About the job

Job summary

This role has a true global reach and the opportunity to have a significant impact to a range of stakeholders and beneficiaries. As our International Hydrographic Portfolio Manager, you will oversee programming within the UKHO’s Primary Charting Authority Portfolio of nations, strengthening the UKHO’s products and data which are relied upon by the majority of maritime users worldwide.

In doing so, you will strengthen relationships through targeted hydrographic and capacity building projects and raise the profile of the portfolio as a diplomatic lever within wider government. You will work closely with other UK Government Organisations, offering consultancy and assistance as required to foreign governments and non-governmental institutions, maximising data acquisition for use in UKHO products and services. Working in tandem with UKHO’s business development leads, you will pursue and secure external funding to sustain and expand seabed mapping activity, whether from UK Government, foreign governments, international development banks or other appropriate sources.

 

Hybrid Working 

This role will be based on a hybrid working basis combined with UK and international travel.  As a guide, two to three days worked at home per week (on average over a year) will be likely, but dependent upon specific business need.

Job description

Reporting to the Head of Hydrographic Programmes, you will have the following principal areas for which you are responsible for delivery:

• Lead, have accountability for and deliver on all UKHO’s international hydrographic programmes/projects, which in turn each have dedicated programme managers with appropriate subject matter expertise.
• Working in tandem with UKHO’s business development leads, pursue and secure external funding to sustain and expand seabed mapping activity, whether from UK Government, foreign governments, international development banks or other appropriate sources.
• Maintain the UKHO’s PCA Strategy, Plan and Programme to ensure that UKHO delivers and discharges on its Primary Charting Authority (PCA) responsibilities.
• Supported by subject matter experts (SMEs), manage the Hydrographic Programmes governance process.
• Secure appropriate funding for the UKHO’s seabed mapping activity, enabling the UKHO’s portfolio to be maintained and grow, in accordance with UKHO Business Plan.
• Design, develop and maintain the UKHO’s Hydrographic Programmes Monitoring and Evaluation schema, including relevant Theory of Change and value chain models.
• Manage the team of programme and project managers designing and delivering the international elements of the UKHO’s seabed mapping portfolio.

Person specification

As our International Hydrographic Portfolio Manager you will have:

• An ability to inspire the confidence, respect and enthusiasm of prospective partner agencies based on a track record of working in the international development communities and technical conversance.
• Proven to be an effective interface between policy makers and technical/specialist staff.
• Formal project/programme management education/training and experience.
• Working knowledge of international development and foreign aid sector, its principles, economics and accepted best practice.
• Proven experience with the conceptual design and leadership and delivery of multilateral projects and programmes, including the development of internal governance policies.
• Sound knowledge of capacity building, training theory and best practice.
• Basic GIS ability.
• Comfortable and adaptable in rapidly changing environments, with demonstrable strategic analysis experience.
• Experience and knowledge of international development in a marine context would be advantageous,
• Experience in seabed mapping with HPAS Level 1 accreditation or higher (or equivalent) and/or CAT A recognised (or equivalent) formal hydrographic qualification would be advantageous.
• Existing network of contacts and profile within international aid and development organisations would be advantageous.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £57,686, UK Hydrographic Office contributes £15,575 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

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:  

When you click "apply now" you will be asked to anonymise and upload a copy of your CV along with a 750 word personal statement which will be used to assess you on the experience criteria listed below. In addition you will also be asked to write 250 words on each of the behaviours listed in the short-list criteria below. 

Timeline:  

• Advert Closes for applications:  07/01/2024
• Shortlisting: 09/01/2024
• Interviews: 17/01/2024

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates. 

Sift/Shortlist Criteria:  

All applications are processed anonymously. You will be short-listed against the following criteria: 

Civil Service Behaviours (Level 4):

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

Experience: 

• Working knowledge of international development and foreign aid sector, its principles, economics and accepted best practice.
• Formal project/programme management education/training and experience.
• Proven experience with the conceptual design and leadership and delivery of multilateral projects and programmes, including the development of internal governance policies.
• Basic GIS ability.
• Experience and knowledge of international development in a marine context.
   

Interview Process:   

• Single Stage Interview via TEAMS. You will be contacted to book a suitable slot if you are shortlisted (see our Candidate Pack for further information) 
• Interview will be with a panel of no more than 3 people and will last approx. 60 mins 
• As part of the interview process you will be required to present to the panel on a topic. You will be given the topic one hour before your interview slot and will have that hour to prepare your presentation. 

Interview Criteria:  

You will be interviewed against the following criteria: 

Civil Service Behaviours (Level 4): 

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

Experience: 

• Experience of managing international programmes of work. (Assessed via the presentation exercise)
• Working knowledge of international development and foreign aid sector, its principles, economics and accepted best practice.

See here for further information: Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours (publishing.service.gov.uk)  

Onboarding Checks:  

In the event you are offered a role with us, you will be required to go through Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks which will include Employment and Right to Work Checks. You will also need to apply for SC (Security Clearance), but you may be able to start your role before gaining this. Please see our attached Candidate Pack for further details and Terms. 

Please note, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship. 

Residency Requirements

SC – non reserved: This is a Ministry of Defence non-reserved post and although open to UK, British Commonwealth and European Economic Area nationals, successful applicants will require a security clearance (SC) and therefore need to have resided in the UK for a minimum of 12 consecutive months within the last 5 years 

Eligibility 

Due to the secure nature of our work, there may be eligibility restrictions if you hold dual nationality or are not a British Citizen. We will consider each application on a case-by-case basis. We will ask you in our application form to confirm your place of birth and details of any dual or previous nationalities. 

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 security 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

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.