About the job

Job summary

Are you looking for your chance to use your knowledge and experience of resource planning, change management and leadership to really make a difference?    

Do you have analytical skills, with the ability to solve problems and make effective decisions?

Do you love working with figures?

If so, we are looking for a Business Unit Lead to join us at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and we'd love to hear from you!   

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 a world-leading organisation, accelerating the transition to sustainable shipping with non-negotiable safety standards. We put our people, our customers and our planet at the heart of everything we do.   

We are committed to giving all our colleagues purpose, professionalism and pride in what we do. We work in supportive, diverse and inclusive teams. 

We want everyone to feel valued and supported to achieve their potential at MCA. 

This culture of inclusion is underpinned by our staff networks groups covering, Women’s, LGBTQI+, Race, Carers, Mental Wellbeing and volunteer Respect Ambassadors.

Job description

As the Business Unit Lead you will act as line manager for our EO Business Unit Managers, ensuring completion of quarterly performance reviews for your team, identifying training/development needs and the setting of challenging and relevant objectives aligned to the MCA Business Plan and to the annual activities that S&I must achieve.

You will work closely with the Survey & Inspection Business Partner (Business Partner) to ensure that business support and financial resources are aligned with Survey and Inspection (S&I) priorities, by providing financial, management and administrative support across S&I. 

Within this role, there will be the opportunity to support with developing the goals and objectives of the Directorate as well as overseeing all operational aspects of the Business Unit including, resourcing, health & safety, quality assurance and human resources.

This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic, proactive, passionate leader to join the only National Survey & Inspection Business Unit in MCA. You will have the autonomy to lead and shape the work that is carried out by yourself and the team, as well as drive continuous improvements and gain exposure to development opportunities. 

Your responsibilities include but are not limited to:

1. Oversee the correct maintenance of shipping accounts following referral from Business Unit managers including debt management.
2. Creation and preparation of financial and directorate reports for the Business Partner and Assistant Directors.
3. Oversee the provision of administrative business support within the Business Unit, providing line management, support and guidance to the Business Unit managers.
4. Pro-actively manage budgets in line with financial guidance by monitoring, analysing and reporting spend across Survey & Inspection.
5. Preparing reports and manage the collection and distribution of Management Information. Report any identified anomalies or risks and propose solutions.

For further information about the role and responsibilities, please see the attached role profile.

Person specification

About You 

To thrive in this role, you will bring strong leadership skills with the ability to develop and motivate your team and drive them to the next level. You will be committed, innovative and driven, leading from the front.

You will be an advocate for change and continuous improvement, recognising the benefits of promoting a change culture within your team, with the ability to lead and drive continuous improvement and change initiatives.

You have strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise a heavy workload, and excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to quickly develop recommendations based on quantitative and qualitative evidence.

You are a forward thinker, always looking at the bigger picture, keeping an eye on global issues/events/trends which may impact your way of working.

Additional Information  

This role will be based in Beverley.  MCA supports flexible working and operates a hybrid working model between home and office for this role, giving you greater flexibility over where and when you work.   

The expectation is that you will spend a minimum 60% of your working time based at your principal workplace or out on official business. Details of the arrangement will be discussed further with your line manager.  

Please note, we welcome applications from individuals seeking a part time role. However, owing to business requirements, the successful candidate must be able to work a minimum of 32 hours per week.  

There will be a requirement for occasional travel on official duty within the UK, which may involve overnight stays. Notice will be given prior to travel.  

About Operational Delivery Profession (ODP)   

   

Operational Delivery Profession (ODP) is the largest and most diverse professional community across the Civil Service. Many of us will have an association with several professional communities or specialisms, ODP applies to all public facing roles / or a role that is primarily aligned to supporting the work of those with public facing roles. All critical to the delivery of UK public services.   

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.

Click here to get a copy of the MCA Staff Benefits Brochure    

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

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

As part of your application, you will be required to complete a Personal Statement. Your personal statement should include how and what you have personally done to meet the essential criteria listed below.

• Managing a team including through small scale changes.
• Producing high quality reports for senior managers, using well-developed communication and presentation skills.
• Proven ability to prioritise work and allocate resources effectively.  
• Financial management, including interpretation of data, trends, and developments.

Your personal statement will be limited to a maximum of 1,250 words.   

 It is essential when submitting your personal statement that you provide as much detail as possible, and utilise the full word count given, against the essential criteria outlined above as this will be used to assess candidate suitability to move to the next round in the recruitment process.    

Sift and Interview Dates

The sift is due to take place on the 23rd & 24th May 2024.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held from w/c 10th June 2024. 

This interview will be conducted via face to face at one of our offices.

Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.   

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 will include:   

• An interview

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

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

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

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking

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. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.