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Cargoes Policy Lead - Flexible Working Available

Employer
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Location
Southampton, Hampshire
Salary
£37,803
Closing date
26 Feb 2020

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Job Details

Location

Southampton

About the job

Are you an experienced maritime professional with proven experience of cargo handling?

Are you a confident communicator, with the ability to draft high-quality submissions and policy documents and deliver sound advice?

Would you enjoy the opportunity to represent the MCA and UK government on an international basis?

If so, this is your opportunity to join a dynamic team who are all working towards making a difference to maritime safety, and we would love to hear from you!

Job description

Within the Directorate of Maritime Safety and Standards, the Ship Standards teams have responsibility for developing, implementing and maintaining UK policies and regulations relating to a wide range of safety and environmental issues associated with ships and vessels of all sizes (from small pleasure vessels to the largest internationally trading ships).

We offer a truly dynamic working environment, with the chance to work collaboratively with a wide range of colleagues across the MCA, the Civil Service, National Maritime Administrations and other industry professionals.

Your work will ultimately result in saving lives, as you will positively contribute to influencing safety improvements at sea!
 

Responsibilities

Your key responsibilities will include, but not be limited to:

•To lead in the negotiation, development, implementation and management of policy and regulation within the Ship Standards Branch in order to maintain and further develop a safety-focussed, consistent and proportionate regulatory framework in the UK and internationally.

•Act as a focal point and subject matter expert for issues related to the carriage of cargoes including bulk cargoes, cargo stowage and securing, the carriage of chemicals and gas and the carriage of cargoes on ro-ro ships.

•Handling of technical and policy questions on your subject field raised both internally and externally and provide advice to senior managers in the MCA, DfT, other government departments and Ministers. Provide responses to stakeholders, including responding to Freedom of Information Act enquiries, Parliamentary Questions and other official correspondence.

•Develop, implement and disseminate to the UK marine industry and other stakeholders any appropriate technical information, guidance or regulations relevant to these regulatory frameworks.

Travel

This role requires regular UK travel, with the exciting possibility of occasional overseas travel (this would involve overnight stays and occasional work outside of normal working hours, potentially at weekends).

For this reason, a passport for international travel is an essential requirement.

About you

With experience of cargo handling within the Maritime industry and relevant technical experience, you will quickly become a subject matter expert in your field. This will empower you to present robust and credible policy advice to others and to make effective decisions in your policy area.

You will be a confident negotiator, with a background of positively influencing others / outcomes. Excellent interpersonal skills will enable you to build meaningful relationships with various colleagues both inside and outside of the MCA.

Strong organisational skills will allow you to comfortably manage a fast paced workload in a dynamic environment, coupled with excellent written and oral communication skills

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.

Behaviours

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

  • Changing and Improving
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

  • Policy
  • Science & Engineering

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 Selection process details

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

When preparing your CV and Personal Statement, please ensure to evidence the following:

Your experience of working to develop and deliver policy and/or regulations

Your experience of working in a ship/cargo related environment and using a range of related evidence, particularly scientific or technical evidence, to make decisions

Key dates

The sift is due to take place 25/02/20

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held w/c 09/03/20

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.

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.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

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 Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name :   Alison Kentuck 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

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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