of a journey seamless, Hullo is not just a transportation service; it is a brand built on connecting people while ensuring every journey is nothing short of exceptional. Guests are at the forefront of everything Hullo does; the elevated ferry service is designed with vessels made to voyage the Salish Sea, and the company’s on-board team prides themselves in delivering a top-notch guest excellence.
Since Hullo’s inaugural sailing in August 2023, the company has transported over 1,130,147 guests as of November 30, 2025. Hullo continues to enhance its service offerings by teaming up with iconic Vancouver-based events, such as Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, Cirque Deu Soleil ECHO, Sporting Events and Dine Out Vancouver Festival, making it easier for Islanders to experience world-class entertainment and return home safely on the same day.
Hullo has a long-term partnership with Snuneymuxw First Nation (SFN); the company is grateful for the partnership and their teaching on how Hullo can nurture this bond together. The company’s vessels each have a hul’q’umi’num’ name gifted in honour by SFN. These names are representative of entities of the natural world: spuhéls (spah – els) meaning wind, and sthuqi’ (sta-key) meaning Sockeye salmon.
Hullo is dedicated to providing reliable, efficient, and comfortable ferry services with a focus on safety, guest excellence, and operational excellence. The company continues to innovate to meet the changing needs of its guests.
Key Pointers
Hullo operates two purpose-built high-speed catamarans (Damen 4212) with reserved seating and guest only focus (no vehicles), which simplifies boarding and keeps dwell times low. Each vessel is powered by four MTU Rolls-Royce propulsion jets, offering both speed and efficiency. The vessels have a capacity of around 335 guests and designed for sailing up to 38 knots. The travel time is around 70-75 minutes one-way between the downtown terminals with multiple sailings per day plus special late-night/event sailings.
Safety is at the forefront of Hullo’s operation; the company’s obsession with safety and delivering an unforgettable guest excellence is only matched by their passion for constant improvement. The entire Hullo Crew have Transport Canada certifications and licences specific to each role, as well as endorsed safety training to ensure guests can sail with ease. Crews undergo high-speed and vessel specific training for each vessel’s Marine Evacuation System, ship-specific Emergency response scenarios, and regular onboard drills to maintain proficiency with all safety procedures and systems outlines in Hullo’s Safety Management System (SMS), This structured training program ensures crews are fully prepared to respond effectively to any emergency situation.
Hullo’s vessels are equipped with essential life-saving equipment, such as life jackets, life rafts, and personal flotation devices. Fire detection and suppression systems are installed to quickly identify and respond to potential fire incidents onboard. Additional emergency systems include evacuation slides, emergency power supply, emergency lighting, and clearly marked emergency escape routes. Through data-driven decision making and a continuous improvement mindset, Hullo is committed to raising safety standards across all operations.
Hullo recognizes a strong responsibility to minimize the environmental impact of its services. Vessel operators complete specialized training focused on understanding marine life behaviour and operating vessels responsibly in sensitive marine environments. Crews comply with all applicable local regulations, guidance, and best practices, including participation in the Marine Education and Research Society (MERS) and Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) programs, to mitigate potential impacts on marine life.
To enhance detection and response capabilities, vessels are equipped with advanced technology, including night vision goggles, thermal cameras, and dedicated lookouts trained to identify marine mammals and navigational hazards. Hullo also utilizes AI-driven systems integrated with Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) thermal cameras to support real-time monitoring of vessel traffic, floating objects, and marine mammals, strengthening safe navigation across the Georgia Strait.
To minimize the impact of waves on coastal areas, the vessels reduce speed when entering Nanaimo and Vancouver harbours. The catamaran design creates less water disturbance, and Hullo’s Captains work with natural wave patterns and currents to optimize speed and stability while reducing wake.
Website - https://hullo.com/
Purpose of the Position
Being operational for over two years with high reliability and guest satisfaction, Hullo is entering into a growth phase demanding an even more robust operation. The General Manager is a newly created position and is the operational heart of Hullo – the senior leader responsible for translating the company’s strategic vision into a safe, reliable, and exceptional daily service.
Reporting directly to the CEO and leading a team of around 75 people with 5 Direct Reports, the General Manager will provide leadership across all operational functions, including Marine Operations, Fleet Engineering, Terminal Operations, Guest Experience, and Facilities. Hullo is seeking an executive with outstanding management skills who can mentor a team of senior managers and unite disparate departments into a single, high-performing operational unit. The ideal candidate isn’t just a logistician; they are a team builder, capable of unpacking complex challenges and fostering a resilient culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
The General Manager will also have full P&L responsibility for the operations division, driving efficiency, performance, and the unwavering delivery of the brand promise to Hullo’s guests, from the terminal to the vessel and back.
