Location

Kirkwall, Lerwick, Liverpool, Oban

About the job

Are you an inspiring leader with experience in a Technical Rescue or Search and Rescue environment?

Would you describe yourself as self-motivated, organised and approachable?

Do you want to manage a dedicated, dynamic team of life savers - where your job REALLY matters?

Job description

If you’ve come this far then your answers to the above are likely to be yes! We have a rare opportunity available for three Coastal Operations Area Commanders within our team at Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), using your exceptional management skills you will lead our team of dedicated Officers and Volunteers.

The First post is based in the Northern Isles with responsibility for operational response and management of our Rescue Teams on the Orkney and Shetland Islands. There is the requirement for regular travel both between the islands and throughout the rest of the UK – a valid UK driving licence is essential for this role.

The Second post is based in Oban, Argyll with responsibility for operational response and management of our Rescue Teams from the Mull of Kintyre in the South to the Island of Coll in the North
The Third post is based in Liverpool with responsibility for operational response and management of our Rescue Teams in Cumbria, Lancashire and North Wales.

Using your excellent interpersonal skills, you will ensure that your teams are fully trained and have the necessary tools and equipment to carry out their vitally important roles of saving lives at sea. Ensuring the economical use of budget.

You will also play a leading role in Search and Rescue (SAR) missions, and have opportunities to work on projects and planning on a national scale that improve our services and ensure SAR continues to be seamless across the emergency services.
 

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Regular and effective engagement and communication with Coastguard Rescue Officers within your Area
• Effective leadership, management and supervision of volunteers within the Coastal Operational Area
• Lead, participate or support assurance and investigation teams
• Recruit, manage, train, support coach and mentor full time officers
• Ensuring that the MCA safety culture and safe systems of work are implemented within Coastguard Area of Operation
• Ensuring compliance with all governance requirements within your Area
• Acting as Tactical Commander on scene or remotely to provide command and control, technical advice and welfare support

About you

You will have previous management experience and the ability to engage and inspire a variety of Officers and Volunteers. Coming from an emergency operational response environment with strong organisational, people management and communication skills you will take the lead and ensure that your team is a success.
Using your excellent time management and project delivery skills you will manage multiple workloads whilst coordinating teams to deliver effective SAR responses locally and remotely. You are resilient. You will keep calm and see the bigger picture when working under pressure or during distressing circumstances.

Your confidence will enable you to build positive relationships - engaging with a variety of partners, from local authorities to the general-public, providing effective management to both employed staff and volunteers alike.

In your CV and Personal Statement please include:

Please demonstrate knowledge and experience of managing operational teams in a response environment or relevant experience in a similar operational role.

You will also have a full UK driving license.

Applicants should detail which post(s) they are interested in and, in the case of interest in more than one post, should indicate their order of preference.

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.

Licences

Full UK Driving Licence

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Developing Self and Others

Technical skills

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

• COASTAL – Management (Equipment)
• COASTAL – Management (Team)

Benefits • Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension Things you need to know Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check. Selection process details

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

The sift is due to take place w/c 7th October 2019.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held W/C 28th October 2019 - locations to be confirmed at a later date.

Interview location to be confirmed.

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
• 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.

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.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.

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

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

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 :   Matt Mackay 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: Click here (https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/) to visit Civil Service Commission