About the job

Job summary

Devonport Naval Base is the largest Naval Base in Europe. It is a 650 acre site with 15,000 acres of waterspace, employing 12,000 people. The Base is focused on delivering timely deep maintenance to the UK’s submarine fleet. It is the operating port for many frigates, amphibious Ships, Royal Marines, and International Warships. It employs more than 10% of Plymouth’s workforce, and contributes to 14% of Plymouth’s economy.

The King’s Harbour Master (KHM) is the Harbour Authority formally appointed under Dockyard Ports Act (1865), accountable to the Secretary of State for Defence through the Naval Base Commander (Devonport). KHM is responsible for protection of the Port for military use. KHM objectives also include preservation of life, protection of the environment, protection of property and business continuity. KHM has powers to direct marine traffic within port limits in support of these objectives.

KHMs staff number 35 and includes two continuously crewed port control stations, to oversee the 3,700 significant shipping movements per year. There are 6 Admiralty Pilots in support of Warship movements. Safe movement of warships through the complex and hazardous pilotage waters of the port requires significant towage and Marine Services assets, such as tugs, pilot boats and support vessels. These assets and their crews are supplied by MOD partner, Serco ('the company').

Other KHM roles include managing port safety as lead for the 4 port authorities in Plymouth, and conservancy matters such as surveying, dredging, and maintenance of buoys, beacons and other aids to navigation.

There is a very strong environmental setting in the port, with the whole port area under some kind of protection.  KHM Chairs the Tamar Estuaries Consultative Forum, gathering the statutory and environmental bodies, to develop the Tamar Estuaries Management Plan. KHM also supports the University of Plymouth and other bodies in developing technologies, such as renewable energy generation and autonomy, that might contribute to UK energy production and net zero goals.

The role advertised will directly support KHM in delivery of these important port functions.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

KHM is seeking a Marine Services Superintendent (MSS) with marine or port experience and expertise, as specified in the essential criteria and competency framework included with this advert, to manage the local Defence Marine Services (DMS) contract with Serco, as a senior manager within the KHM team. The MSS will be KHMs key management point of contact with the company and will be responsible for maintaining the good working relationship currently held with Serco, in operation of the Continued Provision of Marine Services (CPMS) contract. The MSS will provide assurance to KHM that Serco can provide the required marine services, both in the short and long term. The role requires acting as intelligent customer (IC) in partnership with DMS for Marine Services and driving a value for money and quality service.  Further to this, there is the exciting opportunity to be the local lead in contract negotiation for the follow on ‘Next Generation’ marine services contract, thereby shaping the delivery of marine services in Devonport for the foreseeable future.

A downloadable set of Terms of Reference, copy of the CS Behaviours Handbook, and required skills competences for MSO1 Grade are supplied with this advert, which have a full description of all MSS duties.  Applications for the role should be made relevant to the Terms of Reference.

Person specification

This is an exciting opportunity to join the rejuvenating KHM team in Plymouth and to be a key manager driving the Authority forwards. If you are an open and positive manager with a desire to gain the best of results for the MOD, then this role is an opportunity to make a real difference!

The essential professional criteria for the role are as follows:

Experience in one or more areas such as maritime or port operations, maritime administration, surveying, ship design or construction is required. Post holders must be able demonstrate knowledge and experience of operating in the marine industry, and to be able to apply that to the MSS role. An understanding of the regulation of commercial shipping activity and the limits of commercial shipping policy and where MOD specific regulation is required.  

On entry, maritime professional staff joining in the role of MSO1 must have one of the following qualifications:

a) MCA Recognised STCW II/2 Master unlimited Certificate of Competency; or

b) MCA Recognised STCW III/2 Chief Engineer unlimited Certificate of Competency; or

c) RN Ship Command Qualifications or Engineering equivalent; or

d) Degree or equivalent in; Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Marine Technology or Port Operations.

If potential candidates wish to check as to whether they hold the essential criteria for the role, they are encouraged to contact Mr Sam Caulkin, Defence Marine Services - Deputy Head. Email: sam.caulkin100@mod.gov.uk.

For more general enquiries about the day to day tasks of the role, please contact the Deputy King’s Harbour Master, Andrew Jones, for further guidance prior to applying.  Email: Andrew.jones469@mod.gov.uk.

Desirable knowledge or past experience:

1. The post requires a knowledge of military organisational structures, management processes and an understanding of the needs and expectations of ships and submarines.
2. Understanding or previous knowledge of the marine industry to support fulfilling these Terms of Reference. Demonstrable experience in one or more maritime areas such as design, construction, operation, survey or administration.
3. Experience in operational planning and co-ordination.
4. Experience in Dockyard or Port Operations.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £59,498, Ministry of Defence contributes £16,064 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.

Selection of the successful candidate will be by review of application forms submitted, and by interview performance.  These will take into account evidence supplied by the candidates of good civil service Behaviours (see attached 'Success Profiles / Behaviours' document - Level 3) and demonstration of relevant professional experience and aptitude for the role.

We'll assess you against these technical skills drawn from the Maritime Intelligent Customers (Marine Services Officers) Functional Competence Framework (attached) during the selection process:

IC2 – Specialist Knowledge

IC3 – Safety & Environmental Management

At Application candidates will be assessed on their CV, personal statement and, if selected, at interview against a selection of the following Behaviours:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing 

At Interview Candidates will be assessed against the following Behaviours:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam1@mod.gov.uk .

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical.

The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

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.