Key Responsibilities
1. Operational & Strategic Leadership
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Assume responsibility for the performance of all day-to-day operations, ensuring the fleet and terminals operate with the highest standards of safety, on-time reliability, and guest satisfaction.
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Develop and execute the annual operating plan, setting clear KPIs for each department (Marine, Engineering, Terminals, Facilities) that align with the company's strategic goals.
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Lead the operational response to all major service disruptions, incidents, or emergencies, ensuring clear communication and rapid resolution.
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Drive a culture of continuous improvement, analyzing performance data to identify and eliminate friction points, optimize processes, and enhance efficiency.
2. Team Leadership & Cultural Development
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Provide direct leadership, mentorship, and professional development to the senior operational management team (Marine Operations team, Sr. Fleet Engineer, Sr. Manager of Terminal & GX, Facilities Manager and IT).
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Act as a key culture-carrier, actively breaking down silos between departments (e.g., vessel crew and shore-side, engineering and guest experience) to build a unified, collaborative, and mission-focused team.
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Oversee all operational human resources, including performance management, succession planning, and labour relations, in partnership with the Director of People & Culture.
3. Financial & Performance Management
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Develop and manage the complete operational budget (Opex and Capex), holding full P&L responsibility for the division.
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Monitor all operational expenditures and financial performance, delivering regular reports, forecasts, and variance analyses to the CEO and Financial Director.
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Champion cost-conscious operations, driving efficiency and optimization without compromising safety, quality, or long-term asset integrity.
4. Safety, Security & Regulatory Compliance
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Uphold and champion the company’s Safety Management System (SMS) at every level of the operation, ensuring unwavering compliance with the ISM Code, Transport Canada regulations, and all other applicable laws.
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Serve as the key operational partner to the company’s Designated Person Ashore (DPA) and Company Security Officer (CSO), ensuring all safety and security protocols are effectively implemented and audited.
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Ensure the fleet and facilities are in a constant state of regulatory readiness.
Year One Critical Success Factors
Within the first 12 months in the role, the General Manager will:
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Establish rapport with all the relevant internal and external stakeholders.
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Drive change management initiatives with the aim of improving operational efficiency and guest experience.
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Develop best practices to ensure a safe and robust operation is in place.
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Coach, mentor, and develop team members to ensure employees are engaged and aligned to Hullo’s goals and objectives.
The Candidate
Experience and Professional Qualifications
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A proven leader with a minimum of 10+ years' experience directly managing other senior managers and multi-disciplinary teams in the maritime industry.
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Demonstrated experience in a unionized environment and strong labour relations skills preferred.
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Familiarity with marine technical, vessel, and terminal operations is a must.
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Full P&L and complex budget management (Opex/Capex) experience for a large division or business unit.
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A track record of building and uniting high-performance teams, with skills in mentorship, communication, and cultural development.
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Expertise in managing within a robust Safety Management System (SMS) or equivalent rigorous regulatory framework.
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A strategic mindset with the ability to move fluidly between high-level planning and hands-on operational problem-solving.
Desirable Qualifications
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Direct experience in the passenger ferry or high-speed craft (HSC) industry is highly preferred
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Experience in a high-growth, entrepreneurial, or scale-up environment, preferably from a similar transportation company.
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Proven expertise in logistics, resource planning, and operational optimization.
Skills and Competencies
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Strong leadership capabilities with the ability to inspire and motivate teams towards achieving company’s goals and objectives.
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Exceptional communication and influencing skills; ability to effectively and efficiently disseminate information to all team members.
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Superior interpersonal skills and a team player; ability to display genuine considerations for staffs and guests to fulfil their needs based on trust and integrity.
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Strong problem solving/continuous improvement skills with the ability to adapt to changes quickly.
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A reliable and dependable self-starter who can work autonomously as well as in a team environment to help colleagues, company, and guests to succeed. Willingness to learn and develop self, others, and company.
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High business and personal ethics and integrity to strengthen Hullo’s’ brand equity in the market.
Hullo Ferries is open to appointing the successful candidate on either a permanent or contract basis.
Korn Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis. Artificial Intelligence tools may be used in connection with the recruitment process for this position.
