Investigator
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
About the job
Job summary
Do you have strong investigation skills and are looking for a role where you can put this experience to good use, achieving successful outcomes?
Are you highly organised and able to prioritise your work and balance tasks?
Would you like the opportunity to work in fast paced environment where no two days are the same?
If so, we are looking for an Investigator 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
The main role of the Investigator is to support the Regulatory Compliance Investigations Lead Investigators assisting with the investigation of significant breaches committed against maritime legislation, including the prosecution of offenders when such action has been authorized.
The successful candidate will be expected to maintain and where necessary raise the profile of the MCA as the UK Maritime Authority and assist the Maritime Investigations Manager in meeting the overall aims of the department.
This is a varied role where no two days are the same. From monitoring mailboxes, referrals and complaints to gathering witness statements and giving evidence in court – this is a crucial role within the MCA.
The successful applicant will join a small and elite department, the only one of its kind in the UK, and will make a real difference within the maritime industry and the aim for safer lives, safer ships and cleaner seas.
Your responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Assist in investigations by undertaking a wide range of tasks under the direction of supervisor/line manager.
- Assisting in interviewing of suspects under caution.
- Assisting in the completion of criminal files of evidence by undertaking allocated.
- To aid the RCIT’s Lead Investigators by obtaining statements of evidence for criminal investigations.
- To assist in the examination, preservation and continuity of evidence and exhibits such as CCTV recovered during an investigation in accordance with procedure.
For further information about the role and responsibilities, please see the attached role profile.
Person specification
About You
This role requires an individual who has excellent investigative skills and experience of interviewing suspects under caution, who is looking for a role where they can focus their interest within the Maritime industry.
You will be a team player who has fantastic interpersonal skills. Your confident approach allows you to deal with challenging situations, where you tailor your communication style and approach to suit the situation and the audience.
You are highly organised and can demonstrate good IT skills which enable you to navigate Microsoft office, particularly Excel and MS Teams. You are thorough with your work and have exceptional attention to detail, able to produce concise documents and reports to a high standard. You will have the ability to work in a demanding and complex environment, able to prioritise a heavy workload with often changing and competing priorities.
Additional Information
This role will be based in one of the listed locations above. 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.
There may be a requirement for occasional travel on official duty within the UK and overseas. This may involve overnight stays and sometimes at short notice.
A driving licence and valid passport is required for this role.
Please refer to the special features section on the role profile for further information.
This post is offered on a Fixed Term Appointment (FTA) basis until 31st March 2025 with the possibility of an extension or permanency.
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, Strengths and Experience.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.
Within your CV and personal statement please demonstrate your knowledge and experience of:
- Working within a role requiring the use of investigation skills.
- Interviewing suspects under caution.
- Legislation including Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) and Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act (CPIA).
- Working under pressure and meeting tight deadlines.
- Producing accurate reports or documents clearly with good attention to detail.
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 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 between 22nd – 24th July 2024.
Interviews/assessments are likely to be held w/c 5th August 2024.
This interview will be conducted online via Teams. 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
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.