Location

Southampton

About the job Are you an experienced Maritime Professional with a background in ports and experience in maintenance safety management systems and auditing, looking for a role where you can influence Ports and Vessel Safety both in the UK and on an international platform?

Do you have exceptional communication skills and want to provide an excellent service to a wide spectrum of the UK’s maritime stakeholders?

Job description

If so we would love to hear from you.
We are looking to recruit an experienced Maritime Professional, who has extensive knowledge of the Port Marine Safety Code and VTS legislation, to come and join our team here at the Navigation Safety Branch as a Ports and VTS Policy Manager. Based on site in Southampton you will work under the direction of the `Head of Navigation' to help meet the Government's maritime strategy for 'Safer Ships and Cleaner Seas'
 

Responsibilities

Your Key Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
• To be the lead in the development and evolution of MCA's/UK's policies on port/marina safety and VTS.

• To provide expert advice on a variety of matters relating to ports.

• To chair the PMSC and Vessel Traffic Services policy steering group.

• Arrange and conduct PMSC Health Checks/verification visits and Audits of VTS centres,

• To engage in grassroots PMSC familiarisation and engagement activities

• To represent the MCA HQ and lead on port safety agendas

• To maintain UK training and occupational standards for port (harbour masters and pilots) and VTS personnel and the accreditation, auditing of UK's VTS training organisations.

• To prepare briefings for IMO and International Association of Marine Aids

• To provide technical advice for the implementation of the European Vessel Traffic Monitoring Directive (2002/59/EC) as amended.

• Liaise with the Her Majesty's Coastguard VTM Staff Officer on relevant Vessel Traffic Monitoring activity.

• To represent the MCA and be its subject matter expert and advisor for national and international VTS and port marine safety working groups where appropriate.

• To ensure that UK legislation, MCA requirements and related guidance reflects the relevant agreed International Standards.


About you

As an experienced maritime professional, you will bring your exceptional knowledge of both the Port Marine Safety Code and VTS legislation. You are looking for an opportunity where you can shape an influence the safety of Ports and Vessels within the UK. Using your exceptional interpersonal skills you will communicate complex information to others, with the capability to provide guidance and informed decisions at all levels of the business.

For this role, it’s essential to be able to proactively manage your workload whilst retaining focus on the key priorities of the department.

This is a fantastic opportunity to work in a team who pride themselves on their ability to make a difference, a department that matters and people that save lives.

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’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.

Personal Statement

When writing your personal statement please tailor it to demonstrate your experience of Port operations, Port Marine Safety Code and VTS legislation.

Licences

Driving licence valid for driving in the UK is required.

Qualifications

The successful candidate must hold one qualification from the following list of acceptable minimum qualifications acceptable for this role:

1. UKHMA Harbour Master Certificate or,
2. STCW II/2 Masters (Unlimited) Certificate of Competency or,
3. Higher degree in a relevant maritime discipline, combined with experience of VTS (Management Level), Pilotage or other Port Operations or,
4. V103 Qualification with management level VTS and Ports experience.

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

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.

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

Selection process details

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

The sift is due to take place 14th November 2019

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held 25th November 2019.

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.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

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 :   Graham Farrant 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