About the job

Job summary

Are you a qualified officer in charge?
   
Do you want to work in fast past environment, where no two days are the same?
   
Would you want to do a job that makes a real difference?

If so, we are looking for a Coastal Operations Officer 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 welcome applications from all communities, and we don’t discriminate against any identity. We’re interested to hear from you, regardless of your background.

Job description

As a Coastal Operations Officer, and as part of the Area Management team, you will be responsible for managing and supporting Coastguard Rescue Teams under the supervision of the Coastal Operations Area Commander to ensure that the Operational Area is at a state of constant readiness. In addition, you will be responsible for the support of governance, inspection, supervision, management and logistics of vehicles, equipment and estate within the Area. 

As a calm and focused person, you are dedicated to managing the effective delivery of a brilliant emergency response service. This is a crucial service that is capable of responding to people either in distress or at risk of death on the coast.

This is a Full-Time post.   

Your responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• The role holder forms part of the Area Management Team, with responsibility for supporting the delivery of agreed Area objectives and for informing the Coastal Operations Area Commander of developments and opportunities within their teams which will impact on Area plans.
• Providing an on scene response to incidents where direction of assets is required, or where significant interest and/or loss of life is possible. Act as HMCG Operational Commander (Bronze) or be a member of the Operational Command team where any incident requires a multi-agency response. The role will liaise with and escalate through the Duty Coastal officer, who will operate at the silver / tactical level.
• Supporting the AMT in ensuring that the MCA safety culture and HMCG safe systems of work are implemented within teams.
• All candidates will be required to support a trainer / instructor with logistics, safety or provide an assistant role during training deliveries and must be familiar with associated policy, procedures and operations.

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

Person specification

To be successful in this role, you must be a qualified and experienced in the following Coastguard competencies:

• Operator level in relevant technical disciplines within the area of operations.
• Officer in Charge qualification.
• Search Team Leader qualification.

In addition, you will need have demonstrable experience of being able to communicate effectively and with sensitivity, able to team management/leadership and have experience of effective independent or remote working.

Additional Information  

Successful candidates will be expected to undertake a medical for this role, please see the attached document. 

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

Please note: This is a uniformed role and uniform will be required to be worn at all times when on duty.  

Please refer to the special features section on the role profile for further information. 

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.

This post is offered on a Fixed Term Appointment (FTA) for 12 months.

Permanent Civil Servants will not be expected to change their employment status from permanent to fixed term appointment.

Internal applicants will be appointed on inward loan and subject to the terms of the agreed inward loan agreement. The expectation is that you will return to your previous post at the end of the loan period, which will need to be agreed with your line manager in advance. 

If you're employed by a non-departmental public body (NDPB) by moving jobs this will involve a change of employer and you may break the statutory rules on  of employment.

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.

Personal Statement:  

As part of your application, you will be required to complete a CV and a Personal Statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. 

Within your CV and Personal Statement please demonstrate your knowledge and experience of:    

• Leading an operational response as part of a Coastguard Rescue Team.
• Communicating effectively and with sensitivity. 

Your personal statement will be limited to a maximum of 500 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 in conjunction with your CV 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 23rd & 24th April 2024.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held w/c 6th May 2024.

This interview could be conducted online via Teams or 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.
• A MCA Maths assessment. 

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.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

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.