Head of Nautical Examiners
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
About the job
Job summary
Are you a passionate Master Mariner looking for a role in which you can make a real difference within the Maritime industry?
Can you drive change as a forward thinking leader, motivating a team to positively transform and modernise ways of working and training for seafarers?
Do you have excellent stakeholder managements skills with the ability to communicate confidently at all levels to achieve successful outcomes?
If so, we are looking for a Head of Nautical Examiners 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
It’s an exciting time to join the MCA with this unique opportunity to make a positive difference delivering transformation and change, as the Head of Nautical Examiners within the Directorate of UK Customer Maritime Services (CMS), working closely with Maritime Services (UKMS).
Within the UK CMS Directorate, we have the UK Shipping Concierge, supporting maritime businesses working within the UK; the Regulatory Innovation team, considering the regulatory innovation needed to support decarbonisation, digitisation and autonomy as it impacts the future of shipping; the Seafarer Technical Delivery team, responsible for progressing the government’s maritime strategy for ‘Safer Ships and Cleaner Seas’; and Customer Operations, responsible for managing the issue of Certificates of Registry to vessels registered on the UK Flag and seafarer certification to the seafarers holding UK seafaring qualifications. Formed in October 2023, the Directorate are now exploring areas for how they can offer the best service to our customers and support our maritime industry.
The role will support the modernisation of seafarer training (including digitised assessments), interface with MCA approved Training Providers, develop training and certification to support the fishing industry, support future shipping technologies and innovations, and undertake other activities to ensure the safety and wellbeing of seafarers and all those working in the maritime environment.
The successful candidate will support delivery of the MCA's Strategic Objectives and three-year Business Plan through effective leadership and management of the Nautical Examiners Team ensuring that: seafarers choosing the UK Certificate of Competency have access to high quality, effective and relevant training and assessments, wherever they choose to study, ensuring all national and international standards and obligations are met.
Work/Travel on official duty within the UK and short term visits overseas or offshore, which may involve overnight stays away from home. A passport valid for international travel is required as well as a full driving license valid for driving in the UK.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Contributing to the management of the Seafarer Technical Delivery Branch and deputising for the Chief Examiner by attending branch management meetings and various stakeholder meetings, as requested. Working to the direction of the Chief Examiner in support of both the Seafarer policy and operational team, and wider Directorate teams in the delivery of technical and management initiatives for Seafarer Training and to assist with the steering of cultural change within the Seafarers Technical Delivery Branch so as to fully implement the Agency's operational and transformational business objectives.
- Implementing the manning and seafarer training requirements on Domestic and Fishing vessels and assist in modernising the training and assessment regime in consultation with the stakeholders.
- Providing technical and operational advice to industry and the public in accordance with MCA policies, contributing to the delivery of a regulatory climate that is clear, consistent and supportive of the UK maritime Training.
- Providing detailed technical support to Marine Office surveyors in relation to Seafarer certification and audit of Training providers.
- Providing direct technical support to UKSR on safe manning issues and crewing matters for newbuilding or change of flag vessels.
- Representing the Agency at industry and regulatory fora.
- Taking an active role in the promotion of high Seafarer training standards.
- Conducting exams, audits and inspections.
- Dealing with cases of irregularities in examinations and liaising with the MCA Maritime Investigations Team (MIT) when necessary.
- Line Management of Examiners.
- Taking an active role in the promotion of high Seafarer training standards, both nationally and Internationally by managing specified technical working groups in the development of new technical Seafarer training instructions and policy, together with providing expert advice and guidance in novel/complex cases to stakeholders, both internal and external.
For further information about the role and responsibilities, please see the attached role profile.
Person specification
About You
You will hold a Master Mariner: UK STCW II/2 Master Unlimited Certificate of Competency and have sufficient experience in a managerial role on board ship or in a technical capacity of responsibility within the maritime industry.
You have proven ability of enthusiastically managing a team through change and understand how to motivate your team to embrace and champion transformation.
Collaborative working is pivotal to you and you enjoy liaising with a wide variety of stakeholders, communicating confidently and utilising active listening skills, accepting opinions and encouraging ideas, whilst remaining assertive in key decision making.
You’re adaptable and flexible with the ability to balance priorities and deadlines, adjusting to the requirements and strategic direction of the business.
You are looking for a role that will offer you variety, one that will challenge you and encourage you to develop yourself and others.
Additional Information
This role will be based in the Southampton HQ, Cardiff, Colchester, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Liverpool, Hull MO or Plymouth. 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.
Successful candidates will be expected to undertake a medical for this role, please see the attached document.
Please refer to the special features section on the role profile for further information.
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, Experience and Technical skills.How to Apply
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.
Please provide a CV outlining your career history, and the key responsibilities you had in each of your roles.
Within your CV and Personal Statement (1000 words) please demonstrate your knowledge and experience of:
- Working in a managerial role on board ship or in a technical capacity of responsibility within the maritime industry
- Managing a team through change, ensuring change was embraced
- Managing a diverse team
- Making decisions with long term impacts, how did you make them and what was the outcome?
Sift and Interview Dates
The sift is due to take place on 18th & 19th March 2024.
Interviews are due to take place from 1st April 2024.
This interview could be conducted via a video interview, details of which 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 could include:
- An interview
- A Presentation
As part of your interview you will be assessed against Marine Surveyor Competencies (Level 2)
You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.
Please see attached candidate notes for further information about our recruitment process
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 visit our Careers website.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
A criminal record is not necessarily a bar to obtaining employment.
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.
Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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
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.