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Operations Manager - Seafarer Services

Employer
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Location
Southampton, Hampshire
Salary
£38,654
Closing date
18 Jan 2022

Job Details

About the job

Summary

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.

Would you love to undertake a role in which you make a real difference contributing directly to the safety and welfare of seafarers?

Are you passionate about achieving high standards of operational delivery?

Can you lead a dynamic team to ensure business objectives are met?

If so, we'd love to hear from you!

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) implements the government's maritime safety policy in the United Kingdom and works to prevent the loss of life and occurrence of pollution on the coast and at sea.

Safer lives, Safer ships, Cleaner seas.

Our vision is to be the best maritime safety organisation in the world.
 

Job description

The Directorate of Maritime Safety and Standards (DMSS) is responsible for the survey and inspection of UK ships and foreign flagged vessels in UK waters as well as the promotion and implementation of UK safety, environmental and navigational regulatory regimes, development & implementation of policy in relation to competency standards, Seafarer Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW), officer certification, safe manning, radio training & Smart Cadet training.

The branch deals with the health requirements for seafarers on all UK ships and the skills and qualifications of all seafarers working on UK vessels (including Merchant Navy, Fishing Fleets, Inland Waterways, Large Yachts, Tugs and Workboats). Promoting the health and safety of seafarers by providing seafarer medical examinations and by supporting safe working practices on board ship.

Seafarer Services Section helps to meet the Government's maritime strategy for 'Safer Ships and Cleaner Seas' by ensuring high standards of marine safety and marine environmental protection through delivery of policy, legislation and associated guidance within the areas of Seafarer Safety and Health, and Seafarer Training and Certification.

Working closely with the Head of Operations, Head of Policy and the processing teams, the Operations Manager will ensure that Business Support is aligned with Branch service standards. The role has line management responsibilities for two direct reports and will be responsible for the completion of personal development management reviews, identifying training/development needs and setting challenging and relevant objectives. The key purpose of this role is to deliver an excellent operational delivery service and to ensure quality customer service is provided through the management of recruitment and resourcing for the Seafarer Services operations team, and the efficient management of workflows and processes in order to meet business service standards. This is a vital role which directly contributes to the safety of seafarers.

This role will be based in Southampton HQ. There will be a business requirement for post holder to be based in the office for a set number of days per week. At present we are operating a hybrid working approach due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation. Details of this arrangement will be discussed further with your line manager.

This role may involve some occasional travel with the possibility of overnight stays.

This post is offered on a Fixed Term Appointment (FTA) basis of 15 months with a possibility, although no guarantee, of extension or permanency.

Permanent Civil Servants will not be expected to change their employment status from permanent to fixed term appointment. OGD applicants will be appointed on inward loan and subject to the terms of the agreed inward loan agreement.

Internal applicants will be appointed on inward loan and subject to the terms of the agreed inward loan agreement. The expectation is that you will return to your previous post at the end of the loan period, which will need to be agreed with your line manager in advance.

If you're employed by a non-departmental public body (NDPB) by moving jobs this will involve a change of employer and you may break the statutory rules on continuity of employment.
 

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Overseeing the efficient and effective operational delivery of the Seafarer Training and Certification team. Implementing a system of quality checks within the daily operations processes to ensure high standards of operational delivery are achieved.
• Line managing the Certification Manager and indirectly overseeing a number of Team Leaders and their processing teams. Acting line manager for the Short Course database Administrator.
• Managing resourcing and recruitment plans for the operations team, to ensure resourcing is optimized to fulfil business needs. Leading and mentoring/coaching the members of the operations and processing teams. Championing HR best practices supporting and encouraging the personal development of staff and ensuring completion of personal development management reviews. Identifying training/development needs and the setting of challenging and relevant objectives aligned to the MCA Business Plan and to the annual targets that the branch must achieve.
• Producing management information on operational functions, stakeholder complaints and concerns arising, stock control and technical support needs. This will support recommendations for operational success and identify risks that may occur within the branch, reflecting any associated pressures and mitigation strategies devised with internal partners.

For an in-depth insight into the role, please refer to the Role Profile attached to this advert.

About You

This role requires an individual with knowledge of the maritime and shipping industry and experience of operational management. You will have strong leadership capabilities, derived from practical experience of managing people and will possess the ability to coach and support your team to ensure business objectives are effectively and efficiently met and quality standards are achieved.

You will have first class communication skills and can articulate information in a confident and professional manner so that it is easily understood and interpreted by others. You will be proficient in the use of IT and will be an effective multi-tasker who is highly organised and able to prioritise a conflicting workload in order meet targets and deadlines.

Behaviours

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

  • Leadership
  • Managing a Quality Service
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Seeing the Big Picture

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.
 

Company

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is an executive agency of the United Kingdom working to prevent the loss of lives at sea and is responsible for implementing British and international maritime law and safety policy. It is also responsible for land based search and rescue helicopter operations from 2015.

Its responsibilities include coordinating search and rescue (SAR) on the coastline and at sea through His Majesty's Coastguard (HMCG), ensuring that ships meet international and UK safety standards, monitoring and preventing coastal water pollution and testing and issuing Merchant Navy Certificates of Competency (licences) for ships' officers and crew to STCW requirements The organisation is led by Virginia McVea, its Chief Executive, who took up post in February 2023.The MCA are chiefly responsible for the syllabus and national training standards issued by the Merchant Navy Training Board (based at the UK Chamber of Shipping).

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