Job description

Salary: £57,855 – £66,533, (depending on skills and experience) This role will be based in Southampton. 

Does your job Matter? ..... What we do does 

Do you have exceptional experience in delivery of Policy and Standards to enable effective operation of front line services? 

Are you someone who leads by showing entrepreneurial, dynamic skills whilst being an experienced Leader? 

Does this sound like you? If so, then we have an exciting opportunity for you as the Assistant Director of HMCG Policy and Standards who will hold a key role within the Maritime and Coastguard Senior Leadership team. 

You will be responsible for the delivery of Policy and Standards across the Directorate, providing strategic leadership and the infrastructure necessary for operational delivery. You will create and inspire an ethos of high performing operational services delivering quality outcomes and improvements through leaning and review. 

As the Assistant Director you will be accountable for the delivery of policy and standards to enable effective operation of front line HMCG services and support the leadership of over 550 directly employed staff and circulation of 3500 volunteers. You will support the Director in creating a culture of a professional public service which embraces innovation, appropriate risk taking, organisational governance, individual accountability and responsibility at all levels. Whilst working with the Director you will drive pace organisational development, including analysis and implementation of priorities engagement with stakeholders and delivery objectives. You will strategically collaborate with other agency departments to maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of HMCG and its operational response. 

Her Majesty's Coastguard (HMCG) is part of the Directorate of Maritime Operations at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). HMCG is responsible for 6 missions, Maritime Search and Rescue, Pollution Response, Vessel Traffic Monitoring Maritime Safety, Maritime Security and Accident and Disaster Response. The role holder is Assistant Director with responsibility for the effective delivery of policy and standards for HM Coastguard. 

Key Roles Responsibilities include and not limited to: 

• Maintain oversight and governance of the policy and standards streams, delivering to the highest standards and maintaining excellent financial control of programme, capital and admin budgets through the effective use of resource and efficiency savings. 
• Through collaborative working, sound decision making processes and professional challenge, ensure policy and standards areas operate effectively and efficiently with Directorate operational Risks and Audit actions managed. 
• To provide leadership to HMCG and the wider Agency and create an environment in which all staff embrace individual accountability and professional responsibility as an essential component of delivering high quality services. 
• Support the Operational Delivery by embedding the Profession through policy and standards and focusing on customer outcomes and staff performance 
• Collaborate with HMCG Senior Managers in effective workforce planning and promote the people engagement agenda across the workforce. 
• Deliver and manage the Clinical Governance process, in consultation with Coastal Leadership and improve appropriate medical delivery across the Coastal Coastguard function 

Please see the attached Candidate Pack for an in-depth view of the post 

Based at MCA Headquarters in Southampton the role holder will be expected to participate in ongoing continuous professional development and this may require spending time away from home and the workplace. The role holder will be required to undertake substantial travel nationally and internationally to represent the MCA and/or the UK and requires the interpersonal skills appropriate to effective interaction with senior external stakeholders including senior civil servants, ministers and state representatives and dignitaries. 

About you 

Are you someone who has experience in a front facing customer and client relations role? You will have knowledge and experience of leading diverse functions in a fast-moving environment, supported by compelling evidence of success in senior leadership roles. You will have passion for being a strategic manager including the delegation of authority. You will have a great understanding of emergency response operations at tactical and strategic levels, ideally within the maritime industry sector. You need to be confident with stakeholder engagement, including interpersonal skills appropriate to effective interaction with senior external stakeholders. 

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:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership
• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions

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.

When considering applying please look at how your experience relates to the role, please tailor your CV and Personal Statement to reflect the role and the essential requirements described in the Candidate Pack. 

The Maritime and Coastguard 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 

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

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

• A Telephone Interview 
• An interview 
• An interview with one or more exercises 
• Multiple days of activities including interactive, written and timed exercises 

The interview may consist of a range of question types which could include questions about your strengths or how you would respond in any given situation, as well as specific examples of things you have done. You may also be asked to sit a written assessment or present on a particular topic. 

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 

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 more information on the role, either email: 

Kate Coutts - MCA Resourcing Lead 
[email protected] 

Or 

Rhod Kingdom - Resourcing Partner 
[email protected]

Sift/interview dates and location

The sift is due to take place week commencing 3rd June. 

There will be a two stage Interviews & assessments a which will be held between 17th June and 5th July 2019. 

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 

Any move to the Department for Transport (DfT) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers.