About the job Job description

Are you well-organised with an eye for detail and an interest in maritime? 

Do you enjoy building relationships and working with colleagues and customers alike? 

Is so, we are looking for a Certification Officer to join us at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), and we’d love to hear from you. 

We will look to you to process applications from seafarers for marine examinations and to give related advice and assistance. 

This is a customer facing role where you will help to deliver a high level of customer service, ensuring that all certificates issued comply with relevant legislative requirements and are issued accurately and on time. 

Role responsibilities 

As part of your role you will: 

• receive, open and record all incoming mail, including fax and e-mail 

• assess and process applications to enable seafarers to sit Merchant Navy Yacht and Fishing Vessel Deck and Engineer oral examinations 

• assess applications from seafarers for Global Maritime Distress & Safety System endorsements, re-validations and for Vessel Traffic Services (VTS). 

• issue appropriate notices of eligibility (NOE) or notices of assessment (NOA) or assist with the issue of the Letters of Initial of Assessment (LIA) to seafarers who are eligible to sit an oral examination 

• issue Certificates of Competency/Equivalent Competency to seafarers who meet the qualification criteria 

• answer telephone enquiries and reply to written enquiries relating to the certification of seafarers 

• contribute to and provide support for other administrative tasks such as: branch projects, customer service initiatives and improvement of working practices 

For more information please see the attached Role Profile. 

About you 

You will have experience working in a similar role or busy office environment, working effectively unsupervised and as part of a team. You will be used to producing large volumes of work quickly and accurately, able to manage deadlines and meet targets without compromising on quality. 

You’ll also have experience delivering excellent customer service and be confident communicating with customers face-to-face and via telephone and email. You’ll also have demonstrable IT skills and be used to using Microsoft Office software, including Word, Excel and Access. 

About us 

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. 

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

We are part of the Department for Transport (DfT). DfT is a great place to work, and our ‘one team’ approach really makes a difference. We value our staff and that’s why we’re committed to nurturing an inclusive environment across the Department. 

You’ll be part of an innovative organisation that invests in all our people, ensuring we have the diverse skills to deliver transport that moves Britain ahead now and into the future. 

DfT has been recognised for its leadership on workplace gender equality by being included in The Times Top 50 Employers for Women 2017. 

DfT’s inclusion is recognition of our commitment to make the Department a great place to work through our culture of equality and inclusivity and the great strides we’ve made to raise the number of women in senior positions.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Seeing the Big Picture

Benefits Pensions

Civil Service pension schemes may be available for successful candidates.

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.

Things you need to know Security

Successful candidates must pass basic security checks.

Nationality statement

Candidates will be subject to UK immigration requirements as well as Civil Service nationality rules.

If you're applying for a role requiring security clearance please be aware that foreign or dual nationality is not an automatic bar. However certain posts may have restrictions which could affect those who do not have sole British nationality or who have personal connections with certain countries outside the UK.

Selection process details

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

Please tailor your CV/Personal Statement to provide evidence of: 

• your experience working in an administrative or similar role in a busy office environment, working unsupervised and as part of a team, and/or evidence of your experiences that you feel will make you an ideal candidate for the role. 

• your ability to manage deadlines and meet targets, producing large volumes of work accurately and to a high standard 

• your experience delivering excellent customer service and your ability to communicate effectively with customers verbally and in writing 

• your proven ability to perform whilst managing varied workloads simultaneously 

The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment could include: 

• an interview 

• an interview with one or more exercises 

• a full day of activities including interactive, written and timed exercises 

The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. For further information on Success Profiles please click here 

Your interview may consist of a range of question types. These may include questions about: 

• what energises and motivates you 

• how you would manage situations relevant to the role 

• your previous experience 

• your professional skills and knowledge 

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.
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 equality of opportunity. There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Apply and further information Contact point for applicants

For further information about the vacancy please contact [email protected]

Sift/interview dates and location

The sift is due to take place 17/04/2019. 

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held between 01/05/2019 and 08/05/2019 at MCA HQ, Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road, Southampton, SO15 1EG. 

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. 

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a security check may be carried out.

Further information

We have adopted anonymised recruitment. This means that your name, date of birth and other personal details will not be seen by the sift panel. 

We may hold a merit list for up to twelve months. During this time, if a similar role is identified and you have been placed on the merit list you may be considered for the post. Within the merit list period, your application form and selection information may be shared across the department and its agencies. 

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

Reasonable adjustment 

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs 

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional 

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

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: 
Click here to visit Civil Service Commission