Location

Southampton

About the job 

We welcome applications from all communities and we don’t discriminate against any identity. We’re interested to hear from you, regardless of your background.

Are you an experienced Marine Surveyor who can provide subject matter expertise and advice on maritime security and the Maritime Labour Convention?

Would you like the opportunity to make a difference at a strategic level?

If so, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) are looking for a dedicated Head of Maritime Security and MLC, and we’d love to hear from you.

Job description

We will look to you for the effective management of the Maritime Security and MLC (Maritime Labour Convention) Branch, to direct a team of operational policy leads and policy advisors and take ownership of the development and delivery of a consistent policy for maritime security and the implementation of maritime labour policy.

Representing both the MCA and UK, acting as a focal point to our internal and external customers, you will promote the effective implementation of international and domestic legislation as it relates to the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) and the Work in Fishing Convention (ILO 188) through the provision of technical policy support and guidance to our internal and external customers.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in ensuring the highest standards of marine security are upheld and to help us achieve our vision of being the best maritime safety organisation in the world. If you have a passion for maritime security and want to make a difference we encourage you to apply.
 

Responsibilities

Your duties will include:
• managing the Maritime Security and MLC Branch and acting as focal point for internal and external customers, delivering advice and guidance on Maritime Security and Maritime Labour policy
• maintaining operational liaison with Marine Offices, other HQ Branches and Technical Services Team and providing policy support for Marine Office Surveyors as and when required
• implementing the requirements of international and domestic legislation as it relates to the ISPS Code, MLC and ILO 188
• monitoring, encouraging and reporting on a regular basis the progress of Marine Offices in completing agreed audit and inspection programmes
• ensuring that SPS Code, MLC convention and ILO188 convention audit processes comply with domestic and international agreed commitments
• promoting and maintaining Instructions for Guidance to Surveyors in connection with audit operations related to the ISPS Code, MLC Convention and ILO188
• representing the UK and providing technical support at internal and meetings associated with areas of responsibility, including drafting and presentation of substantive papers and arranging and providing briefings as required
• in conjunction with Head of Inspection Operations, follow-up the detention of UK vessels wherever detained for deficiencies related to security and seafarer living and working conditions
• assist Heads of Domestic and International Survey Operations, Head of Maritime Safety Management, Head of Inspections Operations and Head of Technical Performance with the organisation of seminars for MCA Surveyors annually

The post will be nominally based at the MCA Headquarters in Southampton but we will consider requests to work from any MCA location with the expectation of regular travel to MCA Headquarters when required.

This role is subject to Surveyor Health Standards.

About you –

As an experienced Marine Surveyor, you will bring experience of working in a managerial role on board ship or in a technical capacity of responsibility within the maritime industry. You have the credentials and expertise to be a source of detailed and accurate technical advice on Maritime Security and the MLC and about difficult and/or complex situations within your specialism.

You are highly driven and strive for excellence, taking charge of situations, people and the delivery of quality outcomes. You are a strong communicator who is confident setting direction and providing leadership that motivates others to make things happen. You have a track record of building long lasting positive working relationships with a range of colleagues and stakeholders, utilising your interpersonal and influencing skills to build trust and gain agreement.

You will operate to a flexible (smarter) working pattern consisting of a 7.4 hour working day and over the course of a year work 1931 net conditioned hours.

You may be required to take part in an 'On Call - Call Out' roster system for which an additional allowance would be payable.

On occasion, there will be a requirement to work outside of normal conditioned hours as well as work/travel on official duty within the UK and short-term visits overseas or offshore, which may involve overnight stays away from home.

You must also comply with MCA Surveyor Health Standards Policy.

About Operational Delivery Profession (ODP)

Operational Delivery Profession (ODP) is the largest and most diverse professional community across the Civil Service. Many of us will have an association with several professional communities or specialisms, ODP applies to all public facing roles / or a role that is primarily aligned to supporting the work of those with public facing roles. All critical to the delivery of UK public services’.

Licences

A full UK driving licence and a passport valid for international travel.

Qualifications

The minimum academic qualification required is one of:

a. MCA Recognised STCW II/2 Master unlimited Certificate of Competency; or

b. MCA Recognised STCW III/2 Chief Engineer unlimited Certificate of Competency; or

c. Honours Degree in Naval Architecture, Ship Science, Marine Engineering, Mechanical and Marine Engineering or Marine Technology

d. Applicants without the qualifications stated in a, b or c above, may also be eligible if they are Chartered Engineer (C. Eng) (through Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) or the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST)), but in such cases evidence of the equivalent level of learning plus marine industry experience will need to have be demonstrated to the satisfaction of an MCA S&I technical review panel.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Surveyor Technical Competencies - Underpinning competencies - understanding of the principles of the safe operation of large commercial ships - level 4
• Surveyor Technical Competencies - understanding of SOLAS Ch XI – ISPS - level 4
• Surveyor Technical Competencies - Underpinning competencies - understanding of ILO 188 (MLC for FV) - level 4
• Surveyor Technical Competencies - Underpinning competencies - understanding of shipboard health safety and welfare for large commercial ships – MLC, COSWP, Medicare - level 4

Benefits

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, flexible working, inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance.

Find out what it's like to work at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Allowances
MCA HQ Surveyor Allowances:
• Out of Hours Contactability £3000 (If on PSCC rota)
• Operating in Hazardous Environments £1,250
• Location and Deployment Flexibility £1,250

Things you need to know Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

We are closely monitoring the situation regarding the coronavirus, and will be following central Government advice as it is issued. There is therefore a risk that recruitment to this post may be subject to change at short notice. In addition, where appropriate, you may be invited to attend a video interview.

Please continue to follow the application process as normal and ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.

You will be asked to complete an online CV and Statement of Suitability as part of your application.

When considering how your experience relates to the role, please tailor your CV and Statement of Suitability to demonstrate your experience and understanding of:

• MCA Survey, Audit and Inspection activities, costs and timescales
• high level of technical knowledge regarding the construction, equipment, management and operation of commercial vessels
• managing operational teams, providing leadership, setting direction and closely governing processes to ensure legislative requirements are adhered to

The sift is due to take place week commencing 21st December 2020.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held week commencing 11th January 2021.

This interview could be conducted via a video interview, details of which will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates. The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment could include:

• an interview
• one or more exercises, such as a presentation, a written exercise, or a role play

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.

Please see attached candidate notes for further information about our recruitment process.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Further information

To learn more about applying for a role within the Department for Transport, visit the Application Process page of our Careers website.

Before submitting your application, we encourage you to visit our Things You Need to Know page for further information about applying for a role within the Department for Transport and the Civil Service.

Throughout this job advert there are links to the DfT Careers website, which provides you further information to support your application. Should you be unable to access the information on our website, please email [email protected] for assistance.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK, Commonwealth and European Economic Area (EEA) and certain non EEA nationals. Further information on whether you are able to apply is available here.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name :   Simon Graves Email :   [email protected]   Recruitment team : Email :   [email protected] Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: [email protected] If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Visit the Civil Service Commission website at https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/